Imagine eating dinner without actually being able to see it.
You wouldn't be able to judge how it was plated or have any other preconceived notions about it except for how it was described. How would you find your fork or wine glass? Who would you ask for help?
You'd have to rely on your other senses like smell, touch and taste.
While it may seem like an out-of-the-box (you could also call it unique) dining experience, it's an everyday reality for more than 200,000 people with visual impairments living in Arizona, half of whom live in Phoenix, according to Diana Miladin, director of Development and Communications with the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. (I'll refer to it as ACBVI for the remainder of this story).
Quite frankly, eating is only a small aspect of life. There's the everyday seemingly mundane tasks like brushing your teeth or making a cup of coffee in the morning that suddenly become a challenging task for those with vision loss.
On April 26, Crust in Chandler will host "Dining in the Dark," a four-course meal and wine pairing where guests will be blindfolded the entire time. The proceeds from the event will benefit ACBVI.
Miladin says the event only only helps support the programs the center offers, it also helps spread awareness about visual impairments.
"You don't know until you have this experience. It has quite a dramatic impact on people," she said Monday afternoon in a phone interview.
"The important thing is that people who are blind or visually impaired are just like everybody else. They can do everything with just the right tools to do it," she said.
The center is always looking for volunteers and donors. Interested? View their website for details.
IF YOU GO:
Dining in the Dark
Crust Restaurant Chandler
10. N. San Marco's Place, Chandler, AZ 85225
April 26 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $65+ (Reservations are required)
Call: 480-917-4903
