GDS Instructors & Social Workers

Related Links

Guide Dogs Singapore Referral Form

Apply to Be A Guide Dog User

Guide Dogs Handler Handbook (abridged version)

Orientation & Mobility Training

Melody Deng, Head Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Melody Deng from Taiwan joined Guide Dogs Singapore in 2022. With over 20 years of experience in teaching Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills, she will helm the expansion of our Client Services Team and mentor the younger O&M specialists.

After graduating from University, Melody began her journey as an educator, teaching English and Chinese Braille to people with vision impairment in Taiwan. Over the course of 20 years, she transitioned her expertise to O&M skills, becoming highly proficient in this field. With her vast experience, Melody holds the qualification to mentor and train aspiring O&M instructors in Taiwan.

Melody Deng, Senior Orientation & Mobility Specialist, posing with a black guide dog.

Simone Oh, Senior Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Simone Oh is Senior Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist at Guide Dogs Singapore, with experience in the field since 2015. She began her career under the guidance of specialists from Guide Dogs New South Wales and the Taiwan Foundation for the Blind.

 

She holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation of the Blind (Orientation and Mobility) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), accredited by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP).

 

With more than ten years of teaching experience at GDS, Simone has supported a wide range of learners, including many returning clients who value her effective and personalised approach.
Simone Oh, Orientation & Mobility Specialist, posing with a black guide dog.

Guide Dog Programme

Christina Teng, Senior Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI)

Christina Teng was trained and qualified as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) in Guide Dogs Victoria, an International Guide Dogs Federation (IGDF) certified organisation in Melbourne, Australia. During the two and half years of cadetship, she has trained and matched her dogs with vision-impaired clients in Australia, successfully graduating several teams. She has a Diploma in “Canine Behaviour with International School of Canine Psychology and Behaviour”. Before joining GDS as a GDMI, she was working with youths in the social work sector for eight years.

Christina Teng, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, posing with a black guide dog.

Tan Shi Lin, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI)

Tan Shi Lin was trained and certified as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Seeing Eye Dogs, Vision Australia, where she became a valued team member during her cadetship. She trained over 15 dogs and supported clients across varied environments—from remote outback towns to major cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide—developing strong adaptability, technical skill and insight into dog behaviour and client needs.
Before specialising in guide dog mobility, Shi Lin built extensive animal-care experience as a Night Safari keeper, veterinary nurse and animal technician, and through volunteering in dog shelters and rehabilitating injured or behaviourally challenged stray dogs. She brings compassion, practical expertise and a deep commitment to animal welfare, together with a dedication to empowering people with vision loss.
Christina Teng, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, posing with a black guide dog.

Our Social Workers

Kelvin Ang

Kelvin is a dedicated social service professional with over 14 years of experience in the sector. He previously served as a Social Worker for three years, supporting individuals and families through casework and community engagement. His earlier roles as a Community Case Worker and Programme Development Manager equipped him with a strong foundation in both direct service and strategic programme planning. Kelvin is passionate about fostering inclusion and empowering lives through meaningful social support.

Chia Hong Sen, IT Trainer and Consultant, with his guide dog Clare

Eloise Tay

Eloise is a passionate social service professional with a strong foundation in community work and a Bachelor in Social Work. She previously served as a Social Worker for four years, where she led a team of 12 and contributed to various operational and management functions in the eldercare sector. Eloise brings a strong foundation in social work practice and a passion for empowering individuals through meaningful engagement and advocacy.
Chia Hong Sen, IT Trainer and Consultant, with his guide dog Clare

Accessibility & Technology

Chia Hong Sen, Trainer and Consultant

Chia Hong Sen has experience in conducting IT training for vision-impaired people since 2016. He also has experience in software development and accessibility design for web and mobile applications. He obtained his Bachelors of Science (Honours) in Management and Digital Innovation from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, in 2019. He also holds a Diploma in Information Technology from Temasek Polytechnic.

Chia Hong Sen, IT Trainer and Consultant, with his guide dog Clare

Videos

Orientation and Mobility Training

Ever wondered what it takes to be an Orientation & Mobility Specialist at Guide Dogs Singapore? To be qualified, our specialists have to be accredited with a Masters degree in Orientation and Mobility (or related field). Before they start teaching clients, they have to undergo a series of blindfolded activities and clock in a certain number of hours in doing so. To establish a greater sense of understanding on the challenges, O&M specialists aim to internalise and empathise by being blindfolded and executing the exercises themselves. This helps them to be more comprehensive when planning for lessons. Here’s a throwback to a crash course our O&M specialists Simone and Cheryl undergo in 2018 with our mentor Lily.

Posted by Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd on Tuesday, 23 February 2021

Related Links

Guide Dogs Singapore Referral Form

Apply to Be A Guide Dog User

Guide Dogs Handler Handbook (abridged version)

Spread the Word to Make a Difference

Testimonials

Christina Teng, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, posing with a black guide dog.

Christina Teng
Seeing our clients become more independent with the help of guide dogs

Simone Oh

Simone Oh
Happiness is when I see clients grow to become more independent

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Quick Links

Corporate Partners

We invite you to collaborate with us in supporting the blind and vision impaired community in Singapore through various impactful initiatives. Together, we can foster a more inclusive society for all.

Our Partners

Boehringer Ingelheim logo with a stylised icon of the imperial palace of Charlemagne, featuring two shorter lines on either side, three longer lines in the centre, and an upward-pointing arrow. The icon is enclosed in a circle, with 'Boehringer Ingelheim' in dark green serif font on the right.
TechnipFMC logo with 'TechnipFMC' in purple sans-serif text on the right. On the left is the logo icon featuring a blue inverted triangle with a red triangle pointing to the right at the centre of the blue triangle. Both triangles are translucent.
The Animal Clinic logo featuring a silhouette of a dog at the centre, a smaller cat on its right, a smaller rabbit on its left, and a small parakeet to the left of the rabbit. Above and below the animals is a semi-circle, with 'THE ANIMAL CLINIC' in all caps and green serif font beneath them
Vetz Petz logo with 'Vetz Petz' in a smaller red serif font inside a rounded rectangle, a green plus sign at the top centre. 'Antinol' is in larger red font at the bottom with the dot on the 'i' as a circle with a red stroke and white inside, with a registered trademark ® symbol beside the letter 'l'.
A white guide dog smiling happily at the camera

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