[nfbwatlk] [List] Marci re: Rick; Re: Blind Cafe

[mjc59 at q.com]

Hi Rick and CFB listers,

My blind friend Gerry Leary, who as I said has worked at many of The Blind Cafe events, owns and operates a coffee roasting business and a coffee shop in Boulder, Co.  It is called The Unseen Bean. I know he would be happy to answer any questions folks might have. I also know that he wouldn't stay involved in something that left sighted people frightened of blindness.

I had all of the concerns which others have expressed. For those who don't know me, I have been blind all my life. I have some vision. I wnt through strong, Federation-based training about 34 years ago. I have been a member of the NFB since the Washington affiliate was reorganized in 1981. I have served as Boulder, Co. chapter president, 2nd  V.P. of what is now called NABS, was on the founding Board of Directors of the Colorado Center for the Blind (Treasurer for 7 years), and was the Secretary of that reorganized NFBW affiliate. I currently serve on the NFBW Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Greater Seattle chapter. I am also a huge baseball fan, a cat lover and a proud flaming liberal.    Just a little about me. 

It took participating in The Blind Cafe's events for me to believe that it could work. I am glad to see everyone thinking and writing about this challenging issue. I will no doubt learn from the words of others.

I hop0e to see some of you at the NFBW convention this Fall. It will be held the weekend of Friday, October 19th - Sunday, October 21 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Everett, Washington. 

 



----- Original Message -----
From: list at cfb.ca
To: list at cfb.ca
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 10:57:54 PM
Subject: [List] Rick; Re: Blind Cafe

No, Marci was the one enthused.  But I gather she isn't entirely alone.

I agree Mike.  All the usual qualms about simulations apply.

But for some reason, people seem to be reporting coming away positive. As
opposed to the typical simulation experience where people come away with
reinforced negative attitudes.

Maybe it's because it's eating instead of travelling.  Which is odd, but
there it is.

Maybe sighted people respond to simulations more realistically or
positively if their mistaken apprehensions and misconceptions about safety
aren't involved.

I have no personal experience of any event like this.

The only time I have eaten under sleepshades was after travelling under
sleepshades.  And the only effect was to confirm to me that, sure, I can
eat fine.  Obviously.

It certainly wasn't my intention to promote any such public event by
forwarding the NFBW list message.  I was just passing it on, as someone's
perspective, on a topic that seems to keep coming up lately for some
reason.

But like Oriano, I probably wouldn't vociferously oppose trying it.

I don't know.  Maybe it could be OK if handled properly.

Rick



On Wed, 13 Jun 2012 list at cfb.ca wrote:

> I am obviously not the one enthused. But this is one of those cases wherein people are going to have to learn the drawbacks for themselves.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-bounces at cfb.ca [mailto:list-bounces at cfb.ca] On Behalf Of list at cfb.ca
> Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 12:12 AM
> To: list at cfb.ca
> Subject: [List] Rick; Blind Cafe
>
> Many of us think these events dubious.  But it seems at least one Federationist is enthused about them.
>
> Food for thought, so to speak.
>
>
> From NFBW list:
>
>
> Forwarded message
>
> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:48:12 -0400 (EDT)
> From: mjc59 at q.com
> Reply-To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] the blind cafe
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Greetings all,
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> Marci Carpenter
>
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