3 chapters across the catalog
A presidential proclamation renamed "White Cane Safety Day" to "Blind Americans Equality Day," a move criticized as unnecessary linguistic engineering. The hosts argue that the original name provided a clear safety directive for the public. They also note that modern web technologies like JavaScript often create significant barriers for screen readers, undermining actual digital equality for the blind.
Police in Lancashire, England, tasered 61-year-old Colin Farmer, a blind man, after mistaking his white cane for a samurai sword. The incident occurred while officers were searching for a different individual reportedly armed with a blade. The police department issued a formal apology for the traumatic mishap, which Farmer described as a nightmare.
National Character Counts Week, White Cane Safety Day
The White House issued proclamations for National Character Counts Week and White Cane Safety Day. The language of the proclamations is criticized for using the phrase "Americans who use canes" instead of "blind people." The hosts also discuss the lack of web accessibility for the visually impaired on government websites despite these symbolic gestures.
