STATE OF NEW MEXICO EXECUTIVE OFFICE SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO WHEREAS, the model White Cane Law was written by Dr. Jacobus Tenbroek, a distinguished professor of law and the first president of the National Federation of the Blind; and WHEREAS, in 1967, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to adopt the model White Cane Law (28-7-1 NMSA (1978); and WHEREAS , the White Cane Law declares that it is the policy of the state to encourage and enable persons who are blind, visually impaired or who have other physical disabilities to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment; and WHEREAS, the White Cane Law gives persons who are blind, visually impaired or who have other physical disabilities the same rights as all citizens to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places; and WHEREAS, the White Cane Law gives persons who are blind, visually impaired or who have other physical disabilities full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, streetcars, boats any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort and any other places to which the general public is invited, and WHEREAS, the White Cane Law requires that drivers shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to pedestrians who are using a white cane or a guide dog: NOW THEREFORE, 1, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, do hereby proclaim October 15th, 2020, as; "WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY" throughout the state of New Mexico. Attest: Done at the Executive Office this 2nd day of October 2020. Maggie Toulouse Oliver Secretary of State Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham Governor