Dialogue in the Dark in Monterrey, Mexico: Showing the World of the Blind

Monterrey's Forum 2007 hopes to get people learning and working together to promote peace in the world. They do this by promoting understanding of others, in terms of culture, language, and disabilities.

If you will be in Monterrey, Mexico in the next six months, this is a great experience for tourists and business travelers alike. It is hosted in Monterrey's Parque Fundidora, which is an essential stop on any tourist's visit to Monterrey.

"Dialogue in the Dark" is a building set up to be completely dark, with rooms representing different areas that a blind person might go through in a day.

Guided by an actual blind person, visitors are given canes and spend an hour in total darkness exploring the different parts of the building. The feeling of not being able to see with your eyes wide open and learning about the difficulties the vision impaired face is a life-changing experience.

The exhibit offers visitors an insight into the life of a vision impaired person by passing the visitors through activities that a blind person might have to do during their day.

They ask that you do not talk about the activity in detail, so as not to spoil it for people who have not yet gone through the tour. Luckily, Dialogue in the Dark is so popular that it will be around for six months longer than originally planned. It will be open until June 2008.

Visitors leave the exhibit being asked to think about what they can do to change the world, and make it a friendlier place for people with disabilities of all kinds.

Our tour guide pointed out that while there are legal building requirements to assist those in wheelchairs, there is very little to assist those with vision impairments.

The guide said that in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, she knows of only one street-crossing that makes a noise when it is safe to cross.

Monterrey, Mexico is only a few hours from the US Border, and a wonderful city to visit. However, even if you cannot attend Dialogue in the Dark, consider promoting a similar exhibit in your home city.

Dialogue in the Dark is an excellent way to spread understanding and awareness of disabilities, and motivate people to action. Think about what you can do to promote awareness of visual disabilities in your town.