[nagdu] accepting help was Watch Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness

Sun Mar 14 03:42:09 UTC 2010

Yea, I don't know how to do buffets without sighted assistance,
either. I wish they would put Braille labels on the sneeze guard like
the pring ones. Not likely to happen, though, as those change too
often, for one thing.

Sure would be a lot easier, though, wouldn't it?

On the same topic as doing things for ourselves, but not being
"superheroes" I think our local chapter has accepted the possibility
of serving as waiters and waitresses at the pancake breakfast
fundraiser we will be having. I know I plan on serving plates. But I
also know that my pouring skills are not good enough to pour for
someone else. I still use my finger too much...I don't think people
want my finger in their water, yes?

~Jewel

On 3/13/10, Julie J <julielj at windstream.net> wrote:
> Tami's statement about buffets got me to thinking.  Scary, I know, but I
> promise it won't be as bad as you think! LOL
>
> I always use sighted assistance at a buffet.  This is how I was taught when
> I went through blindness skill training.  I have figured out no other good
> way to handle a buffet.  I still scoop my own food onto my plate, but no
> matter how much I stir the food around, poke it with the spoon and guess
> what it is, I am wrong the vast majority of the time.  Of course this is
> just one example of accepting sighted assistance.
>
> I think it's very important to learn all the skills and techniques that you
> possibly can.  It's imperative that you have confidence in your own
> abilities.  It's crucial that you are consistent in using your skills
> instead of constantly relying on others to do for you what you can do for
> yourself.
>
> But all that said, I don't think we need to try to be superheroes.   It
> reminds me of the "Nature of Independence".   Excellent read!  If you
> haven't read it recently it's definitely worth the time.  Every time I read
> it, I get something new out of it.  We are constantly growing, changing,
> becoming...the learning is never done.
>
> JMHO
> Julie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 11:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: Watch Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness
>
>
>> Jewel,
>>
>> Welcome!  And good points.  Learning to dine gracefully, especially in
>> public, was uncomfortable at first, although like you, I learned by going
>> out and doing things with friends who just didn't get uptight and insist
>> on
>> helping me.  So I could think my way through things.  I was also a
>> Rotarian
>> as my central vision really started fading out, so I got to face the
>> challenge of the buffet bar and of trying to pretend I was still cool and
>> stuff around people I wanted to impress.  /smile/  I put more pressure on
>> myself there, but it was still easy to figure out.
>>
>> I've been "blind" as far as the loss of my central vision for about 4
>> years
>> now.  You make me feel like and old hand!  But continuing one's life while
>> learning the adaptive skills you need is a good way to go.  Keep it up!
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> Of Jewel S.
>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:04 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: Watch Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness
>>
>> The article was not as bad as the video. I couldn't see it, of course,
>> but it sounded like a lot of sighted people blundering around and
>> almost sounded like making fun of blindness. Then there was the man
>> saying that you had to use at least one hand, because you had to feel
>> the food. This is a horrible thing to say, and will only make people
>> think that's all right for blind people to eat with their hands, the
>> poor dears. They don't realize that by touching the food with the
>> fork, blind people can tell the texture of the food, and where it is,
>> and can be sure of what it is by the smell. We don't, and shouldn't,
>> eat with even one hand! What a horrible comment!
>>
>> And the people blundering around the table for the wineglass. Hello?
>> Why didn't they ask the waiter? Or have each person look "slow and
>> low" to find the bottle. It's because they weren't taught how to look
>> for the bottle, of course! I have been blind only about two years, and
>> finding things on the table is the simplest thing these days. I go to
>> a friend's house. She is almost totally blind, her daughter is totally
>> blind, and I have 3/350 vision in one eye only. We prepare dinner, set
>> the table, sit and eat, then make coffee with dessert, all without any
>> help from anyone sighted. It's not difficult, and these Dining in the
>> Dark fundraisers make it look like it is.
>>
>> I don't like it one bit.
>>
>> ~Jewel
>>
>> On 3/11/10, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Here is the link to the video cut and paste the link don't have to find
>>> start button.
>>>
>>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>> Treasurer, Greater Long Island Chapter of the NFB
>>>
>>> Independent Travel Consultant
>>> http://Echevarriatravel.com
>>> 1-866-580-5574
>>>
>>> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
>>> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> CST-1018299-10
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>>> To: <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:48 PM
>>> Subject: Watch Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness
>>>
>>>
>>>> Watch Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com wants to share this video with you:
>>>>
>>>> Dining in the dark, experiencing blindness
>>>>
>>>> Video:
>>>> (Mar. 10, 2010) [Joseph Garnett Jr. | tampabay.com] The Foundation
>>>> Fighting Blindness hosted Dining in the Dark as a sensory awareness
>>>> experience that creates a world without sight as participants dine in
>>>> complete darkness.
>>>
>>>>
>> http://www.tampabay.com/video/?bcpid=28597115001&bclid=0&bctid=71120980001
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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