Patron & Chairman Message

Guide Dogs Singapore Patron

Prof Tommy Koh

Opening The Doors of Our Hearts to the Visually Impaired Community in Singapore

I am very pleased to serve as Patron of Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd (GDS). It is an organisation whose mission I embrace. Each year, I am impressed by the dedication, innovation, and compassion of the GDS team as they work to empower persons with vision impairment.

In 2024, GDS expanded its vision rehabilitation programme to include Social Workers. With this addition, clients and caregivers now benefit from a more holistic model of care—combining the practical skills taught by Orientation and Mobility Specialists with social and psychological support from Social Workers.

The Guide Dog Programme continues to make meaningful progress. Two new guide dog teams were formed this year, bringing the total to 13 since GDS’s inception. I look forward to the return of our second Guide Dog Mobility Instructor in 2025, which will increase our local training capacity and enhance aftercare support for our growing number of guide dog handlers and their working dogs. I am also pleased that GDS is progressing in its application to become a full member of the International Guide Dog Federation—an important milestone in aligning with global best practices.

I would like to thank the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and DBS for their generous support of GDS’s digital inclusion efforts under the Digital for Life programme. This initiative has empowered persons with vision impairment to gain essential digital skills—enabling them to stay connected, informed, and independent in an increasingly digital world.

Chairman

Dr. Wong Hon Tym

Expanding Our Vision Beyond What The Eyes Can See

As we close the chapter on 2024, we reflect on how far we’ve come and how the evolving landscape continues to reshape our journey. In a world where societal needs, technological advancements, and client expectations are constantly shifting, Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd (GDS) has remained steadfast in our mission, while reimagining what the future can and should look like for persons with vision impairment.

The rising demand for vision rehabilitation has made it clear that our services are more vital than ever. This has driven us to re-evaluate and expand our Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Services. To ensure we meet every individual’s needs in a timely and effective way, we’ve implemented a two-tier service model. Senior O&M Specialists are now focused on supporting clients with more complex needs, while newly recruited O&M cadets assist with foundational training under mentorship. This structure not only expands our service capacity but lays the foundation for long-term scalability and continuity.

Recognising that vision rehabilitation goes beyond mobility training, we have also deepened our commitment to holistic care. The integration of professional social workers into our team marks a pivotal step in ensuring our clients receive emotional and psychosocial support, alongside practical life skills. These social workers are also a vital resource for caregivers—who often walk the path of rehabilitation side by side with our clients.

In our Guide Dog Programme, we continue to plan for sustainable growth. While we currently have one Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI), Ms Christina Teng, we eagerly await the return of our GDMI cadet, Ms Tan Shi Lin, who is undergoing training at Seeing Eye Dogs, Vision Australia. Her graduation in 2025–2026 will allow us to double our guide dog capacity, broadening the life-changing impact of these partnerships. This year, we made two new pairings which brings the total number of Guide Dog Teams to 13 since our inception. This achievement marks a significant milestone on our path to becoming a member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

GDS is also honored to be a recipient of the Digital for Life Grant by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Funded by DBS Bank, we launched a two-year digital inclusion programme to strengthen technology literacy among our clients. In 2024, we delivered over 230 personalised training sessions and hosted workshops for 80 participants, empowering them to navigate their lives more confidently through digital tools.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the continued support of our donors, partners, and volunteers. In a climate where giving is more intentional than ever, we are deeply grateful for every contribution—monetary, time-based, or advocacy-driven. As we look to the year ahead, one thing remains clear: the road to a more inclusive society is long, but we’re well on our way and we’re not walking it alone. At GDS, we are not simply responding to change; we are shaping it, reimagining a future where every person with vision impairment can lead an empowered, independent, and dignified life.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, thank you for walking this journey with us.