[nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

Mon May 10 22:27:44 UTC 2010

HI all,

Just jumping in in the middle of the thread but just wanted to say that I 
have been to one of those dining in the dark restaurants. It was fun. I will 
not say that it would ever be a meaningful way to get sighted people to 
understand more about blindness but just a cool experience. I went there on 
one of the first dates with the man that became my husband a few years 
later. I think that, just as I know of musicians practicing in the dark 
because they find that they hear better and focus more on feeling the 
instrument, this way you can appreciate the world differently for a little 
time. I thought that for me it really would not make a difference and I was 
amused to see that I was wrong. I underestimated the extent of how much my 
communicating with people is affected by my assumption that they can see me. 
At one point my husband was talking to me and I was interestedly nodding my 
head and at some point he asked: "Hey are you listening?" He did not have 
any clue about my gestures. Anyway all in all a fun and different way for 
sighted people to experience reality nothing more and for me an interested 
way to assess how knowing that people see me affects my interactions with 
them.

I by the way did a few concerts in total darkness and had fun at the idea 
that I could stick my tongue out as I play very serious music and nobody 
would have known. I did not do it! Smile. But knowing that I was bowing to 
an audience that could not see me was cool.

Ok, that's my story.
I wonder if anyone has experimented with ear plugs that totally block your 
hearing.blocking your hearing.
Take care,

Ioana
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation

> Albert,
> You are an adult. If you want to do these types of events, go do them.
> Nobody is stopping you. Me, I can think of other stuff I'd rather do,
> and this is more a function of interest then blindness. If I want to
> reenact, It's much more fun to do Civil or Revolutionary War Cuter guys
> too.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:34 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
> Albert,
>
> I don't know what to think about the benefits of the experience for the
> participants.  I did find the articles and other materials on it pretty
> offensive and patronizing.  I'm all for fund raising, but would rather
> not
> have more condescension and patronization to put up with, thank you.
> /smile/
>
> As for attending...  I don't even know if they do it locally.  My first
> response to the very notion is that I don't want to have to deal with a
> bunch of sighted people bumbling around in blindfolds!  Scary thought
> there.
> /grin/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Albert J Rizzi
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 10:08 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
> I am curious, as we seem to find fault in the dining in the dark
> experience
> has any one of us attended one of these events to find out first hand
> how
> blindness is presented at these events? I recall the response to letters
> sent to Florida highlighting the sensory appreciation of food devoid of
> sight influencing one's taste or preference over what to try and or not
> try.
> It would be interesting   to here from someone with first hand
> experience
> with attendance at one of these events.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
> is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Julie J
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 12:28 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
> The article says it was established in 2008.  I suppose that is in
> reference
>
> to the US school, since the one in Canada has been around for a while.
> That's pretty recent and could be why no one has heard of it before.
>
> I think the whole concept of "Dining in the Dark" is not very productive
> in
> the long run.  Helpful in raising funds, yes, but pretty low in any
> meaningful understanding of blindness.
>
> JMHO
> Julie
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 9:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>
>
>> Why haven't we heard of who? Mira or the Carolina Eye thingy? Mira has
>
>> been around a while, but I didn't know they were expanded into the US;
>
>> Mira is a guide dog school in Quebec. (They teach their guide dogs
>> French.)
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 7, 2010, at 7:03 PM, Margo and Arrow wrote:
>>
>>> got problems with this--dining in the dark and why haven't we heard
> of
>>> them before?
>>>
>>> Margo and Arrow
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Toni Eames"
> <eeames at csufresno.edu>
>>> To: <gdui-friends at yahoogroups.com>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 12:57 PM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye Partners With Mira Foundation
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wednesday, May 5, 2010
>>>>
> <http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/may/05/carolina-eye-partners-mira-fou
> ndat
> ion/>http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/may/05/carolina-eye-partners-mira
> -fou
> ndation/
>>>> Mira Foundation USA, a nonprofit dedicated to providing guide dogs
> to
>>>> children in need, announces Carolina Eye Associates as one of the
>>>> organization's founding corporate partners.
>>>>
>>>> Mira USA is the only nonprofit providing guide dogs to visually
> impaired
>
>>>> young children in the United States. The two organizations both
> share
>>>> the same concern and commitment to providing young children with the
>
>>>> resources - and companions - that enable personal independence and
> the
>>>> freedom of mobility.
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye is also the headline sponsor of Mira USA's upcoming
> "Dining
>
>>>> in the Dark" fundraiser event taking place May 14 at the Country
> Club of
>
>>>> North Carolina in Pinehurst.
>>>>
>>>> "Mira USA is an organization close to all our hearts, and we admire
> the
>>>> passion with which they've tackled the huge job of providing these
>>>> specially trained guide dogs to young children across our country,"
> said
>
>>>> Dr. Greg Mincey, of Carolina Eye Associates. "We are proud to be a
> part
>>>> of Mira USA's mission for improving the lives of children in need of
> a
>>>> guide dog and invite other companies and organizations nationwide to
>
>>>> join us in supporting their effort."
>>>>
>>>> "Dining in the Dark" is one of many community activities held to
> raise
>>>> awareness and funds to support the work of Mira USA. The concept
> began
>>>> in Germany and has spread to cities where restaurants offer a unique
>
>>>> twist on a normal dinner out: guests gather to wine and dine in
>>>> darkness. With the complete loss of vision - and the resulting
>>>> heightening of the other four senses - Dining in the Dark will be an
>
>>>> extraordinary adventure.
>>>>
>>>> "This is the first time such an event has been presented in North
>>>> Carolina," said a spokesman. "Reserved seats are filling quickly for
>
>>>> this dinner as the community has embraced both the novelty of the
> event
>>>> and the mission of Mira USA."
>>>>
>>>> "We are grateful to have the support of the distinguished team at
>>>> Carolina Eye Associates," said Robert Baillie, Mira USA founder and
>>>> chairman. "There are over 57,000 visually impaired young children in
> the
>
>>>> United States and ours is a big undertaking to begin to serve this
>>>> largely overlooked population by providing specially trained service
>
>>>> dogs. I've experienced how the dog can provide a bridge between the
>>>> child and the community, diminishing the stigma often associated
> with
>>>> disabilities, and with the support of the public and organizations
> like
>>>> Carolina Eye, we will give as many children as possible this
> tremendous
>>>> gift of independence and companionship."
>>>>
>>>> MIRA Foundation USA Inc. is dedicated to enriching the lives of the
>>>> largely overlooked population of young children living with
> disabilities
>
>>>> by providing specially trained service dogs. Mira USA was
> established in
>
>>>> 2008 by Robert Baillie. Having suddenly lost his sight and realizing
> the
>
>>>> life-changing difference his guide dog Devon made for him, Bob set
> out
>>>> to improve the experience of individuals living with blindness.
> These
>>>> special dogs and services are given to children free of charge.
> Although
>
>>>> Mira USA will provide dogs to all who qualify, its main focus is on
>>>> children 11 years of age and above. Mira USA believes everyone
> should
>>>> have access to the tools and resources that enable personal
> independence
>
>>>> and freedom of mobility, and invites you to be a part of it. Learn
> more
>>>> at <http://www.mirausa.org>www.mirausa.org or (910) 944-7757.
>>>>
>>>> Carolina Eye Associates is one of the largest eye-care practices in
> the
>>>> Southeast, with eight regional eye-care centers in North and South
>>>> Carolina. Carolina Eye was established in 1977 in Pinehurst/Southern
>
>>>> Pines, N.C., by Dr. Robert Gale Martin and Dr. George Tate Jr. Since
>
>>>> then, patients from across the United States and more than 20
> foreign
>>>> countries have come to Carolina Eye for eye care needs. For more
>>>> information, please visit
>>>> <http://www.carolinaeye.com>www.carolinaeye.com.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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