The Brief

The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) was facing two interlinked problems: (1) The public subtly discriminates against the visually impaired as they are perceived to be incapable of integrating with the society. (2) Conversely, the visually impaired generally feel a lack of self-confidence to be useful members of the society. These perceptions cannot be further from the truth.

Creative Execution

We trained 12 visually impaired members of SAVH to become counsellors and set up a phone and home counselling service to the general public – who are oblivious that they were being counselled by someone with a devastating disability.

Describe the creative solution to the brief/objective.

Our insight is blindingly simple: if one cannot see, he hears much better – and that makes him a better listener than those who can see. For the visually impaired, this idea turned their handicap into an asset.

Results

The success of the campaign is best measured by the reactions of those who contemplated suicide and sought counselling. After face-to-face sessions, many were humbled and inspired by their disabled counsellors’ courage to live on. In just one month, our unique counselling service has helped over a hundred people find their way and will to live. But nothing beats having the visually impaired being seen in a completely different light.