[nagdu] Fw: Dining in the Dark article

Fri Mar 12 18:46:41 UTC 2010

Wayne and all,

I never intended to share my seemingly abrupt comments with all of you in
this open forum, cheryl and I write to each other frequently off line and
share many things we do on this thread and in our professional endeavors. I
want to apologize for having thought this was sent privately to cheryl
rather then publicly. It came off as rude and callous which was not my
intent. It was meant solely for Cheryl's eyes only, please forgive my faux
paux cheryl,

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:54 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: Dining in the Dark article

Just proves that it pays to read over your message/letter before
sending it. Not only will you catch any spelling errors, but you can
also work on or change the wording if needed.

Wayne

On 3/11/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> Cheryl do you know how to use spell check?? You are reinforcing
perceptions
> and stereotypes when you send out a letter with applaud rather then
appalled
> and the serious number of spelling and grammatical errors such as the ones
> in your letter to the food critic from that paper in Florida. While your
> position may have been one of significant importance your delivery did not
> relay that at all.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 5:10 PM
> To: nagdu
> Subject: [nagdu] Fw: Dining in the Dark article
>
> Marion and all:
>
> I also wrote to the reporter of the article.
>
> Please read the response below.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
CST-1018299-10
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <LReiley at sptimes.com>
> To: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:28 PM
> Subject: Re: Dining in the Dark article
>
>
>> Ms. Echevarria,
>>
>> I appreciate your letter and am chastened that my reporting on the event,
>> in your opinion, served to reinforce stereotypes about the blind. It
>> certainly wasn't my intention to perpetuate any myths or insinuate that
>> being visually impaired is shameful.
>>
>> Thank you for taking the time to write,
>>
>> Laura Reiley
>> Food Critic
>> St. Petersburg Times
>> 490 First Ave. S.
>> St. Petersburg, FL 33701
>> (727) 892-2293
>> Blog: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/dining
>>
>>
>>
>> cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>> 03/11/2010 12:41 PM
>>
>> To
>> <lreiley at sptimes.com>
>> cc
>>
>> Subject
>> Dining in the Dark article
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Good morning Ms. Reily:
>>
>> My name is Cheryl Echevarria and I am the Treasurer of the National
>> Federation of the Blind of Greater Long Island Chapter.  I read about
your
>>
>> article from my friend Mr. Marion Gwizdala, who is the President of the
>> East
>> Hillsborough of the NFB and the President of the National Association of
>> Guide Dog Users.
>>
>> I am totally applaud by how these people feel that blindness is to be
>> pitied
>> or felt sorry for people who are blind and need to be blinded folded to
>> find
>> out who it is to be blind.
>>
>> From someone who was sited up until 2001 when I lost both my vision and
my
>>
>> kidneys to diabetes, I have some vision left in my right eye but not to
be
>>
>> considered sighted.
>>
>> Currently I have nothing against people trying to find a cure for
>> blindness,
>> but there will always be something that causes it, either by accident or
>> illness, there is no shame in being a blind person.
>>
>> Yes, when I first lost my  vision I had to learn things over again.  But
I
>>
>> am not a pig when I eat, or taste any different, or hear any different,
or
>>
>> have to use 2 hands to eat.
>>
>> The best way for these people to learn or for your readers to learn about
>> blindness is going to anyone of NFB Chapters throughout the USA and
Puerto
>>
>> Rico, including Washington, D.C. by going to the nfb.org and locating one
>> of
>> our state affiliates and they will be glad to get you in tough with that
>> local chapter.
>>
>> As you can see by my signature on this e-mail, not only have I become a
>> person again to which the article feels that blind people are to be felt
>> sorry, but I have also become a business owner.
>>
>> Many of my brothers and sisters within the NFB and throughout the world
>> are
>> capable human beings, who just need the education and mobility techniques
>> that are out there for anyone who wishes to use these services as well as
>> the National Federation of the blind to help as well.
>>
>> We are trying to change the way that we are discriminated against and
>> fighting to educate those that blindness is just a characteristic to us
>> and
>> nothing to be ashamed of.
>>
>> Thank you for listening.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> Treasurer, Greater Long Island Chapter of the National Federation of the
>> Blind
>> 10 Aljan Drive
>> Brentwood, NY 11717
>> 631-236-5138
>>
>> Independent Travel Consultant
>> http://Echevarriatravel.com
>> 1-866-580-5574
>>
>> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
>> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>
>>
>>
>
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