[nfb-talk] Dining in the dark

John Heim john at johnheim.net
Sat Apr 23 21:18:43 UTC 2011 

But since the waiters are blind, wouldn't the diners learn that people  
can function without sight?

On Apr 22, 2011, at 9:06 PM, T. Joseph Carter wrote:

> Mike is convinced that these events do not and cannot lead to a  
> greater appreciation of blindness.  I've argued on another list that  
> it can be done better, but Mike points out quite rightly that can be  
> done better does not necessarily translate to people actually doing  
> it in such a way that the sighties learn anything useful except  
> perhaps by sheer trial and error.
>
> Joseph
>
> On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 07:56:34PM -0600, Jeanette Fortin wrote:
>> there are a few nfb chapters doing the dining in the dark thing as  
>> well you know?
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> To: <info at michaelhingson.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org 
>> >
>> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:45 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting  
>> Blindness
>>
>>
>> Oh my Lord!  Is the RP Foundation fighting Blindness involved in  
>> that Dining
>> in the Dark nonsense?  I fear me greatly there's no hope for them  
>> then.
>>
>> Mike Freeman
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk- 
>> bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Michael Hingson
>> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 6:23 PM
>> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting Blindness
>>
>> All,
>>
>> First, note the subject line change.  I think the issue here is  
>> what is
>> "fulfilling"?  From the literature I have read from this  
>> organization as
>> well as from discussions I have had with staff their idea of a  
>> "fulfilling
>> life" does not contain the high expectations I or many of us have.   
>> It all
>> goes back to the philosophy of blindness one chooses to have.
>>
>> If, for example, you think that it is amazing that a blind person  
>> can cut
>> their food and even find it, but think that because a blind person  
>> does eat
>> independently their life is in part fulfilling then your view of  
>> the true
>> nature of blindness differs from mine.  "Dining In The Dark" is a
>> fundraising event the Foundation has sponsored in various parts of  
>> the
>> country.  Putting a group of sighted people under blindfold, then  
>> serving
>> them food while making statements like "this is what blind people  
>> face every
>> day" cannot help improve the public's view of the abilities of  
>> blind people.
>> Nevertheless this is the kind of thing the Foundation Fighting  
>> Blindness
>> does constantly.
>>
>> As, I think, Mike Freeman said, it is all in what you mean by  
>> "fighting".
>> We in the NFB fight blindness every day.  The blindness we fight is  
>> that of
>> people who let their eye sight get in the way of their vision which  
>> has
>> become blinded by prejudice and misinformation.  (See Thunder Dog  
>> when it is
>> released).
>>
>> The tragedy of blindness is not the loss of eye sight unless we  
>> make it so.
>> Any "tragedy" is only as serious as we allow it to be.  Those who  
>> lose their
>> sight can move forward and have as full and productive a life as  
>> before if
>> they are willing to get the proper training.  There is nothing new  
>> here but,
>> we need to keep saying it if we expect the world to come around and  
>> believe
>> that truth.  It's marketing pure and simple.
>>
>> Happy Easter.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>> Mike Hingson
>>
>> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>> "Speaking with Vision"
>> Michael Hingson, President
>> (415) 827-4084
>> info at michaelhingson.com
>> To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
>> availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com Thunder Dog is now
>> available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
>> http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr_
>> 1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3
>>
>>
>> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk- 
>> bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 2:01 PM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
>> fromChairmanGordon Gund
>>
>> The choice of the word "fighting".  It's not the they're against  
>> the blind
>> leading fulfilled lives; they can't conceive of it.
>>
>> Mike Freeman
>> sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Apr 22, 2011, at 13:10, "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm sure the Foundation Fighting Blindness is very much in favor of
>>> blind
>> people living rich and fullfilling lives. What makes you think  
>> they're not?
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Aldrich"
>>> <jajkaldrich at gmail.com>
>>> To: "Jeanette Fortin" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "NFB Talk  
>>> Mailing List"
>> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:20 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
>> fromChairmanGordon Gund
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello all!
>>>>
>>>> I greatly dislike how this organization the foundation fighting
>>>> blindness
>> reinforces how terrible it is to be blind!  Yes!  It is no picnic  
>> at first
>> when one loses vision I'm certain but we in the NFB are here to  
>> show there
>> is life after vision loss or there is life when one is blind!  We  
>> have a
>> more positive message!  Yes!  I'm all for preserving one's vision  
>> but if
>> this isn't possible, I for one wish to see someone continue to live  
>> a full
>> and enriching life as much as possible!  There are many who can't  
>> cope but
>> there are more who do and they live quite well!  At least, they  
>> have a life!
>> It is far better to be blind today than it was a hundred years ago  
>> but even
>> at that time, I'm certain some lived meaningful lives even then!
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeanette Fortin"
>> <jeanette at fortin-home.com>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:03 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>> ChairmanGordon Gund
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> well let me say this, why not fight blindness? if there is a way
>>>>> some
>> people can regain their vision or if doctors can help folks to save  
>> the
>> vision they have, go for it.
>>>>> i got a call today from my cousin who works with hazzardess
>>>>> materials in
>> his job.  he was hit in the face with some costic liquid last week  
>> and lost
>> his vision for a couple of days.  Because he was rushed to a special
>> hospital and given specific treatment for his eyes which were  
>> damaged by the
>> costic liquid, the doctors are hopeful he will regain all or most  
>> of his
>> vision.
>>>>> from some folks way of thinking it appears they think it would be
>>>>> just
>> fine for him to have lost  his vision and subsequently his job.  it  
>> gave him
>> a true appreciation of those of us who have dealt with vision loss  
>> for years
>> and has made him grateful for whatever  vision he has.
>>>>> i think maybe the name of the organization, fighting blindness may
>> offend some folks, but if you understand how someone who had vision  
>> and
>> loses it feels maybe you would understand why the foundation is  
>> trying to
>> find ways to help folks either regain or not lose their vision,  
>> jeanette
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "S Baker" <srbaker12 at hotmail.com 
>>>>> >
>>>>> To: "ANFBchat" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:31 PM
>>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>>>> Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> SRBaker
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From: srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>>>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> Subject: RE: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>>>>> Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:29:26 +0000
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This email solicits donations. It also has links to current
>>>>>> research to
>> correct blindness.There is nothing wrong with being blind, if that  
>> is what
>> you want. If there is technology that can reverse,cure me, I am all  
>> for it.
>> There is an old saying "There are none so blind as those who will  
>> not see".
>> Our eyes may not work but our brains do.
>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> SRBaker
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> From: ladygloria at webband.com
>>>>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:37 -0700
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>>>>>> Chairman
>> Gordon Gund
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>>>>> Corresponding Secretary
>>>>>>> Inland Empire chapter
>>>>>>> nfb of WA
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>>>>>>> Behalf Of S Baker
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>>>>>>> To: AMoLList
>>>>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from  
>>>>>>> Chairman
>> Gordon
>>>>>>> Gund
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> SRBaker
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>>>>>>> From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>>>>>>> To: srbaker at charter.net
>>>>>>> Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting
>> Blindness
>>>>>>> closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a
>> difference.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> And believe me, they do. When I reflect on the last year and
>>>>>>> listen to
>> this
>>>>>>> video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for
>> sight-saving
>>>>>>> treatments underway than ever before. Clearly, hope and optimism
>>>>>>> are running high. Incredible strides have been made in the last
>>>>>>> few years,
>> and
>>>>>>> these remarkable advances would not have been made without your
>> support of
>>>>>>> the Foundation. They include:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Vision Restored. We are continuing to build on remarkable  
>>>>>>> gains in
>> gene
>>>>>>> therapy. As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial,
>>>>>>> 9-year-old
>> Corey
>>>>>>> Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can  
>>>>>>> now see.
>> And
>>>>>>> as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained
>> improvement in
>>>>>>> vision. Building on this success, similar gene therapy  
>>>>>>> treatments
>>>>>>> are moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt
>>>>>>> disease and
>> Usher
>>>>>>> syndrome.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Innovative Technology. The high-tech industry has a treatment  
>>>>>>> I'm
>>>>>>> incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially
>>>>>>> available artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the
>>>>>>> Foundation was key
>> to
>>>>>>> getting this engineered retina off the ground. Building on the
>>>>>>> studies
>> we
>>>>>>> funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested  
>>>>>>> in a
>> clinical
>>>>>>> trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who  
>>>>>>> were
>> profoundly
>>>>>>> blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be  
>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>> independent. In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize  
>>>>>>> large
>> letters.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Groundbreaking Therapies. A research team funded by the  
>>>>>>> Foundation
>> Fighting
>>>>>>> Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>>>>>>> disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a  
>>>>>>> person's skin.
>> While
>>>>>>> more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests
>>>>>>> that
>> doctors
>>>>>>> may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using
>>>>>>> their
>> own
>>>>>>> skin cells.
>>>>>>> These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all
>>>>>>> the
>> progress
>>>>>>> that's being made. And this is why words can never express my
>>>>>>> personal gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see  
>>>>>>> the
>> results of
>>>>>>> your support and the hope it has generated. But most  
>>>>>>> importantly,
>>>>>>> I
>> hope you
>>>>>>> will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate. It's
>>>>>>> been a
>> long
>>>>>>> time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our
>>>>>>> researchers actually restored sight. It launched us into a new  
>>>>>>> era
>>>>>>> when more and
>> more
>>>>>>> people will have their sight saved or restored every year. A lot
>>>>>>> of
>> work
>>>>>>> remains. But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us
>>>>>>> by donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for  
>>>>>>> increased
>> research
>>>>>>> funding. As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate
>>>>>>> blindness,
>> we
>>>>>>> hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission.
>>>>>>> Thanks
>> for
>>>>>>> envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>>>>>>> degenerative diseases.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Gordon Gund
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Check us out on:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tell a Friend | Subscribe | Change email address | Unsubscribe
>>>>>>> Foundation Fighting Blindness www.FightBlindness.org
>>>>>>> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100 Columbia, MD 21046
>>>>>>> 1-800-683-5555
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> nonprofit software
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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