All guides are blind or partially sighted people, employed by Dialogue in the Dark, who lead visitors through the exhibition and provide insight into their everyday lives. They are at ease in the dark and can handle everyone’s needs during the tour, assuring that visitors are comfortable and safe. Guides provide an imaginative, educational and entertaining experience: progressing from anxiety and disorientation to the joy of perceiving the world through the other senses. All Guides are professionally trained by Dialogue Social Enterprise.

The book “I am Here” documents the impact of Dialogue in the Dark on the visually impaired staff all over the world. To order the book please contact us.

Evaluation study about the guides (by SHM 2007)

MASTER GUIDES

	Daniela Dimitrova Born in Bulgaria, Daniela lost her eyesight at the age of six. She holds two Master’s Degrees: Interpreting and Translation from the University of Sofia, and International Social Business from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria. Since 2001, for Dialog in the Dark and Dialog Social Enterprise she has worked as an exhibition tour guide, a Master Guide, a Trainer and as a Master Trainer while continuing to work as an international translator and interpreter. Daniela’s experience has given her the opportunities to practice what she has learned and to work for what she believes. Since 2009 in addition to acting as a project manager, she works full time as Dialogue Social Enterprise’s Director of Human Resources Development.
	Liran Frank Born in Israel with a rare eye disease, Liran Frank trained as an English teacher and worked as a computer technician at Tel-Aviv University, assisting students with various disabilities. Liran coped with the loss of his eyesight by believing that, if one accepts oneself and one’s situation, one can overcome anything by using the mind, natural abilities and optimism. When he discovered that Dialogue in the Dark shares this belief, Liran decided to spread the important message of ability and diversity at Dialogue in the Dark in Holon, Israel. Liran is now one of the Master Guides and Trainers for Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	Dörte Maack Dörte Maack is a trained actress who has spent many years training other performers. She studied educational science, sports and linguistics and has taught at Hamburg University. In the late 1990s, Dörte slowly lost her eyesight and began transforming her experiences with and without sight into extraordinary training concepts for executives and teams. Since 2002, the German native has worked for Dialogue in the Dark in Hamburg, Germany, developing educational and business workshops in total darkness. She was the first Trainer with Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	José Macías José Macías lost his eyesight at the age of six. He holds a degree in translation and is currently working toward a Master’s in organizational psychology. José works for the government of Monterrey, Mexico, in the field of human resources and general services. Additionally, he is a freelance translator. Born in Mexico, José likes travelling, reading and cooking, and his most important values are freedom and human success. He has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark for several years and is a Master Guide and Trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	Antonio Organtini Antonio Organtini works in Rome as a lawyer specializing in civil and administrative law, and as a consultant in social and human rights legislation. His involvement in Dialogue in the Dark includes years as a Master Guide and as a Trainer for Dialogue Social Enterprise. Antonio’s personal life also demonstrates his belief in freedom and equal opportunity: although blind, the Italian native practices swimming, running, cycling, sailing, skiing, kayaking, yoga, guitar, and wine tasting.
	Daniela Rubio Born blind, Daniela Rubio holds a Master’s degree in international relations from Instituto Barcelona de Estudios Internacionales. She is an Interpreter and Translator, though her professional life is very “polifacetic” because she also works in fields related to social responsibility issues and international relations. A native of Mexico, Daniela enjoys meeting new people and reading. She has been involved with Dialogue in the Dark since 2004 and is one of the Master Guides for Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	Verenice Hernández Sucilla Verenice is currently working for Ixe Bank. She collaborates in an organization for the visually impaired (“Ojos Que Sienten”), where her activities include making pictures, taking videos, and serving as a waitress for dinners in the dark. From the debut of Dialogue in the Dark in Mexico City, Verenice has worked as a tour guide in two exhibitions, and as a master guide for Dialogue in the Dark in Monterrey. Since 2010 she has also been a Dialogue trainer. Her goal in her work is to help people realize that light and dark are just knowledge used to grow as human beings.
	Anoma Tissera Born blind, German native Anoma Tissera holds a degree in special education. She heard about Dialogue in the Dark some twenty years ago and has participated in its activities ever since. Since 2001, Dialogue in the Dark has been Anoma’s permanent employer and she works as a Dialogue Social Enterprise Trainer and Educator in Hamburg, Germany. Because Dialogue in the Dark has had exhibitions around the world, Anoma has been able to combine her work and her love of travel.
	Erik Weinstock Born in the USA with a rare eye disease, Erik Weinstock graduated from Tulane University’s School of Engineering in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Economics. He has worked as an engineer, a sales director and a website publisher. With Dialogue Social Enterprise, Eric has been an exhibition guide at Dialogue in the Dark in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as a Dialogue Trainer. He is part of the training network for Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	Volker Wüst A native of Germany, Volker Wüst has served as an operations clerk, a manager in the fields of insurance and legal issues, and in the fields of fleet operation and technical supply. Occasionally, Volker has also worked as a musician, music producer and audio engineer in his own recording studio. He is partially sighted and has been involved in Dialogue in the Dark activities since 2000. Volker is one of the Master Guidess and Trainers for Dialogue Social Enterprise.
	Zhu Min Zhu Min was born in China and educated in Shanghai. He has worked mostly as a language tutor and translator, as well as a therapist in traditional Chinese therapy. Since 2007, Zhu has been part of Dialogue Social Enterprise. Currently, he is working as a Guides Manager and Dialogue Trainer at Dialogue in the Dark, Hong Kong. He is blind but he believes that the world has so much to offer for all people to enjoy “that only the sky is the limit”.