[Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

Julie J. julielj at neb.rr.com
Sat Mar 8 13:35:11 UTC 2014 

I carry trays just as Linda described.  If I need to carry a drink on the 
tray I put it so that I can hook my thumb around it.  So the hand that is 
supporting the tray against my hip has my fingers curled around and 
underneath palm down, my thumb hooks around the cup at the edge of the tray. 
I'm not really holding the cup so much as making sure it doesn't slide 
around and checking to make sure it's level.

I handle buffets in a variety of ways depending on the situation, the 
proximity of available help and my mood at the moment.  Generally I like to 
fill my own plate.  I have someone else tell me what's what.  I move my hand 
around the edge to find the spoon and get what I want.  If the spoon isn't 
easily found or if it's fallen into the bowl, I'll ask my reader to show me 
where it is.

Sometimes I'll go up to the buffet and let my reader fill my plate for me. 
Sometimes I'll sit at the table and let someone do everything for me. 
Sometimes I do my plate and have someone else get my drink and sometimes 
I'll make two trips, one for the food and one for the drink.  Sometimes I'm 
tired and just skip the drink.  I've been at hotels with the free breakfast 
and managed the whole thing without a reader because it was early and no one 
was around.

I'd suggest trying out some different approaches, see what works in what 
situation and do something different if it didn't work as well as you 
wanted.  Practice helps too.  Oh, if you wanted to practice carrying a tray 
at home, a cookie sheet works great!

Julie


-----Original Message----- 
From: Linda
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 6:23 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Thank you very much!

When I was sighted, I would spill things all the time, so I would not blame 
that on being blind.  Now that I am blind, I have not had an accident yet. 
It will happen, but not because I am blind, it will be because I am just 
clumsy sometimes.

I read another response that said you just have to take small steps.  It 
might be a hassle the first couple of time, but you can get the hang of it. 
.  I was at a blind training center a couple of years ago and we were taught 
to hold the tray just above the hip bone, pressing into your side with 
enough pressure so that the tray remains straight and stable along the hip 
line.  The arm is over the top of the tray and the hand hold the edge of the 
tray that is away from the body so that you can press the tray into your 
body so the tray is stable and it will not fall.  Then you can use the other 
hand for your cane.  It worked very well for me.  I know there are other 
techniques and you have to find out what works for you.  If you can get a 
cheap tray from eBay or a thrift shop then you can always practice at home. 
Just try putting a bookor something on the tray and practice.  Then you may 
be more confident carrying at least one plate at the restaurant and jusst 
letting the waitress bring your drink.  just my two cents contribution.

> On Mar 7, 2014, at 5:49 PM, "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello everybody,
>
> I just wanted to say thank you for your posts and suggestions.  I think 
> you
> all basically were right on with what my family and people said about it
> being too challenging and a big hassle and not really worth trying on my
> own.  This would be difficult for a blind person without any sight, and
> someone sighted also reminded me that carrying a tray with food would not 
> be
> very wise of me because I'd easily have the chance of spilling or 
> accidents.
> Not really wise to try and use a cane and carry a lot of food.
> Believe me, I have no problem asking for any kind of help.  It might just 
> be
> easier to go grab a burger somewhere.
> Thanks again for your thoughts.  It's always good to get ideas.
>
> Tom
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 11:00 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Handling a big buffet
>
> And I think it goes without saying that if you get extra help from wait
> staff, be sure to tip generously. That makes it a partnership and makes it
> more likely they will want to help you in the future.
>
> Arielle
>
>> On 3/7/14, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
>> First, there are no dumb questions. Secondly, given a choice, I don't
>> do buffets. Not given a choice, it depends upon the situation.
>> Preferably, I ask someone for help. If it is at a conference,
>> particularly for parents of blind children, I do as much as I can of
>> it for myself. If I need to locate the utensil, I work around the outside
> of the container to find the handle.
>> I will generally take too little on to the plate, rather than too
>> much. I can always come back. I ask what is in the container. I find
>> tongs a bother since there does not seem to be enough tactility to
>> tell what is being grasped in them, and sometimes how much is in them.
>> I find building a salad to be the most difficult.
>>
>> I always make a second trip for the beverage, since I have the plate
>> in one hand, and the utensils and napkin in my pocket. Again, I may
>> ask someone to grab me a deink when they go to get one. The absolutely
>> worst buffets are those where you build your own sandwich. Those I always
> ask for help.
>>
>> The bottom line, If you need help, or if it will make you feel more
>> confident about what you're doing, get it. There are very few
>> situations where you need to use a buffet to send a message.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom
>> Cramer
>> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 11:46 PM
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Handling a big buffet
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope this isn't a dumb question.
>>
>> I'd like to know from other blind people, especially those who are
>> totally blind, how they handle big buffet type of restaurants when
>> they're not with sighted people.  I'd like to be able to go to a
>> couple of places that are close to where I live but don't really know how
> to best handle them.
>>
>> How much do you do independently and how much do you ask of the wait
> staff?
>> How do I best know what's on the buffet line and how do I best get it
>> on my plate without slowing others down?  Is it easier for the wait
>> staff to get my food and carry it for me or is that something I need to 
>> do
> as well?
>>
>> This place has wonderful food and I'd like to go this weekend but
>> haven't done it without sighted family who isn't around right now.
>>
>>
>>
>> All tips are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindtlk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/david.hyde%40wcb
>> vi.k12.wi.us
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindtlk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmai
>> l.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindtlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/tom.cramer1%40gmail.co
> m
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/waterinmyroom%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
blindtlk mailing list
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
blindtlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/julielj%40neb.rr.com


-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3722/6664 - Release Date: 03/07/14

More information about the BlindTlk mailing list