University student overcomes mental obstacle of being handicapped

SMU student Zeng Shi Hao, who was diagnosed with hereditary glaucoma at the age of seven, overcame the mental obstacle of relying on the white cane, to independently commute between his home in Tampines and SMU using the MRT.  Mr Zeng said that due to his condition, he is currently left with only 10 per cent of his vision. He admitted that he was initially reluctant to use the white cane, as he felt that it created a distance between him and others who became more reserved and worried about offending him because of his disability. Mr Zeng added that with a guide dog, he might seem more approachable. Even then, he still chooses to use the cane in the interim, as not all locations or employers accept or are in favour of guide dogs. The Guide Dog Singapore is celebrating its White Cane day on 30th October, for the first time. The association was set up in 2006, and has helped over 200 visually-impaired individuals. It has even successfully matched six such individuals with guide dogs to help them return to living a normal life.