[Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired

Steven Johnson blinddog3 at charter.net
Mon Jun 24 22:41:45 UTC 2013 

Although that would be ideal, the general public, who we are essentially
referring to throughout this thread,  really has no idea of the extent of
our individual vision loss. Therefore, a generic label, such as what has
been discussed here, puts those with all vision conditions into a
generalized term which for the most part has been described as persons with
visual impairments or vision loss.  Generally, when we as persons who are a
part of the greater culture of persons who have some level of vision loss,
often cease the opportunity when asked *key term* of how we lost our sight,
or what extent our vision loss is.  Personally, I believe that too many get
wrapped up in the terms as stated so eloquently by Kelby, and to change how
the term is used would be a literally impossible undertaking, but by doing
what we do on a daily basis, ceasing that opportunity to educate, starts to
tackle that idea of societal change one person at a time.

Just my personal thoughts.

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robin
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 11:03 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired

Personally, I think people, who are TOTALLY BLIND should be referred to as
Blind, and people, who have any vision should be referred to as LOW Vision
as opposed to Visually Impaired.

We as a community should take control of the way we are identified just as
people, who have difficulty hearing have by referring to themselves as DEAF
as opposed to Hearing Impaired, but we as a community are NOT unified as
they are.

Sent From Robin M.
At 05:51 AM 6/24/2013, you wrote:
>Good morning. Many of us who have been blind, to whatever degree for a 
>while,  use the B word for a couple of reasons. Terms such as visually 
>impaired, hard of seeing, unsighted, multiply blind, unsightly, 
>visually diminished, (please add other euphemisms as you see fit) do so 
>because we want to promote the inherent respectability of being blind. 
>Now everyone will use whatever they are comfortable with, I know. The 
>other factor is that Blind has a legal definition. Some states have a 
>definition of Visually Impaired, some do not. I think it may sometimes 
>encourage people to learn those alternative techniques which, may help 
>them in their daily lives.
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly 
>Mihalakis
>Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 7:52 PM
>To: Blind Talk Mailing List; Blind Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Use of the Term Visually Impaired
>
>Good afternoon, Mark,
>
>Agreed! Have you not visual perception, at all? What then, could b 
>characterized as impaired? When used to describe folk like you, or I, 
>as well as many, many others on this here list,  it's plain inaccurate!
>People ought be called whatever makes them feel comfortable. I don't 
>feel comfortable with a term like "vision impaired" Last I checked, my 
>vision is not impaired. Do they have a box called vision nonexistent? I 
>believe myself amazingly suited for such a box.
>Car35 PM 6/22/2013, kelby carlson wrote:
> >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
> > >>>>
> > >>>>--
> > >>>>Talking MP3 Players with FM radio, voice recording, and 
> > >>>>expandable memory! Priced under $100, plus free shipping in the US!
> > >>>>
> > >>>>Listen to our Talking MP3 Player presentations:
> > >>>>Clip Zip
> > >>>>http://www.blind-geek-zone.net/talking-mp3-players-with-rockbox-
> > laz-mesa-interviewed-by-rich-cavallaro/
> > >>>>Clip Plus http://www.sendspace.com/file/rranjr
> > >>>>
> > >>>>See our current special:
> > >>>>http://www.talkingmp3players.com/specials.html
> > >>>>
> > >>>>Join our mailing list by sending a blank email to:
> > >>>>RockboxedSansaTalkingMP3Players-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
> > >>>>
> > >>>>New web page in progress:
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> > >>>>
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> > >>>>
> > >>>>Email:  accessibleelectronics at gmail.com
> > >>>>Skype: lazmesa
> > >>>>Phone: 727 498-0121
> > >>>>Facebook: facebook.com/laz.mesa
> > >>>>
> > >>>>_______________________________________________
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