[Blindtlk] the handling of Dining in the Dark events re:[blindtlk] fw: MIRA Foundation

Wed Dec 14 13:53:25 UTC 2011

Mike,
    Perhaps those on the blind cooks list would want to help this endeavor! 
Most sighted people are "amazed" that I enjoy cooking and probably wonder 
how I hide my lack of fingers cut off by the sharp knives or the many burns 
from the hot stove! I guess they don't understand about the "knife for the 
blind" that is not sharp at all or the "stove for the blind" that doesn't 
get hot! (grin)

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] the handling of Dining in the Dark events 
re:[blindtlk] fw: MIRA Foundation


> Chris:
>
> I'll ask two more questions and then let it rest.
>
> First, why is it desirable to give the sighted "a glimpse into our world"?
>
> Second, do "dining in the dark" events really give the sighted a glimpse
> into the world of the competent blind? Or, rather, do such events subject
> the victims to the world of the newly-blind without the opportunity to 
> truly
> become skilled in the techniques of blindness?
>
> As I said earlier, far better to prepare and serve a gourmet meal to the
> sighted participants. And by "prepare" I mean from set-up to clean-up!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 2:43 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [Blindtlk] the handling of Dining in the Dark events re: 
> [blindtlk]
> fw: MIRA Foundation
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm just curious; why do you think Dining in the Dark fundraisers
> promote a negative attitude about blindness?  I only ask because
> this is not what we in the I CAN Foundation plan to do at all
> with our Dining in the Dark; quite the opposite.  We want to
> provide an education about blindness and a glimpse into our world
> for the sighted participants, and one that focuses on a positive
> attitude about blindness.  We understand that for many of the
> sighted participants, it will be their first time doing any task
> blindfolded, let alone eating a full meal in the dark.
> Therefore, it is only natural that they'll have some problems
> initially and will probably think, "How in the world does a blind
> person do this? I can't imagine how hard it would be for them."
> The truth, however, is that eating (or performing any routine
> task for that matter) is not easier or harder for a blind person
> than it is for a sighted person, but rather it is just like
> anything else; it's hard the first time someone tries it.  To get
> this message across to our participants, we are planning to do
> two things, which are (1) to have conpetent, confident and
> successful blind mentors from our area at each table, to answer
> any questions the participants may have, and to give them tips
> (although we will leave it mostly up to the sighted person, as we
> want to do a blindness-simulation,) and (2) to have a sort of
> de-brief at the end of dinner (probably during dessert,) which
> will be lead by our blind mentors.  We will talk in this de-brief
> about the participants' experiences, and what they learned about
> blindness from this experience.  We will also field any questions
> they may have about blindness.  All the while we will emphasize
> the capacity and capabilities of the blind, and that blind people
> can in fact be independent and competent members of society.
> During our past few board meetings when we have discussed
> planning for this fundraiser, I and our other blind board member
> have emphasized that we need to handle the event in such a way as
> to give the participants a positive attitude about blindness
> rather than a "this was hard for me, it must be unbearable for a
> blind person" attitude.  This positive attitude about blindness
> is what the I CAN Foundation tries to promote in all of our
> fundraisers and educational events, and this is what we're basing
> our planning and handling of our Dining in the Dark event on.  I
> think that what participants take away from events like Dining in
> the Dark depends on how the organization running the event
> handles it; participants can either come away with a positive
> attitude about blindness, or a negative, "I'm going to donate to
> this organization to help these poor, helpless blind people"
> attitude, all depending on how the event is put on.  While we
> want people to donate to our foundation, we also want them to
> come away with an education that gives them a positive attitude
> about blindness.  If you have any ideas for us on how we can plan
> this event so it gets the right message across, please email me
> or contact the Foundation directly by emailing
> ican4kids at gmail.com.  If you email me, I will pass it on to the
> board.  We welcome your feedback in order to handle our event in
> the best possible way!
>
> Chris
>
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
> real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
> exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
> opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
> nuisance."
> -- Kenneth Jernigan (President, National Federation of the Blind,
> 1968-1986
>
> The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps blind and visually impaired youth
> in Maryland say "I can," by empowering them through providing
> assistive technology and scholarships to camps and conventions
> which help them be equal with their sighted peers.  For more
> information about the Foundation and to support our work, visit
> us online at www.icanfoundation.info!
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:26:15 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] fw: MIRA Foundation
>
> Hello Sheila and everyone,
>
>    The short answer is not at all! Fortunately we'll have a new
> administration elected during our January meeting including a new
> chapter
> president.  Here's hoping the new administration will rethink
> this
> fundraising idea and come up with an alternative that will
> promote a more
> positive view of blindness and the blind.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sheila Leigland" <sleigland at bresnan.net
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 7:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] fw: MIRA Foundation
>
>
> Hi, I didn't know that nfb chapters ever did them.  How do you
> think they
> should be done?
>
> Sheila Leiglan d
>
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