[nabs-l] Blind vs. Visually Impaired

[Deb Mendelsohn]

The only difference I conceive between totally blind & low vision is the
way what we learn.
I'm low vision  but I still use my eyes to read.
We r all human beings what difference does it make if you're totally blind?
Deb

Deb Cell (520) 225-8244
On Jun 12, 2012 9:53 PM, "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
wrote:

> Great post, as always!
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 6/12/12, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > Brandon-undoubtedly you've stumbled upon an issue that has been
> > contentious in the blind community at times, because labels have
> > meaning and words have power. The terms "blind" and "visually
> > impaired" have many different connotations, some desirable and some
> > not so much. I want to present my personal views and reactions to
> > these two terms, and explain why I now use "blind" to describe any
> > person who uses nonvisual techniques to observe and interact with
> > their world.
> > I was born with only light perception, so I am essentially totally
> > blind (if people ask, I sometimes say I am "99% blind" and my tiny bit
> > of usable vision is only functional in a few select situations).
> > Because of this, I grew up referring to myself as blind and never gave
> > it a second thought. However, I had some friends growing up who were
> > in that grey area where they had enough vision to get by without
> > blindness techniques but who still qualified for blindness services
> > (TVI's etc.) My friends referred to themselves as visually impaired
> > and I thought that label was totally harmless and legitimate as a way
> > of differentiating between totally blind folks like me and folks who
> > had usable vision.
> > Over the past few years I have stopped using "visually impaired" for
> > two main reasons. First, the term "visually impaired" includes the
> > word "impaired" which literally means defective or inferior. The word
> > blind, while it has some bad historical connotations, does not
> > literally mean inferiority or defect. It simply means unable to see,
> > but it can be interpreted in many different ways. I choose to use the
> > word "blind" and to interpret it in a positive way rather than using a
> > term that focuses attention on what is broken. My friends who have
> > usable vision are not broken or "impaired" any more or less than I am;
> > they are people who, like me, happen to observe and interact with
> > their world, at least somewhat, in nonvisual ways. Given the chance, I
> > would rather not think of myself as broken or defective either, which
> > is why I continue to call myself blind. I know that in some sighted
> > people's eyes (not all, but some) the word "blind" still means
> > "broken" but I feel that these people would see me as broken even if I
> > called myself visually impaired instead. Words have power, and I would
> > rather create my own definition for the word "blind".
> > Second, over the years I have talked with several people who have
> > usable vision about their experiences with negotiating their
> > identities. I have heard over and over again from people who found
> > peace, resolution, and even joy when they began to refer to themselves
> > as blind, use blindness techniques and become full members of the
> > blind community. Before calling themselves blind, these folks (and
> > some of you on this list have experienced this too, and can elaborate)
> > often tried to pass as sighted, but became frustrated or depressed
> > when this attempt to pass wasn't completely effective. Hiding
> > blindness has its advantages, but when one's vision is simply not good
> > enough to make it possible without sacrificing competence (i.e.
> > running into things, falling, not being able to read, etc.) passing
> > can become more of a burden than a privilege. Calling oneself blind
> > and developing an identity as blind can be very liberating, as again,
> > it pulls focus away from the broken vision and toward the effective
> > nonvisual methods of observing and interacting. So I call my friends
> > blind rather than visually impaired because I want to respect their
> > blind identities and the peace and resolve that comes with them.
> > Again, while I have not done a study on this (I might, sometime!) I
> > don't think sighted people really understand the nuances between blind
> > and visually impaired. Some sighted folks think of beggars, depression
> > and darkness when you say blind; however, I'd bet they'd still think
> > of those things if you used the term visually impaired,
> > sight-impaired, sightless, optically challenged or any other term that
> > really means "blind" in fancier language. And there are other sighted
> > folks who have no mental associations, good or bad, with the word
> > blind. These folks can learn from our example that "blind" is neither
> > good nor bad, but simply means you observe and interact with your
> > world using means other than vision. My sighted boyfriend, who had no
> > experience with blindness before me, sometimes teases me by calling me
> > "blindie" and that is not meant as an insult. In fact, he knows that I
> > have several dear friends I jokingly refer to as "blindies" and so the
> > word has mildly positive connotations for me, and for him.
> > The issue of whether or not to tell an employer you are blind,
> > visually impaired or whatever is a whole separate thing. But I would
> > argue that if using a blindness technique like Braille, JAWS or a
> > cane/dog would allow you to perform the job better, it's worth the
> > risk to tell your employer you are blind and use these techniques on
> > the job. It's much better than floundering around without blindness
> > techniques and eventually getting fired for poor performance.
> > Arielle
> >
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