Utica Council of the Blind President Carl Gage is at the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, showing how an app on his phone helps him get around.

“I’m going blind right now," said Gage. "I’ve been losing my eyesight in the last few years, but I still try to do what I can.”

Guiding phone apps are great, but Gage also uses a white cane.

“It's definitely helping me get out and about. I'm not a person that’s going to stay in the house, so going out. Just taking a walk here and there. It's great. That's a blessing," Gage said.

According to the American Council of the Blind, it is a New York State law that every driver approaching an intersection or crosswalk shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing or attempting to cross the roadway when the person is accompanied by a guide dog or using a metallic or white-colored cane with a white or red tip.

“Take it seriously," said Gage. "Don't go up to someone and just grab them because, they don't know who you are. You don't know who they are. If you do see someone who's blind, talk to them so they know that you're there.”