[nfbwatlk] the blind cafe

[Julie Warrington]

This is excellent feed back. Very happy it turned out so well for you.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mjc59 at q.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 2:48 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] the blind cafe


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> Greetings all,
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> I would like to share my experience as a volunteer at the recent Blind 
> Cafe events in Seattle. Despite the concerns of many (myself included), 
> the evenings were very positive.
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> The room was completely dark. Electrical tape and heavy fabric blocked all 
> sources of light. We led guests into the dining area, using our canes and 
> talking with them as we did so. We seated them at their assigned tables. 
> Their food was already on the tables. The meal was actually more like hors 
> d'ouvres than dinner. There was fruit, chunks of marinated vegetables, 
> bread with oil for dipping and bottled water. After they were seated there 
> was a Q and A session where we answered some of the usual questions about 
> blindness. On the 2nd night, following our suggestion, some of us sat at 
> the guest tables rather than at the volunteer table. We returned to each 
> table several times throughout the evening to check in with folks, bring 
> more food and water, and answer more questions. The Blind Cafe was founded 
> in Boulder, Colorado by a sighted man and my good friend Gerry Leary. 
> While Gerry did not attend the Seattle events, he tells me that he has 
> participated in nearly 20 others, and that all have gone extremely well. 
> Two other blind guys, Jim Jackson and Rick Hammond, travel around and help 
> before and during the show. They are both graduates of the Colorado Center 
> for the Blind and thoroughly embody Federation philosophy.
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> After dinner the blind volunteers served dessert. On the first night the 
> two out-of-town guys did this. On the 2nd night, per our suggestion, Mike 
> and Cindy also served dessert. Following the meal there was a short 
> concert performed by Rosh (The Blind Cafe coordinator) and some others. 
> The music was pleasant and there was a little sing-along at the end. Then 
> candles were lit and we stayed for more discussion. I personally talked 
> with many sighted guests. They did not come away from their experience 
> with a bleak view of blindness nor did they think that we are all amazing.
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> During the evening, as well as in the materials distributed beforehand, it 
> was made clear to all of the guests that they were NOT experiencing what 
> it is like to live as a blind person. The Blind Cafe is a 
> community-building dinner and concert with blind people like us as 
> integral parts of the evenings. You can go to their website, 
> www.theblindcafe.com to learn more about its creation and mission
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> On the 2nd night each guest was given a braille alphabet card to check out 
> after they left. The card also contained contact information for the 
> Greater Seattle Chapter (courtesy of Mary Helen Scheiber). The Blind Cafe 
> organization handles all of the ticket sales and promotion ($70 per 
> person). There were about 100 guests each night. Our chapter will receive 
> 10% of the proceeds. If there is enough interest in Seattle, there will be 
> more shows in the future.
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> I came away from this experience with a VERY positive feeling. I would not 
> only volunteer again, but would promote future events. I know there will 
> always be those who will never believe that any good can come from these 
> events. I am no longer one of those people.
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> Marci Carpenter
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