Broken city sidewalks. Empty city buses. Erratic city drivers.

All have elicited debate from concerned residents, but few people are as challenged by these everyday annoyances as are the blind.

The Douglas County Area Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind is celebrating October as Meet the Blind Month, and is hoping to bring attention to the challenges blind people face. Three events throughout the month, beginning with a City Commission proclamation tonight, aim to showcase how blind people in Lawrence are celebrating their disability.

Jim Canaday, vice president of the local National Federation for the Blind chapter, said Meet the Blind Month is meant to help others gain a better understanding of how blind people live their lives.

“It is intended to educate the public and demystify blindness, and to help people simply feel that they can get to know us, see who we are and what we do,” he said.

Following tonight’s proclamation, the group is staffing an information table from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ninth and Massachusetts streets, where members will demonstrate talking devices and the use of Braille, and will provide other information about living without sight.

Lynda Canaday, president of the organization and a cooking enthusiast, said she might even show how she maneuvers in the kitchen without sight.

“For us, it’s also a bit of celebration,” Jim Canaday said.

The final event is called the White Cane Walk and is slated for Saturday, Oct. 18. The Canadays will join other blind residents in walking down Massachusetts Street, from 11th Street to Seventh Street, in demonstrating the value and safety of their white canes and guide dogs, as well as the independence they provide.

“The White Cane Walk demonstrates how the cane or the guide dog grant us freedom to travel, safely … We want people to understand what the white cane is and what the guide dog is, and how important it is for us,” Jim Canaday said.

Though the Canadays are looking forward to sharing their experiences with other Lawrence residents, they fear that broken sidewalks put their health at risk. And they say the T is essential to their lives.

“The fixed route provides us with freedom of choice to travel,” Jim Canaday said.