[nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

Sun May 9 16:31:11 UTC 2010

Hi,
I never went to a "Dining in the Dark" event - too expensive! But, I know 
some people who worked for it a few years ago here in San diego.  I don't 
think it is around anymore as those people have moved on to other jobs. 
They never said that the "Dining in the Dark" was bad towards blindness. 
After all, everyone had fun and had the knowledge that the blindfold come 
off or the lights get turned on and they go off to live their sighted lives. 
I see this as a gimmick to fundraise with and I have no problem with it. I 
see no harm in it.  the people know that the waitors are all really blind 
and that is something positive.

As far as a "realistic" experinece for sighted people, I think it is the 
same as doing a "White Cane Safety Day" and having people don blindfolds to 
walk with a cane. It makes people aware that they actually have other senses 
other than sight that really do influence their movement in the envirnment.

It probably is like a person who is newly blind and hasn't learned any 
skills yet.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there in NAGDU-land!

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

>I am curious, as we seem to find fault in the dining in the dark experience
> has any one of us attended one of these events to find out first hand how
> blindness is presented at these events? I recall the response to letters
> sent to Florida highlighting the sensory appreciation of food devoid of
> sight influencing one's taste or preference over what to try and or not 
> try.
> It would be interesting   to here from someone with first hand experience
> with attendance at one of these events.
>
> 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 Julie J
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 12:28 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
> The article says it was established in 2008.  I suppose that is in 
> reference
>
> to the US school, since the one in Canada has been around for a while.
> That's pretty recent and could be why no one has heard of it before.
>
> I think the whole concept of "Dining in the Dark" is not very productive 
> in
> the long run.  Helpful in raising funds, yes, but pretty low in any
> meaningful understanding of blindness.
>
> JMHO
> Julie
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 9:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
>
>> Why haven't we heard of who? Mira or the Carolina Eye thingy? Mira has
>> been around a while, but I didn't know they were expanded into the US;
>> Mira is a guide dog school in Quebec. (They teach their guide dogs
>> French.)
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 7, 2010, at 7:03 PM, Margo and Arrow wrote:
>>
>>> got problems with this--dining in the dark and why haven't we heard of
>>> them before?
>>>
>>> Margo and Arrow
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Toni Eames" <eeames at csufresno.edu>
>>> To: <gdui-friends at yahoogroups.com>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 12:57 PM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wednesday, May 5, 2010
>>>>
> <http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/may/05/carolina-eye-partners-mira-foundat
> ion/>http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/may/05/carolina-eye-partners-mira-fou
> ndation/
>>>> Mira Foundation USA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing guide dogs to
>>>> children in need, announces Carolina Eye Associates as one of the
>>>> organization's founding corporate partners.
>>>>
>>>> Mira USA is the only nonprofit providing guide dogs to visually 
>>>> impaired
>
>>>> young children in the United States. The two organizations both share
>>>> the same concern and commitment to providing young children with the
>>>> resources - and companions - that enable personal independence and the
>>>> freedom of mobility.
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye is also the headline sponsor of Mira USA's upcoming 
>>>> "Dining
>
>>>> in the Dark" fundraiser event taking place May 14 at the Country Club 
>>>> of
>
>>>> North Carolina in Pinehurst.
>>>>
>>>> "Mira USA is an organization close to all our hearts, and we admire the
>>>> passion with which they've tackled the huge job of providing these
>>>> specially trained guide dogs to young children across our country," 
>>>> said
>
>>>> Dr. Greg Mincey, of Carolina Eye Associates. "We are proud to be a part
>>>> of Mira USA's mission for improving the lives of children in need of a
>>>> guide dog and invite other companies and organizations nationwide to
>>>> join us in supporting their effort."
>>>>
>>>> "Dining in the Dark" is one of many community activities held to raise
>>>> awareness and funds to support the work of Mira USA. The concept began
>>>> in Germany and has spread to cities where restaurants offer a unique
>>>> twist on a normal dinner out: guests gather to wine and dine in
>>>> darkness. With the complete loss of vision - and the resulting
>>>> heightening of the other four senses - Dining in the Dark will be an
>>>> extraordinary adventure.
>>>>
>>>> "This is the first time such an event has been presented in North
>>>> Carolina," said a spokesman. "Reserved seats are filling quickly for
>>>> this dinner as the community has embraced both the novelty of the event
>>>> and the mission of Mira USA."
>>>>
>>>> "We are grateful to have the support of the distinguished team at
>>>> Carolina Eye Associates," said Robert Baillie, Mira USA founder and
>>>> chairman. "There are over 57,000 visually impaired young children in 
>>>> the
>
>>>> United States and ours is a big undertaking to begin to serve this
>>>> largely overlooked population by providing specially trained service
>>>> dogs. I've experienced how the dog can provide a bridge between the
>>>> child and the community, diminishing the stigma often associated with
>>>> disabilities, and with the support of the public and organizations like
>>>> Carolina Eye, we will give as many children as possible this tremendous
>>>> gift of independence and companionship."
>>>>
>>>> MIRA Foundation USA Inc. is dedicated to enriching the lives of the
>>>> largely overlooked population of young children living with 
>>>> disabilities
>
>>>> by providing specially trained service dogs. Mira USA was established 
>>>> in
>
>>>> 2008 by Robert Baillie. Having suddenly lost his sight and realizing 
>>>> the
>
>>>> life-changing difference his guide dog Devon made for him, Bob set out
>>>> to improve the experience of individuals living with blindness. These
>>>> special dogs and services are given to children free of charge. 
>>>> Although
>
>>>> Mira USA will provide dogs to all who qualify, its main focus is on
>>>> children 11 years of age and above. Mira USA believes everyone should
>>>> have access to the tools and resources that enable personal 
>>>> independence
>
>>>> and freedom of mobility, and invites you to be a part of it. Learn more
>>>> at <http://www.mirausa.org>www.mirausa.org or (910) 944-7757.
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye Associates is one of the largest eye-care practices in the
>>>> Southeast, with eight regional eye-care centers in North and South
>>>> Carolina. Carolina Eye was established in 1977 in Pinehurst/Southern
>>>> Pines, N.C., by Dr. Robert Gale Martin and Dr. George Tate Jr. Since
>>>> then, patients from across the United States and more than 20 foreign
>>>> countries have come to Carolina Eye for eye care needs. For more
>>>> information, please visit
>>>> <http://www.carolinaeye.com>www.carolinaeye.com.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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