WHEN telephone operator Serene Ng visited the National Museum last weekend, she was able to experience some of the galleries for the first time without help.

The blind 39-year-old was able to read Braille texts to learn about the history of Singapore's fashion and its food culture, when previously she needed someone to read out the text for her.

'Since the museum was renovated, I have been wanting to know what there was in it,' says the mother of one. 'Now with the Braille texts, at least I know a little of what it has.'

The signs have been installed as part of a project called Heritage Beyond Sight.

This is the first time a museum here has been fitted with facilities to help the visually handicapped enjoy the cultural content of the museum.

This landmark project was initiated by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica), in consultation with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and the museum, to make heritage accessible to the visually handicapped.

So far, about $25,000 has been spent on creating Braille labels and information sheets for two themed galleries in the museum on food and fashion.

The Braille texts are meant to complement existing sensory features of these two galleries.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times Life!.