Group photo of GDS staff and clients smiling alongside two yellow Labrador guide dogs.

SINGAPORE (3 October 2024) – Join Guide Dogs Singapore (GDS) on 27 October 2024, Sunday at The Star Vista from 10am to 8pm as we celebrate International White Cane Day. This event showcases the resilience, empowerment, and independence of people with blindness, while bringing together community members, partners, and advocates. Our aim is to raise awareness of the critical role rehabilitative training, guide dogs, and assistive technologies play in enhancing the lives of the vision impaired (VI) community.

Mr. Eric Chua wears a blindfold while fitting a puzzle piece onto the stage backdrop.
Mr. Eric Chua smiles while taking a selfie with a GDS guide dog user and his yellow Labrador guide dog.

We are privileged to have Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Eric Chua, Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, as our Guest-of-Honour this year. His presence at the event underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and support for the VI community.

In Singapore, over 40,000 people are living with blindness or vision impairment, and this number is expected to rise sharply as the population ages. Vision loss can affect any one of us, making it a significant public health challenge that impacts not only individuals but also the wider community and economy. For many, losing sight is a life-altering experience, leading to isolation, loss of independence, and anxiety about the future. However, with the right support, the blind community can overcome these challenges.

“At GDS, we are committed to supporting the VI community, helping them regain their independence and confidence. Aligned with the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Enabling Masterplan 2030, our goal is to foster a more inclusive Singapore, ensuring that everyone feels empowered and valued. Our free programmes, from training and matching guide dogs to teaching essential Orientation & Mobility skills, have been life-changing for many of our clients. It is incredibly rewarding to see them navigate life with newfound ease, dignity, and a sense of freedom.”

Dr. Wong Hon Tym, Chairman of Guide Dogs Singapore

GDS Inspiring Lives Without Sight 2024 is held in commemoration of White Cane Day, which celebrates the achievements and resilience of VI individuals. Marked annually on 15 October, White Cane Day highlights the white cane as a symbol of independence, enabling the VI community to live fuller, more independent lives and actively engage in society.

  • Launch Ceremony: As a symbolic gesture, Mr. Chua will place a puzzle piece featuring a white cane user into the backdrop, symbolising the integration of the disability community into Singapore’s social fabric. This act embodies our collective hopes of promoting inclusiveness, acceptance, and the seamless integration of people with disabilities into society.

  • Interactive Booths & Educational Talks: Attendees can engage in a range of hands-on activities, including a pet wellness talk, eye health tips, and story time for kids. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to experience simulations of vision impairment, providing deeper insights into the daily challenges faced by the VI community.

  • Promoting Eye Health and Preventive Measures: In partnership with Singapore Polytechnic, Diploma in Optometry, free eye screenings will be offered. This initiative reflects GDS’s ongoing commitment to promoting good eye health and ensuring that the community has access to essential health information.

  • Showcasing Diverse Abilities within the Visually Impaired Community: Several event booths will be operated by our VI clients, providing opportunities for direct interaction between sighted and non-sighted individuals. This celebrates the diverse talents within the VI community and showcases the organisation’s dedication to promoting inclusion.

A guide dog user navigates an obstacle course with his guide dog, as a group of onlookers observes attentively.
An event attendee wears goggles simulating a vision condition, leaning in closely as she attempts to read the expiry date on a biscuit tin.
Mr. Eric Chua wears goggles simulating a vision condition, leaning in closely as he tries to read the expiry date on a biscuit tin.
Mr. Eric Chua smiles while taking a selfie with a GDS guide dog user and his yellow Labrador guide dog.
A young event attendee raises his hand as a GDS staff member approaches him with a microphone.
A masseuse gives a relaxing massage to an event attendee, focusing on their shoulders and neck area.
Four GDS clients perform a musical piece on stage.
An event attendee wears goggles simulating a vision condition, leaning in closely as she attempts to read the expiry date on a biscuit tin.
A young event attendee assists a GDS client, who is holding his white cane, as they navigate through an obstacle course together.
GDS is a non-profit voluntary welfare organisation, and has been accorded Charity status by the Commissioner of Charities. We are registered with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) as an associate member and holds an Institute of Public Character status.
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