[Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired

Sun Jun 23 00:35:22 UTC 2013

I refer to myself as blind, because I have no vision whatsoever. I'm
not pushing that everyone should adopt "visually impaired"
language--just arguing that for those with functional vision who don't
necessarily fall into the "functionally blind" category, it's a useful
descriptor.

On 6/22/13, Mark Tardif <markspark at roadrunner.com> wrote:
> Indeed, I think you are right.  My thinking is this:  if you choose to use
> words like "visually impaired" or "visually challenged," I am not going to
> bludgeon you into using "blind."  However, I do think a step toward
> integration is to recognize that there is absolutely no shame in being blind
>
> and in referring to oneself in that way.  I also think we might gently point
>
> out to our sighted friends that they need not tiptoe around it by using
> terms like "sightless."  I am blind.  I am also fat, energetic, fair
> complexioned, assertive, empathetic, left-wing, and plenty of other
> characteristics.  If we really believe that it is respectable to be blind,
> than I think we need to be examples of that in how we talk and what we do.
> The more we do not shy away from words like "blind, I think we will
> ultimately make our friends more comfortable.  Just my opinion.
>
> Mark Tardif
> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Wick
> Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 2:57 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired
>
> I know people get all in a tizzy when you make an analogy to
> race/ethnicity, but here goes:
>
> In the 19th century black people were classified as Octoroon (1/8th
> African-American ancestry) Quadroon (1/4th) etc. as these labels had
> both social and legal significance. It was in a black person's
> interest to minimize just how black they were.
>
> I think there is a tendency among many people with vision loss to
> minimize just how blind they are.
>
> Black people are proud to be black, but I get the impression that many
> people (not all) label themselves as visually impaired because they
> are less than proud to be blind.
>
> Best,
>
> Paul
>
> On 6/21/13, Danielle Antoine <singingmywayin at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Amen Sister Karly!
>>
>> On 6/22/13, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Hi, Laz,
>>>
>>> Good point. Only way someone embodyies "ugly" is by their actions,
>>> self-serving, erogant, hateful. Those charicturistics are not seen
>>> ocularly.
>>> Carly/21/2013, Laz Mesa wrote:
>>>>I myself am totally blind and resist being labeled visually impaired.
>>>>I do however wish to point out that the term visually impaired has a
>>>>negative connotation that the person is visually unacceptable in some
>>>>way, as in ugly. This was pointed out to me by an Australian friend.
>>>>For that reason, I choose to use the term vision impaired instead. Of
>>>>course if the person is butt-ugly, then I guess the term visually
>>>>impaired might be acceptable. (just kidding) But I'll tell you what,
>>>>since I lost my eyesight, I haven't run into one ugly person. Everyone
>>>>I come across is beautiful to me, unless their behaviour or actions
>>>>make them ugly.
>>>>
>>>>All the best,
>>>>
>>>>Laz
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: Kelby Carlson
>>>>Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 3:24 PM
>>>>To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>Subject: [Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired
>>>>
>>>>Hi everybody!
>>>>
>>>>So, since I'm not aware of any incendiary debates flaring up
>>>>around here recently, I thought I'd bring up something I read
>>>>recently that I found utterly baffling.  This was on a blog
>>>>thread about proper etiquette around people with disabilities.
>>>>Towards the end, a discussion of language appropriateness came
>>>>up, and someone said that "visually impaired" was an unacceptable
>>>>term that should not be used.  Instead, one should say "with a
>>>>visual impairment." I have heard similar things regaring the
>>>>phrasing of a "blind person" versus "a person with blindness",
>>>>but this was especially perplexing because I can't recall ever
>>>>meeting someone in my entire life who was opposed to the term
>>>>"visually impaired", at least when it was used to describe
>>>>someone who had some functional vision.  I don't have strong
>>>>feelings either way, but I would actually lean more to towards
>>>>preferring visually impaired than "partially sighted", though I
>>>>think neither one is more linguistically accurate than the other.
>>>>
>>>>I have encountered the issue of language surrounding disability
>>>>many times, and it's always been a bit strange-don't we, as blind
>>>>people (among other people with various kinds of disabilities)
>>>>have higher priorities on our lists of "things to fix in the
>>>>world"? These are just my thoughts on the matter.
>>>>
>>>>Kelby S.  Carlson
>>>>
>>>>--
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>>>>
>>>>See our current special:
>>>>http://www.talkingmp3players.com/specials.html
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>>>>RockboxedSansaTalkingMP3Players-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
>>>>
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>>>>Email:  accessibleelectronics at gmail.com
>>>>Skype: lazmesa
>>>>Phone: 727 498-0121
>>>>Facebook: facebook.com/laz.mesa
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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>>
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>
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