Visually Impaired Face Challenges On Public Transport Research
In line with Guide Dogs Singapore’s aim, project Guide.Me was initiated to assess the public transport system in Singapore in light of a specific group of users - the visually impaired and legally blind. As part of the project, SMU students interviewed 3,733 Singaporeans across all postal codes in Singapore, about their experiences and perceptions of the blind community. Within the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Senior Lecturer Rosie Ching and her students conducted the surveys through face-to-face interviews, phone and Zoom calls. This initiative was taken to examine the perceptions and views of the visually-impaired, their mobility challenges in Singapore, and how far along Singapore is as an inclusive society.
Through this nation-wide study, students were given the opportunity to assimilate statistical concepts and apply them to real-world problems beyond classroom walls. This allowed for students to have a hands-on experience in conducting the study, which revealed that almost half of the legally blind survey respondents (49%) do not feel they can be open about their visual impairment. In addition, Senior Lecturer Rosie Ching also invited Guide Dogs Singapore to visit SMU to connect her students more closely with a real guide dog user and his dog. This allowed the students to grow a better understanding of the blind community in Singapore, and to better emphasise with the issues that they face on a daily basis.
Overall, the project allowed for the collection of data via more than 250 variables, evaluating the Visual Stigma Index (VSI) by profile, gender, age, race, education. The thousands of data lines subsequently were put through rigorous analysis over the course of another month.
Touched by the collective effort of the students and SMU, Patron Ms Denise Phua, MP and Mayor of Central District CDC, who met Rosie Ching, her students and Guide Dogs Singapore, said that “the character of a society is reflected in how we treat and include those who are differently abled. Everyone, regardless of ability, deserves equal access to essentials such as education, mobility, healthcare, work and friendships. I am heartened that SMU students care enough to study how the quality of life for the visually impaired and legally blind can be enhanced.
Beyond the statistical component, students also grew to be more aware of visually impaired and legally blinded community in Singapore, as expressed by Lucas LIM Wei Peng, a first-year student from SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business:
“The past months have been a fruitful journey for me, learning perspectives of the blind that we did not have before. It has been an honour to produce work could potentially help them. I truly hope that our statistics will make our community more inclusive of them and that any innovations to the white cane will ease their mobility challenges. Learning about the challenges the blind face has shown me that I should not only cherish what I have but also do more and do better for them. The results we obtained may not mean a lot to the sighted, but to me, if it makes a positive difference in the life of the blind, that is the most fulfilling thing that I could possibly hear.”