MetroPlan Orlando to host Blind Experience in Winter Park to mark White Cane Safety Day

MetroPlan Orlando representatives told the meeting that the Blind Experience, an annual interactive event designed to promote pedestrian safety and White Cane Safety Day, will be co-hosted in Winter Park on Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Farmers Market. A presenter said, "The Blind Experience 20 25 welcomed over 75 people from across the Central Florida region to celebrate White Cane Safety Day and learn about the pedestrian experience of the visually impaired and blind."

Speakers emphasized the event's role in illustrating how visually impaired pedestrians navigate crossings and urged attention to audible pedestrian signals and ADA-related accommodations. One participant said the exercise was "very disorienting," highlighting the practical need for better cues at intersections. Organizers said they plan to coordinate with Lighthouse Central Florida and pursue grant funding to prioritize audible signals where they will have the greatest impact.