A quick glance around Zosia Ettenberg鈥檚 South 91原创 home tells a story.

Thick ropes are taped securely to most doorknobs, a dumbwaiter on a crank waits to lift items onto the porch, a sign outside requests that delivery packages be left on a nearby table and not the floor.

All of these items are intended to make life a little easier for Ettenberg, who contracted polio as a child and now lives with post-polio syndrome. As the nerves which took on the load of the ones killed by her disease burn out from over exertion, she grows increasingly weak.

Ettenberg鈥檚 service dog, a gentle yellow lab named Rumour, uses the ropes to tug the doors open and closed and picks up items that are too low for Ettenberg to reach.

The 91原创 woman can only be on her feet for a few minutes before she must sit, and so these days she relies on her motorized wheelchair to get around.

These are Ettenberg鈥檚 circumstances, but they do not define her.

鈥淢y disability determines what I can do, but I鈥檓 a person first,鈥� she says.

For many people, encountering someone with a disability 鈥� and not knowing how or even whether to offer help 鈥� can be confusing and uncomfortable.

It鈥檚 something Ettenberg has encountered for years.

But between her beautiful dog, her bright teal-painted fingernails and thanks to plenty of experience, she is at ease engaging strangers in conversation.

The first two are natural conversation starters, she says. And by the time the discussion has covered both topics, she has taken shape in the person鈥檚 eyes as more than simply a figure in a wheelchair.

But sometimes the best way to understand what it鈥檚 like to live with a disability is to experience it for yourself.

That鈥檚 precisely the intent of the Love is Blind gala, which happens on April 2 at the Fort 91原创 Golf Club.

The event, hosted by 91原创 Pos-Abilities Society, is both as a fundraiser and an opportunity to educate people about what it means to have a disability.

鈥淚f you can experience what it might be like to have a disability, you can understand you don鈥檛 have to be afraid of it,鈥� said Ettenberg, who founded the society in May, 2010 and is spearheading the upcoming fundraiser, helped out by her administrative assistant, Margot Thomson.

For guests, it will be a chance to see the world from a blind person鈥檚 perspective.

As they arrive, guests will be given a decorative mask 鈥� its eyeholes blocked out with black felt.

After cocktails, which will include the opportunity to look over the live and silent auction items, they鈥檒l be asked to don their masks and will then be lead into the dining room.

Throughout the course of the meal, the masked diners will face the same challenges as someone who is blind.

Each table will have its own sighted guides, trained by the CNIB, to help guests navigate the perils of 鈥渄ining in the dark.鈥�

Among the challenges diners will face will be clasping drinking glasses without tipping them over and determining how much liquid is in the glass, as well as figuring out just what is where on their plate.

Even something as simple as sitting down can create its own set of problems.

Most people bend forward at the waist and then drop backward into a chair. When you can鈥檛 see, chances are you鈥檒l do a face plant into your wine glass 鈥� but guides will be there to  prevent that from happening, she said.

The idea is to take people out of their comfort zone, but in a safe environment.

The gala will also include remarks from a trio of speakers 鈥� two blind athletes (a Tour de France rider and an Olympian) along with one of their spouses 鈥� who will offer insight into their lives.

Bibs will be provided and guests will be given the ornate masks to take home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a classy affair. It has to be 鈥� we鈥檙e charging classy prices,鈥� she said.

Tickets are $150 each. 91原创 Pos-abilities, which formed last May, is currently working on getting charitable status, meaning it cannot yet issue tax receipts.

A number of items have been donated for the live and silent auctions, including two airline tickets to anywhere WestJet flies.

Money raised at the gala will help the non-profit agency to provide assistive devices to people who cannot afford them and are unable to secure funding from other sources.

For the first gala, Ettenberg hopes to draw 100 people 鈥渂ecause we鈥檙e not all that well known.鈥�

She hopes to make the fundraiser an annual affair, each year allowing people to experience the sensation of a different disability.

For ticket information, call 604-961-0117 or go to langley.pos-abilities.org

Society was formed to explore Pos-Abilities

It is their goal to act as a bridge to these programs, as well as to provide assistive devices.

It is a non-profit, volunteer supported agency, that is still relatively young, explains its founder, Zosia Ettenberg.

鈥淲e鈥檝e only been in existence since last May. I think we鈥檝e done an awful lot in that time.

鈥淲e have a very small board 鈥� just four people,鈥� she said.

The society aims to create awareness and promote education to help the community understand, value and relate to residents with disabilities, including those living with mobility issues, hearing loss, loss of sight and other conditions which require assistive devices.

On average, Ettenberg said, the society, which she currently runs out of her home, receives a call a week from someone who is in need of her services, whether that鈥檚 to secure a piece of equipment or just to put them in touch with the right people.

One of her long-term goals is to open a thrift shop to help fund the society. Eventually, she鈥檇 like to see a gift shop and office space attached.

Then, everyone who receives help will be asked to repay it, either through time or talent.

Although she鈥檇 like the organization to serve as a blueprint for other communities, Ettenberg said 91原创 Pos-abilities鈥檚 mandate is to serve the residents of the 91原创s.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see community helping community,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e raising money in our community to help people in our community.鈥�

For more information, call 604-961-0117 or email pos-abilities@telus.net.