[nagdu] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the Dark"

[David Baker]

In using the Dining in the Dark project for fundraising, the FFB in Tampa has
followed a pattern that I have noticed before.  Stereotyping of those who are
losing vision as tragic figures in the name of fundraising is not uncommon.  In
my experience, the visually impaired are often infantilized more than the public
understanding of blindness and low vision is informed.   It's not unlike like
the Jimmy Fund and other poster child fund raising techniques, I suppose.  I
once worked for a voc rehab agency that dressed their 'disabled/impaired'
employees in elf costumes at Christmas to serve lunch to the Junior League.
Since they gave the employees turkeys and food to take home, the practice was
sanctioned with statements like:   "See how nice we are to these people?  ...
and they just love doing this every year.  It is so special for them.  Aren't
they cute?"

David Baker
davidbaker at bellsouth.net


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:48 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Letter to the Editor Concerning "Dining in the Dark"

Well, go look at the homepage. It is http://www.darkdiningprojects.com/ it is
interesting. I don't think it mentions anything about the blind in any manner
that could be considered derogatory.