Al-Adwani: International White Cane Day reaffirms the right of visually impaired individuals to safe mobility

Abdullah Al-Rakan

The Kuwait National Library organized an event titled “Visual Impairment: Its Social Rights and Developmental Perspectives” to enhance community awareness of the rights of blind individuals, with the participation of several sponsoring and supporting entities for people with various disabilities.

Nassar Bu Labqa, Director of the Information Services and Digital Library Department at the library, emphasized the importance of raising community awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and supporting their active participation in all areas of life through organizing awareness events and activities that contribute to consolidating the concepts of social inclusion and equal opportunities.

Bu Labqa stated that the event was organized on the occasion of the International White Cane Day, which falls on October 15 of each year, and in line with the library’s social responsibility and its commitment to raising awareness about the issues and needs of persons with disabilities through specialized programs and activities. These efforts aim to promote a culture of social inclusion and provide a supportive environment for their participation in cultural and intellectual activities.

He noted the library’s keenness to expand cooperation and partnerships with government entities, civil society organizations, and volunteer groups concerned with the affairs of persons with disabilities. Such collaboration aims to integrate efforts, develop community initiatives, and enhance the role of cultural institutions in serving all segments of society and supporting Kuwait’s comprehensive development goals.

For his part, Abdulrahman Al-Adwani, a blind media advisor and the event’s general coordinator, stressed in a similar statement the importance of strengthening the rights of persons with visual impairments and empowering them to live independently, ensuring their active participation in society as key partners in the development and nation-building process.

Al-Adwani said that the event, now in its fourth edition, sheds light on the civil, social, and legal rights of persons with visual impairments, while highlighting their future aspirations and their role in achieving sustainable development. He praised the library’s cooperation and hosting of this global occasion.

He added that the International White Cane Day represents an opportunity to reaffirm the right of persons with visual impairments to safe mobility, freedom of movement, and independence. He pointed out that the white cane serves as a global symbol for identifying visual impairment and as a fundamental tool to enhance users’ ability to navigate with confidence and safety.

Al-Adwani explained that providing public facilities and ensuring accessibility requirements are fundamental pillars for achieving social inclusion, citing the Kuwait National Library’s tactile guiding paths that help persons with visual impairments navigate its facilities more independently and safely.

He noted that persons with visual impairments aspire to actively participate in achieving the “New Kuwait 2035” vision by providing them with opportunities to showcase their capabilities, talents, and creativity, and to utilize their expertise and ideas in various developmental fields, thereby contributing to serving the country and developing its institutions.

Al-Adwani mentioned that the number of persons with visual impairments in Kuwait is estimated at between 7,000 and 8,000, emphasizing the importance of developing initiatives and programs that respond to their needs and open broader horizons for their community, professional, and developmental participation.

He clarified that the exhibition accompanying the event features more than 25 entities from government institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and volunteer teams, aiming to showcase initiatives and services supporting persons with visual impairments and to enhance cooperation and integration among various concerned parties.

Al-Adwani expressed his appreciation for the participating entities and supporting figures at the occasion, emphasizing that the concerted efforts of the community and institutions contribute to entrenching a culture of respecting the rights of persons with visual disabilities and removing barriers to their participation, enabling them to contribute to building a more inclusive future with equal opportunities.