Walking The Unseen Path

Phoebe Yen attends Spotlight On The Blind to learn about the struggles faced by the visually impaired in their daily lives, and the strides that Dialogue in the Dark has made for the community.

Experience the day-to-day lives of the visually impaired with Spotlight On The Blind - a virtual event by Dialogue in the Dark, in collaboration with Enablesg.

Participants that attended Spotlight On The Blind on a Zoom call.

Established in 2009, Dialogue in the Dark (DiDsg) has provided unique complete-in-the-dark experiences that aim to foster empathy towards persons with visual impairments within society.

All participants are led by visually impaired guides through specially designed activities that simulate life with visual impairment. Activities include walking through a park or dining out at a cafe. However, in line with COVID-19 precautionary measures, Dialogue in the Dark has also started to facilitate this event online, allowing more people to participate in this unique experience.

Spotlight on the Blind includes online activities such as: using the keyboard, scanning QR codes, and guessing sounds played, all while being blindfolded.

Yi Yun Liu, 17, a participant at Spotlight On The Blind expressed how difficult it was to type her name, “ I couldn’t even type my name, when I opened my eyes, there was nothing even on the screen.”

While Teresa Ng, a visually impaired guide at Dialogue in the Dark, mentioned that “activities that may seem simple to you like scanning the QR code, or typing your name are very challenging tasks for the visually impaired. Therefore, we have certain apps [and software] to help us.”

These activities enable sighted participants to understand that persons with disabilities require more inclusive designs and technologies to improve their ease of living.

“I realised how many poorly designed products there are. It should be a designer’s main priority to ensure that everyone can use the product with ease, even those with disabilities”, Yi Yun Liu reflected.

"It should be a designer’s main priority to ensure that everyone can use the product with ease, even those with disabilities."

Another participant, Cervone Seah, 17, has come to appreciate the resilience of people with visual impairment. “Now that I have experienced this programme, I realised that living without sight is very daunting, and it has helped me appreciate the courage of those living with visual impairments.”

Moreover, the event advocates that persons with disabilities are just as able as those living without disabilities and can thrive at the same level. “I have many blind friends that are very capable, one of my friends participated in the Tour de France, and two are from the National Goalball (a sport created for the blind) team!” Teresa Ng exclaimed.

DiDsg exemplifies this belief by staying consistent with its mission to raise awareness and facilitate the inclusion of marginalised communities. DiDsg empowers those with visual impairments by providing jobs and opportunities that value their experience living with blindness.

Teresa Ng, one of the guides at DiDsg, was diagnosed with optic atrophy at the tender age of 10 but has found joy and purpose ever since joining DiDsg. “It was a place where I could be honest with my supervisors and didn’t have to lie about my condition. I could work comfortably [as the person I am].”

With each unique hire, DiDsg is slowly changing people’s perception and understanding of the blind community. Many participants also come to the understanding that disabilities - of any sort - do not interfere with one’s ability to live a quality life or be an active, contributing member of society.

As Teresa Ng eloquently puts it, “Nothing is impossible, even for those who are blind. Be daring and don’t let your visual impairment stop you from doing anything.”

"Nothing is impossible, even for those who are blind. Be daring and don’t let your visual impairment stop you from doing anything."