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

Thu Dec 15 00:59:37 UTC 2011

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] the handling of Dining in the Dark 
eventsre:[blindtlk] fw: MIRA Foundation


> 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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