Having a job is so important ... [ it ' s ] how you perceive yourself , and how others perceive you .
run educational workshops for primary and secondary school students to encourage empathy , confidence and self-awareness . And it ’ s open to the public Tuesday through Sunday .
Before we left the simulated Melbourne experience , my group huddled on a couch in a typical lounge room and asked questions of our guide . Some wanted to know if she could use the internet ( of course she can ). I asked at what age a child would start using a white cane . When she talked about coloured canes for kids , I immediately wanted to know if they could discern colour .
A million questions came into my head as I realised I had never given serious thought to how life would be for a visually impaired or blind person . I usually associate them – and , indeed , Guide Dogs Victoria – with those endearing Labrador dogs and as we emerged from the darkness there were several in the foyer to meet us . “ It takes 12 months to train a puppy ,” Tracy Morten tells me as hers licks my hand and tries to climb on my lap . Clearly he needs a few more lessons . “ Some don ’ t make it for a variety of reasons . Then they may become ambassador dogs ,” Karen Hayes tells me as she pats her own white one called Willow .
This new experience at Docklands is creating a lot of excitement for Guide Dogs Victoria staff and , particularly , for those who can now boast that they are employed in a meaningful way . Another guide ( Francois ) says , “ Having a job is so important to anyone . It ’ s part of how you perceive yourself , and how others perceive you . It ’ s good for your confidence , to know that you work just like anyone else .”
Like Karen Hayes , he hopes that visitors to Dialogue in the Dark will no longer have a glum view of people being blind . He says , “ Many people seem to think that it is synonymous with being morbid , dark , sad , and it ’ s so not .”
For more information visit dialogueinthedark . com . au linkonline . com . au innovation
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