The disorientation experienced by Mosaic attendees briefly robbed of their sight felt all too real on Thursday.

First came the blindfold. Then, a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) slowly guided attendees to tables, advising them to be mindful about the narrow doorway along the way.

That was followed by a lunch by fellow non-profit Carabelle’s Legacy, which included a sandwich wrap and a small container of potato salad, normally requiring utensils to eat.

Attendees would later admit they picked up the fork backward, spilled food on themselves  and felt claustrophobic when wearing the blindfold.

About a dozen attended the Mosaic event at Legacy Plaza, where they learned more about NewView Oklahoma’s programming and services.

Mark Ivy, 37, adaptive sports manager at NewView Oklahoma, can empathize.

Before working at NewView for the past 12 years, he was a NewView patient dealing with a hereditary eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. While RP limits his sight, including peripheral vision, the specialists at NewView helped him achieve independence.

“Little victories got me back up on my feet,” he said.

NewView has had a presence in Tulsa since 2018 but serves about 2,200 patients annually in all 77 counties of Oklahoma and employs people with sight impairments at a manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City.

“We are here to be a resource for Oklahomans,” said Derek Frazier, NewView vice president of financial development.

For those who missed Thursday’s event, NewView Oklahoma also will host a Blackout Banquet on Sept. 25 at Tulsa’s The Silo Event Center. More information is available at nwoklahoma.org.