News & Event

HE Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of education for Education, sponsored the Oman bin Al Khattab Institute celebration of the International Day of the White Cane, which fall on the 15th of October every year. The White Cane represents great importance to the visually impaired as a global make to them and emphasize their independence in moving freely. The celebration included: musical choral, various short plays, a showcase of talents such as singing, poetry recitation, and presentation, as well as fun and educational competitions, all of which were presented by the Institute’s students. At the end of the ceremony, all participants and supervisors were honored.

Badriya Al Wahaibi, Director of Oman bin Al Khattab Institute for the visually impaired, said: “The International Day of the White Cane comes as a support to the visually impaired and aims to spread awareness of their rights, discuss their issues, educate, and guide individuals on how to help the blind cross the streets. The selection of this day comes after the recommendation of the Honorary members of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind at their meeting held in February 1980 in Paris. The celebration of the International Day of the White Cane aims to spread awareness and culture among societies to highlight the white cane as a symbol of visual impairment, and that its holder has visual problems that reach the level of disability, but has skills to move with the help of that cane, and that the cane provides protection on the way, and with this awareness and culture among individuals will create the perfect environment for the blind.”

Among the activities of the Omar bin Al Khattab Institute’s celebration was an exhibition that includes an introductory corner at the Institute to explain the conditions for student admission to the Institute, the Braille method for writing and reading, the tools and devices used to teach students with visual disabilities such as the speaking calculator, and the Braille Sense machine. The exhibition also included a technical corner that showcased the skills and talents of students, such as pottery, beading, various plastic arts, and a miniature of a walk was prepared for the audience to experience the use of the white cane, and other assistive means.

The Omar bin Al Khattab Institute aims from this celebration to raise the blind’s self-confidence, improve their skills, create a stimulating environment for students to learn, highlight their skills, develop the creativity of people with visual disabilities in dealing with various tools, and create a recreational space away from the usual school atmosphere.