[Nfbf-l] How Dining in the Dark is Covered by the Media

Sat Oct 20 15:36:13 UTC 2018

Carolyn, goodness knows I have written several posts about CVI's Dining in
the Dark Event stating the positive impact it has on our sighted guests. It
is a fabulous fundraiser for the Center for the Visually Impaired and I
always talk to the entire attendees after the lights come back own
explaining that with the acquisition of the skills of blindness, those of us
who are blind are able to live the lives we want. I do not intend to say
another word on the matter since certain individuals insist on casting a
negative spin on the events  the we hold. Like you, I have been a member of
the Federation since 1987 and have held major leadership roles. Brook wrote
a wonderful email pertaining to DID so it's just a matter of whether or not
people insist on casting aspersions on  these educational events. 

Thank you for your input Carolyn! 

Kathy

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of carolyn lapp
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 8:36 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'; 'NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter
List'
Cc: carolyn lapp
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] How Dining in the Dark is Covered by the Media

Marion,
This article is one persons' perception and most likely reflects their
personal opinion of blind people.
I have been an NFB member for over 30 years and share its philosophy with
the other blind people I meet. 
I founded the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind which will host its 12th
Annual Dr. Thomas Hartig Dining in the Dark event on November 4th. This
dinner has helped us fund our programs and has increased awareness of the
abilities of blind people. It is a fun and educational event. 
You and Ms. Wallace have never attended FOCB's dinner and should not judge
all Dining in the Dark events by a few bad ones. Did anyone dispute the
article that was written about Southeastern's dinner? Has anyone reached out
to the reporter to educate her about the abilities of blind people? Why not
invite her to lunch and show her that blind people do not have difficulty
eating or cleaning their plates? Dr. Jernigan said we should take lemons and
make lemonade so why hasn't anyone turned this negative press into something
positive? 

Carolyn Lapp
Executive Director
Florida Outreach Center
For The Blind, Inc.

as written by m a long-tim Federationalist 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 4:01 PM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; NFB of Florida
Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
Subject: [Nfbf-l] How Dining in the Dark is Covered by the Media

Dear Fellow Federationists,

                For those asserting how the Dining in the Dark experience is
so positive, here is what the media tells the world about us as the result
of these sort of events! Read on to learn about, as the reporter shares “the
perils of blind dining”! Oh, and let’s not forget that we, the blind, do not
belong to the “clean plate club” because it is just too frustrating to eat
all the food on your plate! 

Dining in the Dark

A fun event for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

By 

Hannah Wallace

Here’s one challenge about eating blindfolded: green beans. Difficult to
locate on the plate, difficult to get on your fork, and harder still to fit
in

your mouth without, y’know, poking yourself in the eye or something. 

Consider this among the many lessons learned at 

Southeastern Guide Dogs’  Dining in the Dark event this past weekend, which,
in addition to introducing a roomful of sighted supporters to the perils of
blind dining, also included

a lovely talk by retired U.S. Marine Michael Jernigan, as well as the
revelation of a fun new art project coming soon to the streets of Sarasota. 

After the salad course (the event was catered by Kona Grill), the room full
of Southeastern supporters at the Grande Clubhouse at the Lake Club was
asked to don their blindfolds and await the entrée. As they set the plates
down, servers told each diner that the Chilean sea bass was paired with
rice, and the steak was paired with green beans. And then, we just had at
it. 

group start Ruth Lando and I, in a not-so-centered selfie.  

Selfie blx5ap

group end

Though I wasn’t above using my fingers to locate various items on the plate,
I proudly relied on my flatware to carve and serve my food. (Though many,
many disappointing times I brought the fork to my mouth only to discover it
was empty.) 

I went mostly for a straight up-and-down approach, stabbing things from
above and hoping they’d stick. To my right, Ruth Lando, media relations
manager

for Southeastern Guide Dogs, was apparently employing more of a side-to-side
scooping method. At the end of the meal, she discovered most of her green
beans had fled her plate and landed on the table (or the floor). 

I even managed to treat myself to a few sips of wine—slowly sliding my hand
on the table, past the plate to find the glass, as we’d been instructed
(stemware being yet another tricky part of the experience). 

Another interesting lesson: Because you can’t see your plate (and also,
perhaps, your frustration may mount), you don’t feel obligated to eat
everything in front of you. 

This is the sort of mile-in-your-shoes experience that surpasses an
organization’s usual information sessions and provides fresh insight into
its mission and its clientele. 

That being said, Jernigan, a St. Pete native and the first U.S.
servicemember to lose both eyes in combat in Iraq, is a true asset to the
cause. An easy and charismatic speaker in dress blues, he gave an overview
of his life before, during and after service, illustrating the irreplaceable
importance of his guide dog—both for mobility and emotional support. 

Lastly, Southeastern Guide Dogs announced its 

“Superheroes on Parade” campaign,

which will feature 50 life-size statues of guide dogs in capes, all to be
decorated by local artists and publicly on display around town. No word on
when and where to spot them just yet, but the project will culminate a
little over a year from now with an event on Palm Avenue.

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