Friday, November 6, 2009 . Matthew Han's
12:01 PM

The tour could be described in two words: world reversal. Upon entering my voyage into darkness, the other employees of DiD went through with us our other senses apart from our sight. Not sure if I should feel eager or scared, we proceeded into DiD's "infamous abyss."

Our tour group, consisting completely out of guys, and our guide being William quickly ensued from a mere acquaintance to someone we could not have gone through DiD without. The feeling of being in their world felt colourful. Not from sight, but from touch, hearing, and even smell. It surprising didn't feel empty at all. Rather, the tour made me appreciate so much more things that my sight was ironically "blinding" me of appreciating. The tickling sounds of the water splashes as we went through the Singapore River, the stimulating smell of the fruits, and the comforting touch of a friend, or a wall that you nearly bumped/crashed into. All almost seemed so real to the world of a blind person, if only I knew.
If only I knew how it was like, so we asked William. William, a 55 year old father, husband, lost his sight when he was 35, 20 years ago. He told us about losing his sight during an accident 20 years ago and the trauma he and his family faced. Father of two daughters, he had to find a way to support his family. He also shared about having a MBA and a PHD and jokingly stated how the stand for "Married But Available" and "Perfect Husband/Daddy." The reverse world effect actually made us the truly blind, rather than the guides. And if some dumb chance the sun were to day and the world be turned into darkness, we would know who to count on. :)

I am very amazed at how he takes life joyful even after losing his sight now that he has solved his employment problem thanks to DiD.

The structure of this organisation is very business-oriented and hence makes DiD suitable for self-sustaining itself. BZSE and PCS students can learn from this organisation that it is possible for the visually impaired or even those that are impaired in any other way to contribute to today's stressful and ever-moving economic society without being left out in the race. This helps them maintain their self-dignity into thinking that they are fully "dependent" on the community.

HMS students and lecturers, not only BZSE and PCS students, can contribute to DiD's growth here in Singapore in many various ways. Such of these include coming up with ways of improvement in its marketing, the tour, and to get more people into visiting DiD through the proper and appropriate publicity. Publicity as DiD as a teaching/training facility more of an "attention-grabber" to get potential students over to HMS or NP for that matter. And with more visitors from the publicity there will be more suggestions from the visitors for improvement on the tour.


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