Signature Market Cares: Blindness Awareness & Blood Donation Event

You’ve seen the occasional banners, educational booths at charity events and perhaps even noticed the accessibility features that we have in Malaysia that range from special raised sidewalks to reserved seats on public transport - but simply noticing them isn’t enough. While the government is indeed responsible for providing accessibility accommodations for the visually impaired in Malaysia, we too can do our part to make life easier and better for our brothers and sisters with visual impairments.

Did you know?
• Approximately 1.2% of Malaysia’s population experience some kind of visual impairment.
• 1 in 10 children suffer from undiagnosed vision problems that may lead to visual impairment if left untreated.
• 80% of what a child learns is through vision, hence a visually impaired child may have difficulty when it comes to learning and carrying out daily activities. Thus, it’s essential for them to have early intervention and special training as soon as possible.
• Up to 95% of blind children do not attend school due to a lack of skilled teachers and limited access to Braille materials and equipment.

When discussing the challenges of today’s modern world, it’s important to not forget about the largest minority - our disabled community. Hence, we have decided to partner with the Lions Club of Puchong, the Malaysian Foundation For The Blind (Yayasan Orang Buta Malaysia), MPP MPSJ, MPSJ and Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM) to bring you a chance to better understand and learn about what being blind in Malaysia is like through our Blindness Awareness & Blood Donation Drive.

During the event, you will get to take part in a Blind Tasting, Blindfolded Conversation and Blind Walking Experience to get a small glimpse of what daily life as a visually impaired person is like.



Blind Tasting
We typically eat with our eyes first, so what does dining feel like when sight is not in the equation? The Blind Tasting experience places the focus on the quality of the food and removes all presumptions and distractions. Not only does it put the spotlight on our other senses while dining, but it also helps us to appreciate the experience of eating and teaches us to slow down and savour each bite of our food.

Blindfolded Conversations Being blindfolded opens us up to being comfortable in our vulnerability and may even help foster a deeper sense of empathy and self-awareness. Communication flows differently without body language to distract us, and thus allows us to better create a sense of trust and openness that can help build better relationships and connections.

Blind Walking Experience (Led by the blind) While it’s impossible to fully replicate the feeling of walking while blind, the Blind Walking Experience tries to come as close as possible to educate the public on the importance of accessibility features for the visually impaired. The experience also aims to teach us to trust our other senses when our sight is not available.

Aside from all these activities, a Blood Donation Drive will be held concurrently to encourage everyone to donate blood. Curious to know why you should be donating blood?

Blood Donation Trivia
• Just 2.5% of Malaysians who are physically capable of donating blood do so while the international average is 5%.
• Donating blood just once can save up to 3 lives.
• Regular blood donors get special medical privileges in Malaysia! Click here for more info.

Empathy and support costs nothing, so come by and show your support during this event - perhaps you’ll even gain a new experience or new insights on the challenges those in our disabled community face.

Sign up here!