Published: September 22, 2009 07:08 pm      

UCO’s ‘Dining in the Dark’ event to shed light on challenges of visually impaired

EDMOND — For the visually impaired, an activity as simple as an evening meal can present challenges many people can’t imagine. The University of Central Oklahoma’s Disability Support Services office will give others a first-hand experience of those challenges through the Dining in the Dark event at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Nigh University Center Ballroom A.

When diners arrive to the event, they will be greeted with a blindfold to wear throughout the dining experience, and will then be led to their table.

Diners will then be told how their plates and silverware are set up, and what food they will be eating.

Throughout the event, diners will get tips about how to better understand their senses, learn self-awareness as well as being aware of others.

“Imagine waking up one day, and the world appears to you as one fog of distorted splotchy neutrals of black and grey. Thousands of individuals in America lives with this disability among many others each and every day of their lives,” said Kimberly Fields, assistant director of Disability Support Services at Central.

“Dining in the Dark is designed to challenge some of the general assumptions, attitudes, values and beliefs regarding people with visual impairments. The event also will show it takes tremendous strength to live with a disability. It also will provide sensible suggestions on how to interact more comfortably and confidently to people with impairments.”

The event, which is in its second year, is sponsored by Students for an Accessible Society, and is open to the public.

Tickets are $25, and purchased at the Disability Support Services office in Room 309B, Nigh University Center.

Proceeds from the tickets will be used to create and fund scholarships offered by SAS.

For more information or to volunteer, call Disability Support Services at 974-2516.