Sunday, November 8, 2009 . Janell's DiD Experience
9:51 PM

My impression of DiD was just walking around in the dark, experiencing how the visually challenged go around in their everyday life. Never have I thought that it would be that much of a change, that much of a difference from our daily lives, until I have truly and personally travelled into the "dark".

Even though Mrs Choo gave us a brief explanation on what is DiD like, I still felt at a lost as to what was going to happen. Walking in the dark, did not seem scary to me, as i know we humans have eyes that will slowly adjust to the dark. But I did think that it would be a lot of bumping into people/things, and maybe even getting lost in the dark. Little did i know that it would be so dark that i could not see a single light or even a faint shadow. Raising up my five fingers did not help at all. I immediately felt the chill down my back and the panic that was coming on to me. But with the help of my group members, and Jason, our tour guide, I managed to calm myself down and try to take things as it come. Jason was very patient and very understanding to our feelings and he is always there when we need his assurance. His presense was like a calming pill to me. I am really grateful for my friends, and Jason for allowing me to go through this unforgettable and irreplaceable experience.

This tour has taught me how is it like to be lost and actually rely on others to help you along. I really admire how these visually disabled people are able to pick themselves up and go on in life after they lost their sight or not able to see at all. It takes alot of courage to face all these difficulties and put up with the biased eyes out there. Seeing how Jason is so confident, and cheerful, despite of his disability, is such a good insight into how these blind guides are able to challenge their boundaries and limits, to share with us, sighted people, how they actually feel and go through life. Their other senses are very developed, unlike us, who mostly depend on our sight, which causes us to be at a lost when we are in a dark environment. Without Jason, I think we will be like lost sheeps in the dark. Therefore, my greatest takeaway from this captivating experience is not to underestimate what they can do, and cherish them, be there for them when they do need us.

With DiD present in Singapore, many people will be able to get a glimpse into the life of a visually challenged person. In addition, even change their perspective of the visually challenged. The idea of depending on one another for help in our very different situations, would change how much they think they would need the visually challenged in situations like these. With this as a social enterprise, some visually challenged people would be able to have a chance in getting a job as a blind guide in DiD. This service/tour would benefit the entire visually challenged population in Singapore, and possibly Southeast Asia. With this idea, many other products and services would be able to spout, and it would be more beneficial as to spreading the name of Dialogue in the Dark further out to many other groups of people, and letting them know more about these visually challenged people among us. Doing the business model of a social enterprise, would credit all the fundings and the responses back to the heart where we get our blind guides from and serves as encouragements to them. Helping them move just one more step in life, just one push, might just be so crucial to them.

For our very own BZSE and PCS students, this learning model enables us to learn the practical side of a social enterprise, something out of the book, something other than the theory part. Its a great opportunity to open our eyes to something so real, and try running it for the blind guides, for touching and changing perspectives, and also for ourselves.

We can contribute by helping DiD spread the word, of our experience, how we felt and move around, how amazing it was for us. Not only in NP, but also within our family and friends. We can also come up with ideas and contributions like how we can further create other related products to compliment this idea, and also if we have any comments, we would be able to feedback and enable them to polish and bring what they have to offer to higher heights and a greater experience for the people to come.


Sincerely,
Janell, BZSE T01


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