[Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info

[Kathy Davis]

Hello Everyone,
	Let me begin by saying that I am the co-chair of a dining in the
dark fundraiser for the Center for the Visually impaired located here in
Daytona Beach Fl. I am totally blind and a founding member of this wonderful
organization. We have never put on such an event so this will be our first
such activity. 
	I did not even know about the resolution that was passed at the
national convention this summer. I can see where some of the supporters are
coming from; however I do not agree with the fact that dining in the dark
fundraisers are demeaning for the blind. 
	The first Dining in the Dark (DID) fundraiser I attended was
sponsored by Carolyn Lapp's rehabilitation agency, the Florida Outreach
Center,  in West Palm Beach. It was most informative and fun too. Having
been asked to be a guest speaker, I was able to address the supporters by
sharing some of my accomplishments as a blind woman. I will not go in to
detail about all of that here because most of you are acquainted with me
since I served on the NFBF Board of Directors for many years and held the
position of President of the Florida Affiliate for two terms as well as
founding President of the Greater Daytona Beach Chapter. DID fundraisers are
a marvelous opportunity just to give patrons a brief sense of what it is
like when someone loses their vision. The really neat thing is that blind
attendees are able to help out the sighted by serving them more iced tea or
coffee, pouring salad dressing if they have not a clue how to do this and
the like. In addition, I will be a guest speaker at our own event scheduled
for October 17 and there will be many other blind people in attendance.
There is great enthusiasm about our forthcoming DID event and I am certain
that it will be a huge success. Not only will we raise needed funds for the
Center for the Visually Impaired but we will also do lots of educating about
blindness. Naturally I will share with the audience that those of us who are
blind have undergone specialized training plus simple life experiences to
become as competent as we are. They will understand that we can cook, travel
independently most anywhere we wish, hold varying positions of employment,
and raise a family. 
	Thank you Patricia, Kathy and Toni for chiming in on this matter.
I'll be the first to let the list know how our Dining in the Dark fundraiser
goes. Believe me, sighted attendees will leave the dinner having a new
respect for blind people!! 

Sincerely,

Kathy Davis and new Seeing Eye Dog Chloe 
    

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mark Tardif
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 10:42 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info

Hello, Lenora.  I was one of the ones not aware of this resolution.  I
think, however, that it is a good one.  Obviously, promoters of this kind of
activity have major stereotypes about blindness and the abilities of blind
people.  For example, the idea that blind people cannot cook for large
numbers of people, and the idea that somehow blind people must have a hard
time with their table manners, because we cannot see when or if a piece of
food ends up on the table.  I could go on and on.  I think maybe the worst
of these misconceptions is that eating in darkness for the first time ever,
is somehow like blindness for someone who has lived it for many years.  In
fact, those of us who have been blind for many years no better.  But the
worst thing by far, is these promoters, who probably have never talked with
a real blind person, shamefully use this approach to get people to feel
sorry for blind people and therefore provide funds for their agencies.  That
is unethical and atrocious!!!



Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lenora J. Marten
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 5:58 AM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbf-l] 2012-04 Dining in the Dark Resolution Info


Hey everyone,

For those who are not aware, NFB passed a resolution at National Convention 
in Dallas that condemns the
practice of Dining in the Dark.
You will find a copy/paste of the resolution below.


Resolution 2012-04
Regarding Dining in the Dark


            WHEREAS, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of 
eyesight but the widespread public misconception that the blind are not 
equal to the sighted in society; and

            WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind categorically 
rejects the myth that the blind are not equal to the sighted; and

            WHEREAS, programs of the National Federation of the Blind teach 
and promote a positive understanding of blindness, that the blind are normal

and equal members of society, and that blindness does not mean inferiority; 
and

            WHEREAS, an activity known as "dining in the dark" is being 
promoted and used to raise funds by having sighted people experience 
blindness by eating in the dark; and

            WHEREAS, an article published in Time magazine entitled "Dining 
in the Dark" assures would-be diners that the cook "works in a well-lit 
kitchen"; and

            WHEREAS, the Dining in the Dark 
website--www.dininginthedark.org--states: "you will pick from a specially 
prepared menu (designed by a sighted local 'star' chef)" and "In darkness 
everyone becomes equal. Our opinions can't be molded by dress, mannerisms, 
or makeup as none of it can be seen.  You learn that without sight your 
other senses become more acute"; and

            WHEREAS, these statements lay bare the underlying philosophy of 
dining in the dark, that sight means superior ability, and that, when sight 
is removed in the dark, the blind and the sighted are equal: Now, therefore,

            BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in 
Convention assembled this fourth day of July, 2012,  in the city of Dallas, 
Texas, that this organization condemn and deplore the use of dining in the 
dark in a manner that diminishes the innate normality and equal status of 
the blind in society; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization pursue an active 
policy of opposition to dining in the dark activities and events, including 
use of media and public protests, whenever and wherever such activities and 
events exploit blindness and blind people based on a demeaning philosophy.



Lenora J. Marten
NFB-Florida Secretary
FOPBC President
NFB-Jax Chapter Secretary
bluegolfshoes at aol.com
904-777-5976 / 904-229-9554


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