Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Disability Support Unit provided a white cane and organized practical training to support a student with visual impairment in navigating the university campus safely and independently. Conducted by Prof. Dr. Salih Çakmak, a faculty member of the Department of Special Education at EMU Faculty of Education, the training offered hands-on instruction in the fundamental skills required for the effective and safe use of a white cane.
The training session, attended by representatives of the EMU Disability Support Unit and a fellow student providing peer support, covered proper white cane handling techniques, environmental awareness, obstacle detection, and safe navigation. The training aimed to enhance the student’s independent mobility skills and facilitate their active participation in campus life.
Experiencing the excitement of navigating independently with a white cane, the student expressed gratitude to Prof. Dr. Çakmak for providing the training and stated that the newfound confidence gained through using the white cane would encourage greater participation in social life.
“The White Cane Is a Symbol of Independence and Freedom”
Following the training session, EMU Disability Support Unit Coordinator Assist. Prof. Dr. Ünal Değer expressed her gratitude to Prof. Dr. Çakmak for his valuable contributions, emphasizing that the white cane serves as both an essential mobility aid that enables individuals with visual impairments to navigate their surroundings safely and a powerful symbol of freedom.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Değer noted that the proper use of a white cane enables individuals with visual impairments to navigate their surroundings safely, enhances their freedom of movement, and promotes greater independence in daily life. She further explained that the primary objective of the training was to equip the student with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the university campus safely and independently.
Expressing how meaningful it was for the Unit to contribute to the development of another student’s independent mobility skills, Assist. Prof. Dr. Değer underscored the importance of social awareness and collective responsibility in creating accessible environments and ensuring the sustainability of such initiatives. She concluded by expressing her hope for a future in which everyone works together to build a more accessible and barrier-free environment.
