SINGAPORE – When he took his guide dog into a popular fast-food restaurant recently, former fintech professional Sebastian Quek was told by a customer that no pets were allowed.
When the 49-year-old with end-stage glaucoma explained that Vogue was a guide dog, the customer insisted that he leave the premises because “its fur will fly around”.
This was one of many instances of rejection that those with visual impairments face daily, and something that organisations working with the blind community here are hoping to change ahead of International White Cane Day.
The annual event, marked on Oct 15, seeks to raise awareness of aids that blind people use to travel independently, such as canes and guide dogs.
Mr Quek noted that private hire drivers have driven away when they spot Vogue, and his table reservations at restaurants often get turned down when he tells them that his guide dog will be with him.
“I get rejected up to 70 per cent of the time when visiting new places. I need to explain that guide dogs are allowed by law, and they are well-trained and well-behaved, but I still get turned away often,” he said.
Guide dogs, which wear working harnesses indicating that they are working dogs, are allowed on public transport and food establishments, including halal-certified restaurants and hawker centres.
There are also people who would try to lure Vogue away by whistling at her, even when Mr Quek is crossing the road. Such distractions can compromise Vogue’s focus, putting both dog and handler at risk.
Using a white cane is no easy task either, especially when navigating crowded places.
“Nowadays, many people are glued to their phones, so they don’t really see me,” he said. “The few who offer me a seat in public transport would just walk away from their seat without informing me, when I cannot see.”
Guide Dogs Singapore (GDS), a social service agency formed in 2006, is celebrating White Cane Day on Oct 27 from 10am to 8pm at The Star Vista by showcasing the resilience of people with blindness, and raising awareness of its rehabilitative training for the visually impaired, guide dogs and assistive technologies. The free event is open to the public.
Rehabilitative training by GDS helps the visually impaired gain the skills and techniques needed to live independently, travel confidently, and stay connected with loved ones. The skills include orientation and mobility training, which helps them navigate their environments safely; independent living skills training for daily tasks; an accessibility and technology programme that teaches the use of technological devices; and the guide dog programme.
GDS also conducts outreach talks and staff training in schools and companies to promote inclusivity for the visually impaired.
More than 40,000 people in Singapore are living with blindness or vision impairment, GDS estimates, and this number is expected to rise with an ageing population and longer life spans. Eye conditions that lead to vision loss, such as diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, are becoming more common as people live longer and develop chronic health conditions.