Hello. I'm Stella Glory. I recently had the wonderful pleasure of speaking with two special guests from the Singaporean Assistance Dog Organization. Canine director Cassandra Chew was the first woman in Singapore to have a seeing eye dog, and we were also joined by board member Andrew Chew. Both Cassandra and Andrew were visiting Vision Australia and seeing eye dogs along with a number of other disability and assistance dog organisations in Australia. I began by asking Andrew a little bit more about canine and what the organisation represented. And tell us a little bit about canine. Andrew I understand it's a relatively new organisation.

Hello. I'm Stella Glory. I recently had the wonderful pleasure of speaking with two special guests from the Singaporean Assistance Dog Organization. Canine director Cassandra Chew was the first woman in Singapore to have a seeing eye dog, and we were also joined by board member Andrew Chew. Both Cassandra and Andrew were visiting Vision Australia and seeing eye dogs along with a number of other disability and assistance dog organisations in Australia. I began by asking Andrew a little bit more about canine and what the organisation represented. And tell us a little bit about canine. Andrew I understand it's a relatively new organisation.

Yes it is. We started Canine Assistance way back during the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. So Keen Eye Assistance was founded in April of 2020. And our main mission is to allow persons with disabilities to benefit from the use of assistance dogs beyond seeing eye dogs. So we thought that other disability, like people who have who are deaf and hard of hearing people have autism and people who have a hearing impairment, I mean, people who have a mobility issue would benefit from the use of assistance dogs. So that's the reason why we started Canine Assistance way back then.

Yes it is. We started Canine Assistance way back during the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic. So Keen Eye Assistance was founded in April of 2020. And our main mission is to allow persons with disabilities to benefit from the use of assistance dogs beyond seeing eye dogs. So we thought that other disability, like people who have who are deaf and hard of hearing people have autism and people who have a hearing impairment, I mean, people who have a mobility issue would benefit from the use of assistance dogs. So that's the reason why we started Canine Assistance way back then.

Which actually wasn't that long ago and seems like a funny time to start it during the pandemic. And it's not that long ago. So what was happening in Singapore with assistance dogs before the evolution of your organisation?

Which actually wasn't that long ago and seems like a funny time to start it during the pandemic. And it's not that long ago. So what was happening in Singapore with assistance dogs before the evolution of your organisation?

Cassandra I would say not, not that much. So seeing eye dogs have been in well rather Singapore seeing dogs for the last perhaps ten years. I was one of the first and benefited so much independence wise, confidence, mobility. It's just unparalleled compared to anything else for me at least. I do understand and respect that there are blind folks out there who much prefer the white cane. Yeah. And at that point in time, just before I started canine there, there are no other different types of assistance dogs in Singapore, so no mobility support or autism support or hearing dogs yet. And it was also nearing the time of the retirement of my first seeing eye dog as me. And she's she's given me so much. I just didn't want to let that legacy go to waste because I, together with her and through her help, through her her presence with media, with the public and all of that, there's so much education done. And we brought Singapore from a place, a time when when public access was so difficult, even getting onto buses or trains or restaurants was it was a problem to to a time closing to her retirement, where I hear little children on the trains tell their parents, that's a working dog, it's helping that blind lady and it's allowed in here. So I thought, you know, it'll be good that this is also expanded outwards to to different types of disabilities and not just myself and us blind folks who can benefit from this, these amazing dogs. And that's the story.

Cassandra I would say not, not that much. So seeing eye dogs have been in well rather Singapore seeing dogs for the last perhaps ten years. I was one of the first and benefited so much independence wise, confidence, mobility. It's just unparalleled compared to anything else for me at least. I do understand and respect that there are blind folks out there who much prefer the white cane. Yeah. And at that point in time, just before I started canine there, there are no other different types of assistance dogs in Singapore, so no mobility support or autism support or hearing dogs yet. And it was also nearing the time of the retirement of my first seeing eye dog as me. And she's she's given me so much. I just didn't want to let that legacy go to waste because I, together with her and through her help, through her her presence with media, with the public and all of that, there's so much education done. And we brought Singapore from a place, a time when when public access was so difficult, even getting onto buses or trains or restaurants was it was a problem to to a time closing to her retirement, where I hear little children on the trains tell their parents, that's a working dog, it's helping that blind lady and it's allowed in here. So I thought, you know, it'll be good that this is also expanded outwards to to different types of disabilities and not just myself and us blind folks who can benefit from this, these amazing dogs. And that's the story.

Cassandra, you were the first woman to use an assistance dog in Singapore.

Cassandra, you were the first woman to use an assistance dog in Singapore.

Yeah, that's right.

Yeah, that's right.

Tell us about that.

Tell us about that.

Well.

Well.

Where do you start?

Where do you start?

I would say that my first seeing eye dog, she inspired me to be the woman I am today. I wouldn't be here without her. She allowed me to play many different roles. I was just starting professionally as well. I just graduated. I was a young mother that time. My daughter was three four when I first got her. So with the help of my seeing eye dog, I was able to go to playdates, go to the supermarket and do different things, go to school, go to work and really get out into the community. So being able to do that and fulfil all my different roles as a woman, mother, daughter, counsellor, that's, that's my day job. That really empowered me.

I would say that my first seeing eye dog, she inspired me to be the woman I am today. I wouldn't be here without her. She allowed me to play many different roles. I was just starting professionally as well. I just graduated. I was a young mother that time. My daughter was three four when I first got her. So with the help of my seeing eye dog, I was able to go to playdates, go to the supermarket and do different things, go to school, go to work and really get out into the community. So being able to do that and fulfil all my different roles as a woman, mother, daughter, counsellor, that's, that's my day job. That really empowered me.

And I understand also enter. You're a good buddy with our good friend Bill jolly.

And I understand also enter. You're a good buddy with our good friend Bill jolly.

Well Bill let me win back over close to 25 years because the first time when I visited Australia I wanted to visit different blindness organisation and because I understand at the time that Melbourne is the most liveable cities for blind people. And I wanted to visit Melbourne because I had a professor at the time in university who is a professor at the history department at University of Melbourne. So I decided to visit Melbourne and a different blindness organisation and I contacted Bill and he was very generous and it started a 25 year friendship when he was then the executive officer of BCA. And also at that time I also had the opportunity of visiting three R.P. H and I had the opportunity of meeting up with Steve and Julia as well at the time. So that was the same trip. And so I do have some exposure to your radio station.

Well Bill let me win back over close to 25 years because the first time when I visited Australia I wanted to visit different blindness organisation and because I understand at the time that Melbourne is the most liveable cities for blind people. And I wanted to visit Melbourne because I had a professor at the time in university who is a professor at the history department at University of Melbourne. So I decided to visit Melbourne and a different blindness organisation and I contacted Bill and he was very generous and it started a 25 year friendship when he was then the executive officer of BCA. And also at that time I also had the opportunity of visiting three R.P. H and I had the opportunity of meeting up with Steve and Julia as well at the time. So that was the same trip. And so I do have some exposure to your radio station.

So Stephen Jolly was the person who actually began talking vision about ten years ago, now talking about cities that are most liveable cities for people who are blind or have low vision. What makes a city liveable for people who are blind or have low vision? And where to Singapore fit in with that? Cassandra And you say.

So Stephen Jolly was the person who actually began talking vision about ten years ago, now talking about cities that are most liveable cities for people who are blind or have low vision. What makes a city liveable for people who are blind or have low vision? And where to Singapore fit in with that? Cassandra And you say.

That, yeah, that there are two parts to that. One is that the hardware, the infrastructure, the tyres, the the audible traffic signals, that kind of stuff. And and in terms of that, Singapore is amazing compared with most parts of the world similar to Melbourne that tactile indicators everywhere, most traffic lights are audible and it's quite easy to get around. No, no stepdown kerbs to all rooms. Very accessible in that way. I think another part which is also much, much bigger is the heart HAARP space hardware off of the city, how people are, how friendly or helpful they are to someone with a disability. And that's been a space that I've been working in quite a fair bit over the last ten, 15 years, because I think that with more improvement, when people have more empathy, when people are more willing to go out of the way to give a helping hand to someone with a disability, it makes a huge amount of difference in someone's at the traffic light, helping a blind person cross the road. With a beeps or not, it's not such a big deal.

That, yeah, that there are two parts to that. One is that the hardware, the infrastructure, the tyres, the the audible traffic signals, that kind of stuff. And and in terms of that, Singapore is amazing compared with most parts of the world similar to Melbourne that tactile indicators everywhere, most traffic lights are audible and it's quite easy to get around. No, no stepdown kerbs to all rooms. Very accessible in that way. I think another part which is also much, much bigger is the heart HAARP space hardware off of the city, how people are, how friendly or helpful they are to someone with a disability. And that's been a space that I've been working in quite a fair bit over the last ten, 15 years, because I think that with more improvement, when people have more empathy, when people are more willing to go out of the way to give a helping hand to someone with a disability, it makes a huge amount of difference in someone's at the traffic light, helping a blind person cross the road. With a beeps or not, it's not such a big deal.

So how is Singapore's heart as you talk about in that way?

So how is Singapore's heart as you talk about in that way?

I think we're getting there. So Singapore is a very how would I put it? We're very young country socio economically. We're probably infants compared to most other developed nations that's been around for 1 to 300 years or more. And we're just, you know, 50 still babies. We spent our country spent the first 50 years or so really putting food on the table, just doing basic stuff, trying to get out out there and and educate ourselves and be better. And now in the last ten, 20 years, I would say we're really growing that HRT space and having a lot more empathy, looking into different social issues and having much, much bigger heart.

I think we're getting there. So Singapore is a very how would I put it? We're very young country socio economically. We're probably infants compared to most other developed nations that's been around for 1 to 300 years or more. And we're just, you know, 50 still babies. We spent our country spent the first 50 years or so really putting food on the table, just doing basic stuff, trying to get out out there and and educate ourselves and be better. And now in the last ten, 20 years, I would say we're really growing that HRT space and having a lot more empathy, looking into different social issues and having much, much bigger heart.

And how do you think Australia writes? You can be honest.

And how do you think Australia writes? You can be honest.

Pretty high, pretty, I would say most of the times I would say 90% of the time getting around with my seeing eye dog in Australia, it's not difficult, it's not a problem, it's it's so smooth and easy and people go out of their way to help. Just the other day I was waiting the cross cross traffic light and I heard the audible signal beeping and I thought, I'll just wait for the next one. And this lady comes along and says, Hey, you know, you can cross now, just come with me. So that that's really nice and gives that bit of reassurance because there's a person or vision impairment, you don't know how much time is left to cross the route.

Pretty high, pretty, I would say most of the times I would say 90% of the time getting around with my seeing eye dog in Australia, it's not difficult, it's not a problem, it's it's so smooth and easy and people go out of their way to help. Just the other day I was waiting the cross cross traffic light and I heard the audible signal beeping and I thought, I'll just wait for the next one. And this lady comes along and says, Hey, you know, you can cross now, just come with me. So that that's really nice and gives that bit of reassurance because there's a person or vision impairment, you don't know how much time is left to cross the route.

That's great. Glad to hear that you're over here in Australia visiting to come to Australia, especially to visit between Australia and Turkey.

That's great. Glad to hear that you're over here in Australia visiting to come to Australia, especially to visit between Australia and Turkey.

Well, we visit a couple of cities as well because this is a study trip for us as we are a fledging organisation and we certainly need to learn from all friends in Australia the different types of assistance. And also we previously visit South Australia. We were also in New South Wales and now here we're back to a very familiar city to both Cassandra and myself and here in Melbourne.

Well, we visit a couple of cities as well because this is a study trip for us as we are a fledging organisation and we certainly need to learn from all friends in Australia the different types of assistance. And also we previously visit South Australia. We were also in New South Wales and now here we're back to a very familiar city to both Cassandra and myself and here in Melbourne.

And tell me about your fact finding. What were you out to seek and did it match up with what you found?

And tell me about your fact finding. What were you out to seek and did it match up with what you found?

I would say so, definitely so. We are out to seek for knowledge. We're very, very thirsty for that. I don't personally, I don't believe in reinventing the wheel. Many, many different organisations here in Australia, including Vision Australia, have been giants in the assistant bulk space. And there's so much processes that we can learn from and adapt into our environment. So definitely have gained so much knowledge and more importantly, I would say friendships with with the different organizations because I think, you know, knowledge is only, only go so far, but it's really the human to human relationships that you built with different organizations to help that knowledge exchange their best practices, exchange that that helps all of us with expertise, that helps all of us in different ways become better versions of ourselves.

I would say so, definitely so. We are out to seek for knowledge. We're very, very thirsty for that. I don't personally, I don't believe in reinventing the wheel. Many, many different organisations here in Australia, including Vision Australia, have been giants in the assistant bulk space. And there's so much processes that we can learn from and adapt into our environment. So definitely have gained so much knowledge and more importantly, I would say friendships with with the different organizations because I think, you know, knowledge is only, only go so far, but it's really the human to human relationships that you built with different organizations to help that knowledge exchange their best practices, exchange that that helps all of us with expertise, that helps all of us in different ways become better versions of ourselves.

Yeah. So we are certainly here to seek support from our friends to do good in Singapore. Yeah.

Yeah. So we are certainly here to seek support from our friends to do good in Singapore. Yeah.

Yeah. And has that been fruitful?

Yeah. And has that been fruitful?

Very, very.

Very, very.

Yeah, yeah. And just before we go, just talk a little bit about self advocacy in Singapore. You know, in Australia we have a vision Australia and there's also the grant more grassroots organization, Blind Citizens Australia, very strong on advocacy. How is the self-advocacy in Singapore? How.

Yeah, yeah. And just before we go, just talk a little bit about self advocacy in Singapore. You know, in Australia we have a vision Australia and there's also the grant more grassroots organization, Blind Citizens Australia, very strong on advocacy. How is the self-advocacy in Singapore? How.

Join. Take that, Andrew. Yeah, why not? Okay. I would say that, unfortunately, a little less. Less loud, a little less focused on self-efficacy. We do have the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped as well as another organisation. Also board director on the board is the Disabled People's Association that is part of Disabled People's International that looks at efficacy, self-efficacy. And working on that front. So we do a couple of different things. They use the basic stuff like just speaking up when you need help to, to writing different articles in the newspapers about, about what disability is, how inclusion should be, or even to the level of participating more, more with the UN, CERP and going to the UN and sharing our views on how that can be improved in our home space.

Join. Take that, Andrew. Yeah, why not? Okay. I would say that, unfortunately, a little less. Less loud, a little less focused on self-efficacy. We do have the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped as well as another organisation. Also board director on the board is the Disabled People's Association that is part of Disabled People's International that looks at efficacy, self-efficacy. And working on that front. So we do a couple of different things. They use the basic stuff like just speaking up when you need help to, to writing different articles in the newspapers about, about what disability is, how inclusion should be, or even to the level of participating more, more with the UN, CERP and going to the UN and sharing our views on how that can be improved in our home space.

Did you have anything further to add on that, Andrew?

Did you have anything further to add on that, Andrew?

Well, I think that as far as the work is concerned, I think we we certainly is hopeful for the future. I think that the only thing we can say, we are hopeful for the future and we are hopeful that with our friends in different places, we will certainly be able to reach the goal that we we set that we set ourselves to do. I think, you know.

Well, I think that as far as the work is concerned, I think we we certainly is hopeful for the future. I think that the only thing we can say, we are hopeful for the future and we are hopeful that with our friends in different places, we will certainly be able to reach the goal that we we set that we set ourselves to do. I think, you know.

While I really hope that we prove to be worthwhile friends and that we have a long friendship and hopefully may be a delegate from Vision Australia can go head to Singapore at some point.

While I really hope that we prove to be worthwhile friends and that we have a long friendship and hopefully may be a delegate from Vision Australia can go head to Singapore at some point.

We look forward to that.

We look forward to that.

I've actually never been to Singapore.

I've actually never been to Singapore.

You probably can broadcast from Singapore.

You probably can broadcast from Singapore.

Yeah, that would be wonderful. I could talk to you all day, but you've actually been here at Vision Australia all day and I think you're ready for your weekend to begin. Are you going to do some little bit of sightseeing and relaxation in Melbourne over the weekend?

Yeah, that would be wonderful. I could talk to you all day, but you've actually been here at Vision Australia all day and I think you're ready for your weekend to begin. Are you going to do some little bit of sightseeing and relaxation in Melbourne over the weekend?

Yes.

Yes.

Cassandra Chow, who is the chair of a canine based in Singapore. And Andrew Chow, who different surnames spelt differently but pronounced the same. Who is one of the directors from a canine? Thank you so much for your time this afternoon.

Cassandra Chow, who is the chair of a canine based in Singapore. And Andrew Chow, who different surnames spelt differently but pronounced the same. Who is one of the directors from a canine? Thank you so much for your time this afternoon.

Thank you for having us.

Thank you for having us.