Dear Editor,
October 15th is International White Cane Day. It is a day that is celebrated around the world and, to me, it is a day that is incredibly important.
My name is Milos and I lost my sight due to optic nerve damage. It happened very quickly, my first eye went in November last year and the second in March this year.
When it happened, it was frightening but I thought, I’ve got to beat this someway so I just got on with it.
I started learning how to use a white cane while I was still at the Sydney Eye Hospital. A Vision Australia Orientation and Mobility instructor trained me how to use it and in no time I was able to get around the ward to make myself a cup of tea. Having worked as a nurse, a nurse administrator and more recently a health care interpreter, I am used to the interior of hospitals and I think this definitely helped.
My white cane gives me a lot of confidence to travel independently by giving me extra information about my surroundings. For example, I can feel gap between the platform and a train so I can make sure I have clearance to safely board. It also alerts other people to the fact I can’t see and most of the time they move out of my way.
This White Cane Day I would like Sydneysiders to take a moment to become more aware of the white cane and its significance to people, like me, who are blind or have low vision.
Visit www.visionaustralia.org to learn more.
Yours sincerely,
Milos Illic, Rydalmere
Letter to the Editor Milos