International White Cane Day – Together We Build a More Accessible and Inclusive Society

On the occasion of International White Cane Day on 15 October, third-year students from the Department of Education and Rehabilitation at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, together with Dr. Sc. Azur Kuduzović, Senior Assistant, are conducting educational activities in secondary schools across Sarajevo.

The goal of these activities is to raise awareness about the needs of blind and visually impaired persons and to familiarize students with the basic principles of communication and proper interaction with individuals who have visual impairments. Special emphasis is placed on students who, in their future professions, will daily encounter blind and visually impaired persons as patients, clients, customers, or users of various services.

Activities were implemented at the Secondary School of Agriculture, Food, Veterinary Medicine, and Service Activities; the Secondary Medical School Jezero; the Secondary Economic School Sarajevo; and the Secondary Hospitality and Tourism School Sarajevo. At these schools, students had the opportunity to expand their knowledge regarding the importance of accessibility and quality communication in their future work.

Through theoretical and practical components, students are introduced to methods of providing support to blind and visually impaired persons, the importance of independence and equal participation, and concrete procedures they can apply in their future professional careers. In this way, the project aims to contribute to the development of empathy, understanding, and professional responsibility among young people who will shape the experiences and opportunities of others through their actions.

The most important message of the project is that accessibility begins with understanding, and equality is built through concrete actions. Sometimes, knowing how to approach a person, offering help in an appropriate manner, and respecting their independence is enough to make a significant difference.

The Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, remains open to cooperation with educational institutions and other organizations, with the aim of joint action, knowledge exchange, and the development of a more inclusive community.