[nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

Sun May 9 20:40:30 UTC 2010

but while they are in the experience, they must think we're so helpless 
because they're blundering about trying to figure out how to dine while 
blindfolded.  I do not like blindness simulations at all.  Makes us look 
helpless.

margo and arrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

> 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%40verizo
>> n.net
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nagdu mailing list
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nagdu:
>>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/buddy%40brannan.name
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/julielj%40windstream.
>> net
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
>> org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%40verizon.net 