[Nfb-or] Fw: A Somewhat Secret Call + An Invite to PDX Blind Cafe 2!!!
Mike Freeman
k7uij at panix.com
Sun Nov 14 19:17:39 UTC 2010
Joseph:
WE do, in fact, occasionally do cane walks to try to convey to
overprotective parents and people of that ilk that we can, in fact, travel.
But there was one great caveat in your post below: the parent had a travel
instructor and you to assist. Will every sighted gawker at the "dining in
the dark" event have one experienced blind person and one experienced rehab
tech to coach him/her? Verily, I doubt it. It's the usual syrupy drivel
put out by do-gooders who want to help us but who don't seem to think that
the best way to help us is to prepare us for jobs in the real world and --
gasp -- then to hire us! When they do the syrupy things, they can tell
themselves that they really are helping while, in fact, they do very little
but say either "ain't it awful to be blind" or "ain't them blind folks just
amazin'?'. Ah well.
Mike
?
----- Original Message -----
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Oregon mailing list" <nfb-or at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 11:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] Fw: A Somewhat Secret Call + An Invite to PDX Blind
Cafe 2!!!
> So I was at a state convention—Colorado 2006. There was a woman there
> whose son had no usable vision. He was ten. And he was allowed to do
> nothing on his own, because mommy was always there to keep him from
> actually experiencing life.
>
> I was there because Julie Deden asked me to speak in a panel discussion
> for a parents' group about the effects of growing up as a "partially
> sighted" child, living with the deficit thinking we all understand all too
> well. I was there a bit early for the panel discussion.
>
> I arrived just as the NFB was about to talk with these parents about
> travel skills. Now, we know how the NFB talks to sighted people about
> cane travel, right? The discussion begins something like, "Here, take
> this cane and blindfold. We're going for a walk." Since I had nothing
> better to do, I tagged along. Turns out I was with this woman who had
> been so overprotective.
>
> She was extremely unsure of herself. Her travel instructor had managed to
> convince her to walk down the corridor, a straight line, and that was it.
> She fumbled her way past the chairs and out into the corridor, and we
> began walking.
>
> Despite her uneasiness, I've got to say that she was a natural cane user.
> She seemed to have her cane pretty well centered, and was walking in-step
> just fine. The only problem was that she would frequently stop and then
> start moving again. Then she asked, "How do you...is it actually possible
> to walk in a straight line?"
>
> Of course, she had a travel instructor with her, but far be it from me to
> keep my big mouth shut, right? So I answered her: "Yes, and in fact
> you're doing a pretty good job of it. Don't trust the tiles in the floor,
> though, they're at an angle." She answered that she hadn't realized that,
> and began walking again, no longer stopping. She was doing a better job
> of it than I did the first couple of DAYS under sleepshade.
>
> As we reached the end of the corridor, where it zigs and then zags, the
> mother stopped again and said, "This is where the hallway turns."
>
> "Yes it is," I answered.
>
> "It sounds more open on the left now."
>
> "Yes it does."
>
> "I never knew a blind person could tell this much about what was going on
> around them!"
>
> In that moment, how this woman would raise her son changed. I know that
> to be true. From there, she decided that instead of turning around, she
> wanted to follow the hallway as it zigged. When we got to the zag, she
> opted to walk instead out the doors we found into the parking lot.
>
> We explored the parking lot and found the sidewalk next to the street. We
> found the (non-trivial due to construction) intersection, and we stood
> there as she tried to determine traffic patterns. And just about when
> we'd figured it out, we realized that we needed to make our way back
> inside.
>
> As we entered the building, I told her, "Another ten minutes, and you
> would've been crossing that street."
>
> She answered, "Another ten minutes, I think I could've done it."
>
> How blind people do the things they do shouldn't much matter to the
> sighted world, but if the sighted do not believe a blind person CAN do
> them, those who manage to do the seemingly impossible are magical super
> blind people. We know that's not true, but they don't know any better.
>
> When sighted people do begin to understand how it is that we do what we
> do, and how common and ordinary it truly is, we all profit from the
> demystification.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 09:08:47PM -0800, Mike Freeman wrote:
>>I remain unconvinced. Moreover, I am not at all convinced that the
>>sighted need "greater understanding" of how the blind function. I don't
>>give a fig how a sighted person functions; it's enough for me to know that
>>s/he does. Same oughtta go for the sighted wrt the blind.
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Chrys Buckley"
>><lotusmoonflowering at hotmail.com>
>>To: "NFB Oregon" <nfb-or at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 7:36 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] Fw: A Somewhat Secret Call + An Invite to PDX Blind
>>Cafe 2!!!
>>
>>
>>
>>I have never been to a dinner in the dark, but I have heard the same thing
>>as what you just described, Joseph. In fact, someone was saying that at
>>the last Rose City meeting (I don't think you were there), that they
>>thought that the sighted people who went came away with a greater
>>understanding of blindness, and also that the sighted people seemed to
>>have a better grasp on what blindness skills are all about. I guess it was
>>a bit of a role reversal, where the sighted people realized they, not
>>having the same types of skills, were at a bit of a disadvantage and that
>>the blind people were getting along just fine, not just in eating, but
>>also in navigating, etc.
>>
>>But, as I said, I've never been and haven't experienced it firsthand, so I
>>am only relaying what I heard from someone else.
>>
>>Chrys
>>
>>
>>
>>>Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:44:19 -0800
>>>From: carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
>>>To: nfb-or at nfbnet.org
>>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] Fw: A Somewhat Secret Call + An Invite to PDX Blind
>>>Cafe 2!!!
>>>
>>>I dunno, the last time I took someone to a Dinner in the Dark sort of
>>>event they came out of it with a greater understanding of blindness.
>>>
>>>Granted, it probably helped that I was there to explain a couple of
>>>things to the poor sighties, but they'd have managed okay on their
>>>own. We even managed to eat our food rather than wearing it (which
>>>was a surprise for me, as I'm a bit clumsy, having little to do with
>>>blindness.)
>>>
>>>Joseph
>>>
>>>On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 07:07:19AM -0800, Mike Freeman wrote:
>>>>A blind cafe? We ought to protest! I can't think of a worse way
>>>to >portray blindness!
>>>>
>>>>Mike
>>>>
>>>>On Nov 12, 2010, at 20:39, "Jerry Hathaway"
>>>><jerry.hathaway2 at frontier.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: Catherine Miller
>>>>> To: undisclosed-recipients:
>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 6:46 PM
>>>>> Subject: A Somewhat Secret Call + An Invite to PDX Blind Cafe 2!!!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear friends,
>>>>>
>>>>> Below you will find an up dated press release for a call to
>>>Oregon >> artists and writers + fun info about a special event.
>>>>>
>>>>> We ask that you forward this Email to everyone you think could
>>>use this >> information.
>>>>>
>>>>> A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art is an inclusive show
>>>and >> book project that will examine where in the arts disability
>>>appears in >> both artistic practice and in representation.
>>>>>
>>>>> Learn more at www.asomewhatsecretplace.wordpress.com
>>>>>
>>>>> ----------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> A Somewhat Secret Call For Artists And Writers
>>>>>
>>>>> Portland, Oregon November 12, 2010
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "A SOMEWHAT SECRET PLACE: DISABILITY AND ART" is an inclusive >>
>>>universally-designed show and book project that will examine where in >>
>>>the arts disability appears in both artistic practice and in
>>>>> representation. It will investigate the intersection of
>>>contemporary >> art and disability in Oregon and demonstrate that the
>>>relationship of >> contemporary fine art to disability is valid and
>>>accessible to people >> with and without disabilities. The exhibition
>>>will open in Portland >> July 2, 2011 and run through July 30 2011.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Applications from the following categories will be considered
>>>for >> inclusion in the art exhibition and fine art book: dance, drawing,
>>> >> essay, fictional narrative, small-scale installation art. .painting,
>>> >> performance art, photography, poetry, printmaking, sculpture, theater
>>> >> and video/film. The Application deadline is January 14, 2011.
>>>Stipends >> of $100 will be awarded to 12 fine artists, 4 performing
>>>artists, and >> 12 writers selected for inclusion in the exhibition and
>>>book. At the >> exhibition work will be represented by Mark Woolley. All
>>>art work
>>>>> submitted must be for sale if the work can be sold.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served
>>>basis. >> Applications received after the January 14, 2011 deadline will
>>>not be >> reviewed. Application materials will not be returned. Please
>>>make sure >> you have duplicate copies.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Application Assistance is available for all artists who are
>>>unable to >> organize application materials independently. The deadline
>>>for >> Application Assistance requests is December 10, 2010. The early >>
>>>Application Assistance deadline ensures that all artists using the >>
>>>service will have their application submitted by the January 14, 2011 >>
>>>deadline.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Applicants must be 18 years or older and live in Oregon or
>>>Vancouver, >> WA. No formal art or literary education is necessary. Both
>>>disabled and >> nondisabled artists, performers and writers may apply.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Applications may be organized by a second party. Collaborative
>>>>> applications will be accepted. Only complete applications
>>>received by >> the January 14, 2011 due date will be considered.
>>>Applicants must agree >> to the Terms of Application.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Please visit us on YouTube for a 5 part video of A Somewhat
>>>Secret >> Place: Disability and Art Call for Submissions Orientation and
>>>Lecture >> that took place at OHSU on the 11th of October. CC coming
>>>soon!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> CONTACT AND APPLICATION INFORMATION
>>>>>
>>>>> Download all forms for application(s) at our blog >>
>>>www.asomewhatsecretplace.wordpress.com. All applications must be mailed
>>> >> or otherwise delivered in duplicate to:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ATT: Catherine J. H. Miller
>>>>>
>>>>> 1040 NW 10th Avenue #304
>>>>>
>>>>> Portland, OR 97209
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> If you have questions or comments, please contact Catherine J.H.
>>>Miller >> at asomewhatsecretinfo at gmail.com or call 971-219-8302.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, we want to let you know about an amazing event coming Dec.
>>>2nd - >> 4th. This project is a big supporter of this event and feel that
>>>it >> exemplify much of what we hope to highlight in our book and
>>>exhibition >> project.
>>>>>
>>>>> The event is called The Portland Blind Cafe it is like the cafe
>>>n. It’s >> essentially a concert, a community discussion and a dinner
>>>that’s held >> in the complete pitch dark! All the servers are blind and
>>>it’s >> fundraiser. Our Artistic and Project Director Catherine J. H.
>>>Miller >> will be a local hostess, so please join her there!
>>>>>
>>>>> Check it out:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.portlandblindcafe.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> And here is something fun if you are interested to see how far
>>>spread >> this is and how it is different through out the world!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.danslenoir.com/london/history.php
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> A Somewhat Secret Place: Disability and Art Team
>>>>> www.asomewhatsecretplace.wordpress.com
>>>>> Like us on facebook!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>>> Version: 9.0.869 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3253 - Release Date:
>>>>> 11/12/10 02:40:00
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> Nfb-or at nfbnet.org
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>>>>
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