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Panelist

Mr. Cheng Hock

Born with r.p. into a family of eight children, of whom the last four are congenitally blind from r.p. Studied in a boarding school for the blind from Primary education, and was the third batch of blind students to join an integrated school program where about a dozen of blind students co-exist in a secondary school for sighted students.

Trained as a school teacher in a regular teachers training institute in Singapore and completed the graduate diploma in Special Education in Melbourne (Victoria College) which is now the Dikkin University.

Worked at the Singapore Association For The Blind for the first ten years of my working life (including roles as a braille transcriber, school teacher, and head of department in Administration). Joined the mainstream industry as a life insurance agent for fifteen years, and eventually started a small business to introduce blindness technology into Singapore and south-East Asia.

Served as the president of the Society of the Blind in Singapore from 1989 to 2010.

Started the Guide Dogs service/movement in Singapore (2003) and became the first guide dog handler in 2005 - working on the with the government to bring about legislative changes to pave the way for guide dogs access in Singapore on September 19th, 2005.

Served as the WBU's Asian Blind Union as its regional president from 1997 to 2000; and then the WBU Asia Pacific Regional President from 2000-2004 and then 2006-2008. While fulfilling the role of WBU Regional president served as a member of the WBU Board of Officer in those years. Was subsequently invited to become an Honourary Life Member of the World blind Union in August 2008.