my thanksgiving staycation – part 3

Dialog in the Dark
Later on that weekend, another group of friends and I decided to visit the experiential exhibit – Dialog in the Dark. I’d been hearing ads for the exhibit for weeks that billed Dialog in the Dark as a one-of-a-kind simulation of how it is to live as a visually impaired person in a very visual world. Curiosity finally got the best of me, and I had to check it out.

When we arrived, we were all instucted to leave any light-emitting devices and bulky personal items in lockers before entering the exhibit. We were each handed walking canes, given brief instructions on how to use them and some guidelines for navigating our way through the experience. I won’t go into detail for fear of giving away too much, but for the next 45-50 minutes we were plunged into complete darkness, while a visually impaired guide directed us through several everyday scenarios that most sighted people take for granted.

I really didn’t know what to expect, so I can’t say that I was terribly impressed or disappointed in the experience. I will say that I came away from it feeling more informed and with an increased awareness of and a heightened appreciation for the challenges that visually impaired people must navigate on a daily basis. It was (excuse the pun) eye-opening.

but wait, there’s more….

k

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• my thanksgiving staycation – part 1
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• my thanksgiving staycation – part 2