[nfb-talk] Dining in the dark
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Sun Apr 24 00:43:54 UTC 2011
Lisa,
The first time I tried to eat without vision was at the Colorado
Center for the Blind. I'd never done it before, and I couldn't even
figure out how to cut my own food at first. My first day at the
center was someone's graduation meal, and so it was really quite an
experience for me. Someone had to explain how to do the simplest
things to me. But once that had been explained, I managed to do it
just fine.
It is no different for a sighted person than it was for me, since up
to that point in my life I had learned to live essentially as a
sighted person. I managed, and once it was explained to me, the
techniques seemed obvious. It took me a little longer to eat than
usual because simply knowing how it's done is not the same as
actually doing it, but it was not difficult even for a perpetually
uncoordinated person like me to master after mere minutes' practice.
I still use the technique learned under sleepshade when not. It
allows me to look at other people over meals rather than my head down
looking at my plate. (In fact that's true of most of the skills I
learned in Colorado: I use them to do what is necessary so that I can
avoid the isolation problem and associated social stigmas most
"partially sighted" and "visually impaired" people have dealing with
groups of sighties.
This comes with a trade-off or two, but they're worth it. Most of
the things we do aren't really right or wrong. They're just choices,
and the choices we make have consequences good and bad. I never try
to "pass" for example, but the natural side-effect of alternative
techniques used effectively is that people often fail to notice them
and assume I can see a lot more than I can, which results in a need
to explain how these techniques work (and that I didn't come up with
them on my own.)
Joseph
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 06:04:13PM -0500, Lisa Kidder wrote:
>If you have been blind all of your life, it wouldn't be. However, if
>someone has just lost their vission it would be as first because they
>are not used to being blind Lisa
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:24:25 -0500
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Dining in the dark
>
>I really don't think eating without vision is that difficult, Mike
>
>It occurs to me that I've been around people dining without vision
>for the
>first time in their lives when I was at the guide dog school. New
>instructors have to do a few weeks of training while wearing a mask.
>The
>only time they are allowed to take it off is when they are in the
>shower. I
>guess they don't want the masks getting wet. Anyway, I never noticed
>these
>trainers having trouble eating and none of them ever said anything
>about it
>at meal times.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com
>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 4:40 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Dining in the dark
>
>
>The eaters would be so preoccupied by trying to get the food into
>their
>mouthes and by how awkward they are that I doubt they'd notice the
>blind
>wait staff much. If they did, they'd attribute the skill to the wait
>staff's superior senses and miraculous abilities!
>
>Mike
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of John Heim
>Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 2:19 PM
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Dining in the dark
>
>But since the waiters are blind, wouldn't the diners learn that
>people
>can function without sight?
>
>On Apr 22, 2011, at 9:06 PM, T. Joseph Carter wrote:
>
>Mike is convinced that these events do not and cannot lead to a
>greater appreciation of blindness. I've argued on another list that
>it can be done better, but Mike points out quite rightly that can be
>done better does not necessarily translate to people actually doing
>it in such a way that the sighties learn anything useful except
>perhaps by sheer trial and error.
>
>Joseph
>
>On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 07:56:34PM -0600, Jeanette Fortin wrote:
>there are a few nfb chapters doing the dining in the dark thing as
>well you know?
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com
>To: <info at michaelhingson.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'"
><nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:45 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting
>Blindness
>
>
>Oh my Lord! Is the RP Foundation fighting Blindness involved in
>that Dining
>in the Dark nonsense? I fear me greatly there's no hope for them
>then.
>
>Mike Freeman
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-
>bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Michael Hingson
>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 6:23 PM
>To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
>Subject: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting Blindness
>
>All,
>
>First, note the subject line change. I think the issue here is
>what is
>"fulfilling"? From the literature I have read from this
>organization as
>well as from discussions I have had with staff their idea of a
>"fulfilling
>life" does not contain the high expectations I or many of us have.
>It all
>goes back to the philosophy of blindness one chooses to have.
>
>If, for example, you think that it is amazing that a blind person
>can cut
>their food and even find it, but think that because a blind person
>does eat
>independently their life is in part fulfilling then your view of
>the true
>nature of blindness differs from mine. "Dining In The Dark" is a
>fundraising event the Foundation has sponsored in various parts of
>the
>country. Putting a group of sighted people under blindfold, then
>serving
>them food while making statements like "this is what blind people
>face every
>day" cannot help improve the public's view of the abilities of
>blind people.
>Nevertheless this is the kind of thing the Foundation Fighting
>Blindness
>does constantly.
>
>As, I think, Mike Freeman said, it is all in what you mean by
>"fighting".
>We in the NFB fight blindness every day. The blindness we fight is
>that of
>people who let their eye sight get in the way of their vision which
>has
>become blinded by prejudice and misinformation. (See Thunder Dog
>when it is
>released).
>
>The tragedy of blindness is not the loss of eye sight unless we
>make it so.
>Any "tragedy" is only as serious as we allow it to be. Those who
>lose their
>sight can move forward and have as full and productive a life as
>before if
>they are willing to get the proper training. There is nothing new
>here but,
>we need to keep saying it if we expect the world to come around and
>believe
>that truth. It's marketing pure and simple.
>
>Happy Easter.
>
>
>Best,
>
>
>Mike Hingson
>
>The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>"Speaking with Vision"
>Michael Hingson, President
>(415) 827-4084
>info at michaelhingson.com
>To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
>availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com Thunder Dog is now
>available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
>
>
>http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/1400203
>04X/ref=sr_
>1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3
>
>
>for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-
>bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 2:01 PM
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
>fromChairmanGordon Gund
>
>The choice of the word "fighting". It's not the they're against
>the blind
>leading fulfilled lives; they can't conceive of it.
>
>Mike Freeman
>sent from my iPhone
>
>
>On Apr 22, 2011, at 13:10, "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net> wrote:
>
>I'm sure the Foundation Fighting Blindness is very much in favor of
>blind
>people living rich and fullfilling lives. What makes you think
>they're not?
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "James Aldrich"
><jajkaldrich at gmail.com
>To: "Jeanette Fortin" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "NFB Talk
>Mailing List"
><nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:20 AM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
>fromChairmanGordon Gund
>
>
>Hello all!
>
>I greatly dislike how this organization the foundation fighting
>blindness
>reinforces how terrible it is to be blind! Yes! It is no picnic
>at first
>when one loses vision I'm certain but we in the NFB are here to
>show there
>is life after vision loss or there is life when one is blind! We
>have a
>more positive message! Yes! I'm all for preserving one's vision
>but if
>this isn't possible, I for one wish to see someone continue to live
>a full
>and enriching life as much as possible! There are many who can't
>cope but
>there are more who do and they live quite well! At least, they
>have a life!
>It is far better to be blind today than it was a hundred years ago
>but even
>at that time, I'm certain some lived meaningful lives even then!
>
>Jim
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeanette Fortin"
><jeanette at fortin-home.com
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:03 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>ChairmanGordon Gund
>
>
>well let me say this, why not fight blindness? if there is a way
>some
>people can regain their vision or if doctors can help folks to save
>the
>vision they have, go for it.
>i got a call today from my cousin who works with hazzardess
>materials in
>his job. he was hit in the face with some costic liquid last week
>and lost
>his vision for a couple of days. Because he was rushed to a special
>hospital and given specific treatment for his eyes which were
>damaged by the
>costic liquid, the doctors are hopeful he will regain all or most
>of his
>vision.
>from some folks way of thinking it appears they think it would be
>just
>fine for him to have lost his vision and subsequently his job. it
>gave him
>a true appreciation of those of us who have dealt with vision loss
>for years
>and has made him grateful for whatever vision he has.
>i think maybe the name of the organization, fighting blindness may
>offend some folks, but if you understand how someone who had vision
>and
>loses it feels maybe you would understand why the foundation is
>trying to
>find ways to help folks either regain or not lose their vision,
>jeanette
>----- Original Message ----- From: "S Baker" <srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>
>To: "ANFBchat" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:31 PM
>Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>Chairman
>Gordon Gund
>
>
>
>
>
>
>SRBaker
>
>
>
>
>
>
>From: srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Subject: RE: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>Chairman
>Gordon Gund
>Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:29:26 +0000
>
>
>
>
>This email solicits donations. It also has links to current
>research to
>correct blindness.There is nothing wrong with being blind, if that
>is what
>you want. If there is technology that can reverse,cure me, I am all
>for it.
>There is an old saying "There are none so blind as those who will
>not see".
>Our eyes may not work but our brains do.
>Steve
>
>
>
>SRBaker
>
>
>
>From: ladygloria at webband.com
>To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:37 -0700
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>Chairman
>Gordon Gund
>
>What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>
>
>Gloria Whipple
>Corresponding Secretary
>Inland Empire chapter
>nfb of WA
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>On
>Behalf Of S Baker
>Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>To: AMoLList
>Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>Chairman
>Gordon
>Gund
>
>
>
>
>
>SRBaker
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>To: srbaker at charter.net
>Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting
>Blindness
>closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a
>difference.
>
>And believe me, they do. When I reflect on the last year and
>listen to
>this
>video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for
>sight-saving
>treatments underway than ever before. Clearly, hope and optimism
>are running high. Incredible strides have been made in the last
>few years,
>and
>these remarkable advances would not have been made without your
>support of
>the Foundation. They include:
>
>Vision Restored. We are continuing to build on remarkable
>gains in
>gene
>therapy. As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial,
>9-year-old
>Corey
>Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can
>now see.
>And
>as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained
>improvement in
>vision. Building on this success, similar gene therapy
>treatments
>are moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt
>disease and
>Usher
>syndrome.
>
>Innovative Technology. The high-tech industry has a treatment
>I'm
>incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially
>available artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the
>Foundation was key
>to
>getting this engineered retina off the ground. Building on the
>studies
>we
>funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested
>in a
>clinical
>trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who
>were
>profoundly
>blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be
>more
>independent. In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize
>large
>letters.
>
>Groundbreaking Therapies. A research team funded by the
>Foundation
>Fighting
>Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a
>person's skin.
>While
>more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests
>that
>doctors
>may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using
>their
>own
>skin cells.
>These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all
>the
>progress
>that's being made. And this is why words can never express my
>personal gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>
>I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see
>the
>results of
>your support and the hope it has generated. But most
>importantly,
>I
>hope you
>will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate. It's
>been a
>long
>time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our
>researchers actually restored sight. It launched us into a new
>era
>when more and
>more
>people will have their sight saved or restored every year. A lot
>of
>work
>remains. But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>
>The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us
>by donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for
>increased
>research
>funding. As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate
>blindness,
>we
>hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission.
>Thanks
>for
>envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>degenerative diseases.
>
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Gordon Gund
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Check us out on:
>
>Tell a Friend | Subscribe | Change email address | Unsubscribe
>Foundation Fighting Blindness www.FightBlindness.org
>7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100 Columbia, MD 21046
>1-800-683-5555
>
>nonprofit software
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