Sunday, November 8, 2009 . Prasana - T02
12:13 PM

When I first heard of DID Singapore, it seemed a unique concept to educate people as well as raise awareness on the visually handicapped (VH) society. It is wonderful to know that Ngee Ann Polytechnic has had a privilege to set up DID Singapore in its own campus. Not forgetting it being the only DID situated in an educational institute and also the first permanent exhibition in Southeast Asia.

Before the tour, I was bit nervous as I was not sure what to expect in the tour. At the same time, I was excited to know how it was like to live like a VH for an hour. I have roamed around my house in the dark but there was always some form of light even if it is very dim and hence presumed it would be the same for the tour but however, we were told that there was absolutely no form of light in this entire tour. Even then, it did not seemed that scary or anything till we actually entered the tour.

The first few steps that I took into the tour were very cautious as it was really pitch dark in there. And it took me sometime before I could get myself adjusted to it. Throughout the journey, we were blinded and only our other four senses were in use. I had to feel my way around and listen carefully to the guide in order not to lose my way. The experience was something that I did not expect and was thought provoking. To actually be able to be in the shoes of the VH and experience how they go about living their life really made me think. It was a good opportunity for me to realize the potential of my other senses as they have been neglected all these while. Most of us depend on our sight a lot that the moment we were blinded; we got scared and became unsteady. The best part of it was that the guide guiding us was a VH. In the dark, they were the best people to navigate us and make the whole experience an enjoyable and fun one for us. We become helpless and depended on them. I must say the guides did an excellent job throughout the tour.

DID provides a platform for the ordinary people to interact with the VH. It allows them to empathize with them rather than just to sympathize the VH. I believe this is my greatest take away from this tour. The guides have proven that sight is just one of the senses and that without it; it is not the end of the world. You can actually pick yourself up and continue to strive to be successful just like them. I really admire them for their confidence and guts to actually step out and prove themselves to the society that they are as normal as any other person on this earth. DID indeed change my mind set on the way I viewed the VH. I could get in touch with how they feel and go about their daily life in that short journey. Truly, an eye-opener.

I feel that DID Singapore would be a great learning tool for both the BZSE and PCS students. It is an easily assessable social enterprise and a unique learning model to study on. The teaching facility provided there educates us on the different aspects of a social enterprise apart from our classroom lectures. For example, we could learn how they make DID sustainable and the effort it takes to maintain the place and so on.

As BZSE students, there are ways we could contribute to DID social enterprise. We could volunteer to look after the maintenance of the building and conduct the pre and post activities for those who are participating in the tour. Other than being interns, we could come up with marketing plans as this is an abstract idea. We would not know what it really is till we experience it. It stimulates an individual’s thought process and people have to be encouraged to want to experience this tour. Hence, promoting it through word of mouth is not enough; it has to reach out to the general public for them to be aware of such a learning model. I believe one learns best when he feels it for himself rather than when he is told about it.

Prasana (T02)


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