By Christina M. Wright, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON – Seeing is believing. But what about for visually impaired persons?
About 65 Andersonians dove into the blind world Saturday night at Christ Lutheran Church with “Dinner in the Dark,” experiencing how visually impaired persons get through a major part of their day: eating.
“You really, really get a better understanding of what visually impaired people go through every day of the week,” said Frank Bock, a seeing church member.
Barbara Kyle, director of the Anderson Outreach Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said she brought the event back for a second time because the first dinner in 2006 was successful. The organization raised $1,000 at the 2006 dinner, but didn’t expect to raise as much this year. The ticket-price was reduced from $10 to $8.
“We wanted to make it an affordable and valuable experience,” said Tresa Carpenter, the church cook for the event.
The two-hour dinner included a salad, spaghetti with meatballs and a pineapple cake. As youth church members served each course, they explained the plate to their blindfolded guests by noting the foods’ locations relative to a clock. At the end of the dinner, un-blindfolded diners observed the splatters and escaped foods on their tables.
“The spaghetti was the hardest,” said Jane Murray, 64. “And trying not to make a big mess of yourself. Of course, no one would have noticed but it’s knowing you were in a public place.”
Blind for 25 years, Marge Harris agreed that spaghetti is one of the harder foods. The 78-year-old said life as a blind person has its difficult moments.
“You’re adjusted but it’s still a battle,” said Harris, who lost her perfect eyesight to strokes.
Kyle, who has been partially blind since she was 7 years old, has been led the outreach center since it opened in 2005. She helps her fellow visually impaired members find resources and provides support. The approximately 50 members meet once a month for a group support.
Kyle said she frequently tells her group about her mishaps. Just this week, she tried pouring milk that ended up in her grease can instead of the glass.
“I tell the stories because I want them to know that – because even after all these years I still make mistakes – if they make a mistake, it’s no big deal.”
After dinner, seeing-diners were given an etiquette list with tips for interacting with visually impaired and blind persons. Some tips include not grabbing their arms, letting them know when something has changed in a room (including peoples’ presence) and, above all, “blind people are people, too.”
Harris’ assistant Susie Vinson said even her doctor forgets Harris can hear, understand and respond just as a seeing person.
“We’re all human beings,” Harris said of her frustration with sometimes not being seen as an equal. “Some are smarter; some are more beautiful. But we’re all God’s people.”
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.
-------
Etiquette tips for interacting with visually impaired
-- Remember, a blind person is a person who happens to be blind.
-- When talking to a blind person, use a normal tone and speed of voice. Blindness does not affect hearing or intelligence.
-- Don’t grab the arm of someone who is blind to guide him. Allow him to take your arm and walk a half-step behind to anticipate steps.
-- Speak directly to the person, not to a third party. Don’t consider a companion to be a kind of interpreter.
-- People who are blind are generally accustomed to using words like “see” and “look.” Don’t say “come feel this” instead of “come see this.”
-- Many people who are blind are willing to discuss blindness with you if you’re curious, but remember that it’s an old story to them. Find a common interest and enjoy a good conversation; they probably have as many other interests as you do.
— www.guidedog.org
