Illinois White Cane Law

    Summary: Under this law, persons who are blind or visually impaired, or hearing impaired, or have other physical disabilities are entitled to full and equal use of all hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort and other places to which the general public is invited. This includes the right to a support dog or guide dog without extra cost.

HUMAN RIGHTS

    (775Â ILCSÂ 30/) White Cane Law

(775 ILCS 30/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 3361)

    Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the White Cane Law.

    (Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(775 ILCS 30/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 3362)

    Sec. 2. It is the policy of this State to encourage and enable the blind, the visually handicapped and the otherwise physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to engage in remunerative employment.

    (Source: P. A. 76-663.)

(775 ILCS 30/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 3363)

    Sec. 3. The blind, the visually handicapped, the hearing impaired, persons who are subject to epilepsy or other seizure disorders, and the otherwise physically disabled have the same right as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities and other public places.

     The blind, the visually handicapped, the hearing impaired, persons who are subject to epilepsy or other seizure disorders, and the otherwise physically disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.

     Every totally or partially blind, hearing impaired, person who is subject to epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or otherwise physically disabled person or a trainer of support dogs, guide dogs, seizure-alert dogs, seizure-response dogs, or hearing dogs shall have the right to be accompanied by a support dog or guide dog especially trained for the purpose, or a dog that is being trained to be

     Illinois White Cane Law, page 1 of 2

    a support dog, guide dog, seizure-alert dog, seizure-response dog, or hearing dog, in any of the places listed in this Section without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide, support, seizure-alert, seizure-response, or hearing dog; provided that he shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog.

    (Source: P.A. 92-187, eff. 1-1-02; 93-532, eff. 1-1-04.)

(775 ILCS 30/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 3364)

    Sec. 4. Any person or persons, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person or persons, firm or corporation who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in Section 3 of this Act or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind or otherwise disabled person under Section 3 of this Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

    (Source: P. A. 77-2830.)

(775 ILCS 30/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 3365)

    Sec. 5. It is the policy of this State that the blind, the visually handicapped and the otherwise physically disabled shall be employed in the State Service, the service of the political subdivisions of the State, in the public schools and in all other employment supported in whole or in part by public funds on the same terms and conditions as the able-bodied, unless it is shown that the particular disability prevents the performance of the work involved.

    (Source: P. A. 76-663.)

(775 ILCS 30/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 3366)

    Sec. 6. Each year, the Governor is authorized and requested to designate and take suitable public notice of White Cane Safety Day and to issue a proclamation in which:

     (a) he comments upon the significance of the white cane;

     (b) he calls upon the citizens of the State to observe the provisions of the White Cane Law and to take precautions necessary to the safety of the disabled;

     (c) he reminds the citizens of the State of the policies with respect to the disabled herein declared and urges the citizens to cooperate in giving effect to them;

     (d) he emphasizes the need of the citizens to be aware of the presence of disabled persons in the community and to keep safe and functional for the disabled the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, other public places, places of public accommodation, amusement and resort, and other places to which the public is invited, and to offer assistance to disabled persons upon appropriate occasions.

    (Source: P. A. 76-663.)

     Illinois White Cane Law, page 2 of 2