Aim: The event, 'May I help you?' was done for the ‘National Association for the Blind’(NAB) and aimed at changing the perception that blind are disabled people who need help.Insight: Blind are not disabled but ‘differently abled’. They just need special resources.Idea: To put ‘normal people’ in a helpless situation, and make them realise that there is no such thing called disability; it’s just the unavailability of resources.Execution: On 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dec. 2009 (The world disability day) at all the five outlets of Copper Chimney restaurant (Mumbai), regular menus were replaced with Braille menus.The initial shock and discomfort among diners was followed by a pleasant surprise, when a blind volunteer came to their rescue, asking ‘May I help you?’ He/she read out the Braille menu, making the point that they are not disabled but ‘differently abled’ and just need special resources.Results: The activity changed perception of people from sympathy to empathy towards the blind.• NAB got 15 employment offers for their visually challenged members• The program received immense PR in the press and Television media, valued at approximately 150,000 USDThe program boosted the morale of the blind volunteers. For the first time, they could ask others –“May I help you?

To this end, restaurant menu cards were selected as the key medium, since there was relevance to a wide range of people. The inability of a customer to order an item from the menu, since he/she could not read it - formed the crux of the communication.

On 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dec. 2009 (The world disability day) at all the five outlets of Copper Chimney restaurant (Mumbai, turnout-400 guests/day/outlet), regular menus were replaced with Braille menus.The initial shock and discomfort among diners was followed by a pleasant surprise, when a blind volunteer reached there for rescue, saying ‘May I help you?’He/she read out the Braille menu, and even took their order in Braille, making the point that they are not disabled but ‘differently abled’ and just need special resources.The event was endorsed by popular Bollywood actors 'Suniel shetty' and 'Naser Khan' (visually challenged)

Regular menus were replaced with Braille menus and blind volunteers stood by to help, as the diners discovered their new disability.The activity effectively changed perception of people from sympathy to empathy towards the blind.• NAB got 15 employment offers for their visually challenged members• 542 people who visited the restaurants signed on as volunteer members of NAB• The program received immense PR in the press and Television media, valued at approximately 150,000 USDThe program boosted the morale of the blind volunteers. For the first time, they could confidently ask a sighted person –“May I help you?