Walking with Purpose: White Cane Day as Adults

Lesson plan for White Cane Day for transition and adult students.

Lesson Plan

Lesson plan intended for transition and adult students.

Goals

  • Strengthen community and build confidence in sharing experiences.
  • Reflect on the meaning of White Cane Day as adults with lived experience.
  • Encourage advocacy, pride, and independence.
  • Create a meaningful group presentation (story circle, panel, skit, or performance).

Materials

  • Student white canes.
  • Large chart paper/board with markers (braille/large print access).
  • Chairs and props for skits or panel setup.
  • Optional: microphone or handheld recorder (for practice).

Agenda

  1. Welcome & Icebreaker
    1. Script:
      1. "Happy White Cane Day! Today we'll share about our experiences and work together on a presentation to celebrate this day. Let's start by learning a little about each other."
    2. Activity Option:
      1. "Cane Story Starter": Each person introduces themselves and shares one sentence: "My cane helps me ______."
  2. What Is White Cane Day?
    1. Script:
      1. "White Cane Day celebrates people who are blind or have low vision. The cane shows independence, safety, and pride. It also reminds the public to respect people with canes and give them the right to travel safely. White Cane Day started in 1964, when the U.S. president made it official. Today, it is celebrated around the world."
    2. Discussion Prompts:
      1. "What does independence mean to you as an adult?"
      2. "What are some things you do with your cane that you're proud of?"
      3. "How do you advocate for yourself when you’re out in the community?"
  3. Activity
    1. Options for projects:
      1. Panel/Talk Show: Students take turns answering questions about their cane use and independence.
      2. Advocacy Skit: Act out real-life situations (e.g., teaching someone not to grab your arm, showing safe cane travel).
      3. Story Circle: Each student shares one story or example of using their cane as an adult.
      4. Group Poem or Chant: Create lines together like "With my cane I travel free, my cane gives pride to me."
    2. Creating the Project
      1. Adults help guide structure and roles (host, speakers, actors, sound effects).
      2. Encourage every student to contribute (telling a story, reading a line, making a sound effect, moving with their cane).
      3. Keep the presentation accessible but authentic - students' voices should shine through.
        1. Script:
          1. "Everyone here has an important story to tell. Let's put them together so we can teach and inspire others."
  4. Optional Performance
  5. Wrap-Up
    1. Script:
      1. "Great work today! You shared your experiences and created something powerful. White Cane Day is about pride, independence, and showing the world what people with canes can do."