When we were looking for news about the visually impaired, we found an unbelievable piece of news, which stated that the judge didn’t allow a guide dog to enter the courtroom. We found the blog of Vincent Chiu, the dog owner, and wrote on his wall asking if we could arrange an interview with him. He quickly said yes, and he even gave us his cell phone number. The first meeting took place at the Far Eastern Department Store next to MRT Banqiao station. He was very kind to invite us to his place. During the interview, we learned that Mr. Chiu is a street performer. He plays the clarinet in the Eastern District every week. We went to see his performance and his guide dog Journey. Below is about the two interviews:

 

 

 

 

Vincent Chiu

 

Date: December 21st 2011 Weather: rainy
Location: Mr. Chiu’s home in Banqiao

 

 

The interview:

Q1:How does it feel to be blind?

A1:It feels like I feel nothing. It’s not dark as others say or white. You just don’t feel anything. It’s an emptiness.

Q2:Is there anything of primary students’ understanding about the blind or their guide dogs that should be improved?

A2:The promotion for guide dogs are very successful. Children know better than adults that guide dogs are working dogs, and they shouldn’t be offered food or distracted. They also know guide dogs are free to enter public places. On the contrary, kids can teach their parents and the elders the correct attitude toward guide dogs.

 

Q3:How to own a guide dogs? How many years do they work?

A3:One needs to pass a very long precess of application and evaluation to have a guide dog. When I won the permit, I went to the United States to meet Journey. I stayed there for a month to learn how to train her and live with her. Guide dogs should receive annual health check up. If they are in ill health, they should be retired.

 

Q4: If there are bad people trying to hurt the visually impaired, will the guide dog bark or protect its owner through other ways?

A4:No, they won’t. They were trained not to bark at or attack anyone. If anything happens, they will lead their owners to leave.

 

Q5:If the visually impaired travels to a place that is unfamiliar to the dog, how will the dog lead its owner?

A5:The guide dog takes orders in English, such as “turn right,” “turn left,” and “go straight.” If you see a guide dog moves without any order, the dog must have taken the way for many times and has remembered the path. There once was a funny occasion. Journey remembered the men’s room was on the left side. However, the men’s room had already moved to the right side, and it was the ladies’ room on the left. Based on her memory, she led me to the wrong bathroom. It was really embarrassing.

 

Q6:Are there any public places or facilities in Taipei that should be changed to make it more convenient for you?

A6:Because of Jounery, I’m free to travel anywhere in Taipei. The only problem is with restaurants refuse to let guide dogs enter. They either said no or told me they were full. Even if I reason with them and tell them the law has stated guide dogs’ rights to enter public places, there are still problems. Restaurants might add some “stuff” to your food. That’s why I hope the government and the service industry will spend more effort in promoting guide dogs’ access to public places. Also, compare to those fully unsighted, I think the weak sighted need more help from the public as they probably don’t wear sunglasses and they look like everyone else. When you see someone looking helpless, please go forward and offer your help.

 

 

Q7:Among names like blind man, blind fellow, visually impaired, or unsighted friend, which one do you like to be called?

A7:It doesn’t matter. A close friend would just call my name. If the person is a stranger, it’s okay to call me a “blind friend.” I don’t care much about polite wording because it’s quite indifferent.

 

Q8: Have you ever had a nightmare about a ghost?？

A8:If it’s physical, like icy feeling, I’d feel scared. If it’s something I can’t feel, like a scary looking ghost, I’m not scared.

 

Q9:Do blind people hear better?

A9(Answered by Mr. Chiu’s girlfriend): Yes, he has better hearing abilities. One time he was in the other room, but he knew the TV in the living room broke down. He could hear the electromagnetic waves. That’s why when he flies on a plane, he feels pain in the ear. He has to swallow to ease ear pain.

 

10:Do you use the computer and surf the Net??

A10:Yes! I don’t have a screen, but I do have a screen reader which reads words shown in the computer. I also have a Braille display. I’ll show you how to use it later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vincent’s performance

Date: January 17th 2012 Weather: sunny
Location: In front of the Bank at Zhongxiao E. Road

From our previous interview, we learned that Mr. Chiu is a street performer. He plays the clarinet in front of the Fubon bank at the intersection of Zhongxiao E. Road and Dunhua S. Road every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. He performs at the Dinghao Square on Zhongxiao E. Road and Daan Road every weekend. We planed to visit Technology Development Association for the Disabled this afternoon, and it happened to be a Tuesday. We called Mr. Chiu and asked if he was performing in the afternoon. He said the weather was nice, so he’d take Journey out to perform. By the time we finished at the Association it was already 4pm. We rushed to his performance in a taxi because he was going to finish at 5pm. If we had taken the MRT, we would have missed his performance. When he was performing, Journey quietly lied on the floor. We heard many songs, including the sad Lu Bing Hua and the joyful Grandma’s Harbour. We all gave him a big hand. We sincerely hope there will be more people enjoying his performance and reward him more.

 

Below is a clip of Mr. Chiu’s performance:

 

 

Afterthoughts:

Yen-Ching: Mr. Chiu said the Braille display cost the price of three computers. It’s very expensive. My father’s computer can only make sounds. I want to buy one for my father in the future.

 

Pei-Yu: Mr. Chiu showed us how he types with the blind computer. His computer has no screen, but he replaced it with a Braille display. He types way faster than me- 98 words in a minute. I really enjoyed this interview. I have learned a lot from this experience. I hope we will have more interviews with other people next time.

 

Jou-cun: We saw a Braille display as Mr. Chiu mentioned at his place. It’s a flat machine that has Braille words on it. It shows texts in the computer. Mr. Chiu’s computer also talks! Mr. Chiu’s guide dog is really loyal; she basically follows him everywhere. Even when he’s in shower, she’d lie down and wait at the door.

 

Hsin-Tung: Ming-Han brought some chocolate and I brought some disposable heat pads to Mr. Chiu. There’s been a cold wave these days. Mr. Chiu’s girlfriend said he could use the pads to stay warm. Otherwise when he performs, his hands will be too cold.

 

Ming-Han: I think Mr. Chiu is very brave because he doesn’t feel sorry for himself, and he is very optimistic. I really look up to him.

 

Tzu-Hsuan: I went to Mr. Chiu’s performance. After I heard him play, I put all my allowance into his moneybox. He did a great performance. I hope there will be more people enjoying his performance, then he’ll have better income.