North Cyprus marks White Cane Day with focus on accessibility

White Cane Day is being marked in North Cyprus on 15 October with activities drawing attention to accessibility and the challenges faced by people with visual impairments, Halkın Sesi reported.

Derviş Yücetürk, president of the Cyprus Turkish Association for the Blind and the Cyprus Turkish Federation of Disabled People, said the day should focus authorities’ attention on the accessibility needs of visually impaired people.

Yücetürk called on local authorities, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, other ministries and relevant departments to ensure that roads, infrastructure and signalling are designed and arranged to allow visually impaired people to travel independently and safely.

He also urged drivers, businesses and members of the public to help create barrier-free conditions for people using white canes at pedestrian crossings and while walking along roads and pavements.

According to the report, activities marking the day are also expected to highlight education, employment, social and economic difficulties faced by visually impaired people.