Students and staff from the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children paraded through Oakland Thursday to celebrate White Cane Day.
The observance serves as a symbol of independence for visually impaired people.
The participants celebrated alongside the University of Pittsburgh spirit squads and the school’s mascot, Roc the Panther.
Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, joined the students and staff for the event.
Weihenmayer, who recently wrote a book detailing his experiences, met with students following the parade. During the gathering, students had the opportunity to speak with the adventurer and ask him questions about his accomplishments.
Weihenmayer spoke about the broader meaning of the event for the visually impaired community.
“So this is one a special day to be walking down the street celebrating, you know, not only, you know, the fact that, you know, blind people want to be integrated into the world and we want to live full, adventuresome lives. And so today is like kind of this wonderful celebration of all that,” Weihenmayer said.
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