A sensorial path at the Institute for the Blind in Milan
Italy is one of the nations that stands out most for initiatives aimed at people with disabilities. One of the most interesting is that organized by the Institute for the Blind in Milan and entitled Dialogue in the Dark. Italian Traditions will lead you to know of this interesting initiative, which allows you to discover new dimensions. We will tell you of its story and how it unfolds. Finally, we will explain how to get there and how to access the event.
What is Dialogue in the Dark?
It is an exciting path set up at the Institute for the Blind in Milan. Its inception dates back to 2005 and consists of a one-hour journey into total darkness. This transforms a simple walk in a garden into an unprecedented experience that changes the visitor’s way of thinking. This is not a simulation of blindness but it is an opportunity to discover new dimensions. Basically it is a rediscovery of the world that we already know through a totally different perspective, learning to “see in the darkness” through the senses of touch, smell and sound.
The visit takes place in groups of up to 8 people through an hour and a quarter journey. Different settings are recreated that recall the situations that we face in our everyday life. These are to be discovered through the senses and a dialogue with the guide for the blind who accompanies visitors. Once you have gone through the different environments you reach the last stage that is the bar. Here, always in total darkness, you can comment on the experience.
The story of Dialogue in the Dark
Dialogue in the dark was set up for the first time in Milan in October 2002. The exhibition remained open until February 2003 and was a great success with over 30 thousand visitors. This great interest convinced the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Institute for the blind in Milan, Rodolfo Masto, to re-propose the initiative at the headquarters located in via Vivaio 7. The exhibition finished in December 2005 and in the first two years it was visited by over 110 thousand people.
The first edition of this event was held in the German city of Frankfurt thanks to Andreas Heinecke, a journalist at a German radio station Andreas. Afterwards, the initiative took place in many cities around the world and is now present on all continents. The formula was adapted according to the spaces and the peculiarities of the location where it took place.
The guide
After initial disorientation, the voice of the guide accompanying visitors through the exhibition itinerary creates the confidence that see visitors’ feelings progress to the joy of perceiving the world through the other senses, in an unforgettable experience. Those who cross the threshold for the first time find themselves disoriented by the temporary loss of sight. For this reason, the guide is very important and represent what gives value to the event. The guides are blind or visually impaired people who have specific training and consolidated experience in accompanying visitors in environments without light.
How to get there and how to access it
The place is so central, that public transport is recommended. You can reach the Institute by subway, getting off at the San Babila and Palestro stations of line 1, or by a number of bus lines.
By car you can park in Via Mascagni and Viale Majno. These are near Via Vivaio 7 where the Institute for the blind is located.
The event can be visited on the following days and times. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 to 8:30p.m. Friday from 3:00 to 5: 30p.m. and from 5: 45 to 8: 30p.m. Saturday from 2:00 to 6:15p.m. and from 6:30 to 8: 30p.m.. Instead on Sundays from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. The route with the addition of the coffee noir bar is available only on Fridays and Saturdays. The admission price is 20 euros for the whole ticket and 17 for the reduced price for children aged 7 to 18. While for just the route the cost is respectively 15 and 12 euros.
This praiseworthy initiative allows the visitor to experience something new and get a new vision of things. If you want to discover other interesting events we suggest you read this article too. Now that you know what Dialogue in the Dark is, you just have to organize your visit.
