Thank you Stevens, the president of Glaucoma Society, for encouraging me to visit the Dialogue in the Dark at Petrosains in Suria KL on 7 May 2014 which ends at the end of May. It was a really humbling experience for me to go through a simulation exercise on how living in the dark is like. It was frightening at first but I gradually gained confidence to feel, to hear to taste, to smell and to get used to the darkness. That was what it would be like if I lose my sight due to advanced glaucoma. Though I harbour some fear in the deep of my heart, I feel it's not hopeless at all. Thank you Nawal for taking me through the process and thank you Michell for sharing with me on how glaucoma took away your sight 8 years ago and how you coped with it. I had tears in my eyes interacting with all of you who give me so much courage and hope.
I learned that I am not so in tune with using my sense of feeling and hearing in solid darkness but it thrilled me to be able to identify certain things in the short dark journey. The white cane helped me to avoid hindrances and to take me to Nawal's voice. No matter how independent a visually handicapped person is, he/she still needs some degree of help from others and knowing how/what to help is important for sighted people to learn.
From newspaper report, I read that Stevens is working hard to bring into Malaysia guide dogs for visually impaired people. I applaud this effort and I will be interested to have one if the time comes but hope it would be within my means. These are working dogs with specific duties and they are trained and committed to the jobs they are supposed to do. I hope Malaysian government and Malaysians are open-minded and educated enough to accept their presence in different places. Please do not use religion as an excuse for small-minded attitude.
Personally, I would really encourage the public to visit Dialogue in the Dark, especially my children who don't seem to fully comprehend the situation I am in.
May Allah grants me my prayer for many more years of sighted life.
I learned that I am not so in tune with using my sense of feeling and hearing in solid darkness but it thrilled me to be able to identify certain things in the short dark journey. The white cane helped me to avoid hindrances and to take me to Nawal's voice. No matter how independent a visually handicapped person is, he/she still needs some degree of help from others and knowing how/what to help is important for sighted people to learn.
From newspaper report, I read that Stevens is working hard to bring into Malaysia guide dogs for visually impaired people. I applaud this effort and I will be interested to have one if the time comes but hope it would be within my means. These are working dogs with specific duties and they are trained and committed to the jobs they are supposed to do. I hope Malaysian government and Malaysians are open-minded and educated enough to accept their presence in different places. Please do not use religion as an excuse for small-minded attitude.
Personally, I would really encourage the public to visit Dialogue in the Dark, especially my children who don't seem to fully comprehend the situation I am in.
May Allah grants me my prayer for many more years of sighted life.
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