"Dining in the Dark" raises public awareness, provides work opportunities for the blind
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 March 2008 2356 hrs

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SINGAPORE: A dining in the dark experience not only offers the public an insight into the world of the blind, but also gives the visually impaired employment opportunities to help them be financially independent.

Mr Soh Sang Hee, who is partially sighted, uses his fingers as a guide when he chops cucumber. He is able to prepare salad and soup at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH)'s Dining in the Dark programme.

The association takes about five group bookings a month from members of the public who want to experience eating in total darkness.

A three-course meal costs about S$28. The money goes to buying ingredients as well as paying allowances to the servers.

Fauziah Hanim Ahmad, SAVH's senior manager for public relations, said: "There are two objectives. One is to showcase the serving abilities of our visually handicapped trainees. The other objective is for public education, to create an awareness about visual impairment to the members of the public."

Server Ng Swee Kuen prepares the dining room. She uses her sense of touch to tell the cutlery apart because she has been totally blind for the past 15 years.

The table corners and chairs help her judge where the place settings should go while a warning device lets her know when to stop pouring hot drinks. And she has a spill-free record.

To help her, guests are asked to sit still while she serves food.

"If they are moving around then I'm worried they will bang on me, bang against me, then the things will drop all over," she said.

The lights are turned off to create total darkness before the diners are led in.

Once the meal is finished, the lights come back on and the diners can see the mess they have made.

Diner Wilson Lim said: "Using your utensils, like your knife and your fork, when you're cutting the fish and chips is quite hard. You tend to want to use your hands, but the fun part is using the utensils."

Another diner Lois Goh said: "We sat down and started pouring water. But for me, I wet the whole table. I did listen to the instruction (and) put my finger in, but then I couldn't hear the water."

Glaucoma is among the top three causes of blindness in Singapore, so the SAVH is running a shorter version of the "Dining in the Dark" programme at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Saturday as part of World Glaucoma Day.

Members of the public who want to experience the "Dining in the Dark" programme at Tan Tock Seng Hospital need to give a minimum donation of S$8 per person to the SAVH.

Reservations are needed and can be made by calling SAVH on 62514331-ext 115. - CNA/ac