[Travelandtourism] New Event in NY City since August 2011, Fellow NFB Member of New York City involved as a Guide

[cheryl echevarria]

Have a lot of information today!

This is also going on in Atlanta, Maurice Shackelford, might have heard 
about this, since it starting there and has been there since 2009, and just 
recently has been extended indefinately.

What am I talking about, which opened here in New York City, down at the 
South Street Seaport, is a new exhibit called Dialog in the Dark.

One of our own NFB members here in New York City and writer for the Matilda 
Ziegler, Romeo Edmead, is a guide there, and I just got off the phone with 
him about it.  I also asked him if he has time to maybe come to the 
teleconference this Tuesday to talk more about it. But he said the event has 
just exploded with excitement and curiosity, so when he is not working, he 
is being interviewed about it.

Here is the story from the Matilda Ziegler, but Romeo Edmead.

This past Saturday at the South Street Seaport in New York City, a new 
exhibit that uses darkness to bring people into the light, Dialog in the 
Dark, opened its doors to paying customers, offering hour long tours in 
total darkness. The new attraction presents visitors with the opportunity to 
experience some of New York's shrines in an entirely different manner. As 
they watch a video demonstration of how to use a white cane, sighted 
visitors are then given one just before entering a world that will soon turn 
pitch black.

Once the sense of sight is rendered useless, a totally blind or visually 
impaired tour guide emerges and leads the way. If the guide is Valarie 
Rosario, a former teacher from Queens, you can expect a brief lesson as you 
move through each of the 5 galleries. "I like to have an anecdote for each 
stop along the tour," Ms. Rosario said. "So whether we are in Times Square 
or Central Park, I have a story for them." Of course listening to Ms. 
Rosario is essential, but she wants to be sure that everyone is touching 
too. "In the market, I go around and put things in people's hands or 
sometimes I'll bring someone over to an area so they can explore."

Damon Fuller, a tour guide from Staten Island, implores his groups to roam 
around freely. "I make my tours calm and relaxing," said Fuller. "I try to 
encourage them to use their canes to walk around and use their other senses 
to enjoy the experience, while I keep the tone of my voice at a level that 
provides comfort."

Mr. Fuller and Ms. Rosario were both excited about opening weekend, and felt 
that everything went very smooth. Mr. Fuller did admit that he only became 
really confident after his second tour, saying, "I needed to know that doing 
well on the first one wasn't just a fluke." All the guides had been giving 
free tours for a while, but Mr. Fuller said there is added pressure when 
people put their money down.

Although visitors just began reaching into their wallets in New York, Dialog 
in the Dark is the second of its kind in the United States. Three years ago, 
Atlanta, Georgia began welcoming customers, and what was initially predicted 
to last only 6 months has just been extended indefinitely. With that said, 
you still need to go back even further in order to find the true roots of 
Dialog in the Dark, which goes back more than two decades. It all began on 
the continent of Europe in the late 1980's, where you can still find museums 
today.

Back in New York, everyone can only dream of matching the success of their 
predecessors. Guides like Stephanie Foxworth-Johnson, enjoys her new job 
beyond anything words can describe. "People will have fun on my tours, and 
they will walk away with an education about the blind community, too. When 
they leave me, they will have more respect for us and our capabilities, 
understanding that sight has nothing to do with intelligence or enjoying 
life." When asked how long she could see herself doing this, the Manhattan 
resident said, "I'm going to ride until the wheels fall off!"

As the wheels turn, admission to the exhibit is $22.50, and hours are from 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and 
Saturdays. For more information go to www.dialognyc.com or call 
888-926-3437.


Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel, located in 
Baldwin, NY. www.superiortravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel, Inc.