[nabs-l] Blind Verses Legally Blind

[Suzanne Germano]

No of course not every stranger. Why are strangers asking what people can
see? But if someone asks and I feel they are genuine in there interest. I
do try to make it a learning experience so people understand not all
visions problems are correctable. Or so they understand there is a wide
range of what people can see who are classified as legally blind.


On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 2:10 PM, Elizabeth Mohnke <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>wrote:

> So then are you suggesting that I try to explain this to every stranger on
> the street who asks me about how much I can see, or whether or not I am
> legally blind or blind, when it is really none of their business in the
> first place? Honestly, it just seems as though everyone who has answered
> this question so far has totally missed the whole point of my email.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Suzanne Germano" <sgermano at asu.edu>
> Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 3:28 PM
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Blind Verses Legally Blind
>
>  I think there is a distinction. If I tell a professor I am legally blind
>> and here is what I see my accommodations are completely different than
>> someone who is totally blind.
>>
>> I don't think it has anything to do with being better off but just so the
>> person has a better understanding.
>>
>> If I am trying to arrange close seats for an event and I say I am blind
>> then they ask why do I need close seats then. I I say I am low vision or
>> legally blind then they understand my need to be close.
>>
>> I also find I get less shit if I say legally blind. If I say I am blind
>> then I get the "You're not blind" snotty comment. becasue it is quite
>> obvious I have a lot of useful vision.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 1:17 PM, Elizabeth Mohnke <lizmohnke at hotmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>>  Hello All,
>>>
>>> Recently it seems as though I have been getting a lot of questions from
>>> people who ask me if I am blind or legally blind as if there is some huge
>>> difference between these two things. Since I see these two things as
>>> being
>>> two sides of the same coin, I have started to respond by saying that
>>> anyone
>>> who is blind is legally blind and anyone who is legally Blind is blind as
>>> there are really no distinctions between these two things.
>>>
>>> it just seems to me like people who ask this question somehow believe the
>>> more eyesight a person has the better off they are as a person even
>>> though
>>> they may be blind. Hence, it feels as though what the person is really
>>> asking about is how much I can still see even though I am blind.
>>> Personally, I feel as though I should not be obligated to share such
>>> personal information with a mere stranger I will most likely never see
>>> again.
>>>
>>> I guess I just feel as though I am at a point in my life where I no
>>> longer
>>> wish to describe what I can and cannot see to other people. however, I am
>>> also not quite sure what to say when people ask me this question. I feel
>>> as
>>> though what I can and cannot see should not really matter all that much.
>>> But it seems as though I never really know what to say to those who
>>> believe
>>> that it does really matter.
>>>
>>> Do you have any thoughts or ideas about how to deal with these kinds of
>>> questions without revealing any personal information about yourself? how
>>> do
>>> you go about answering these kinds of questions in your own life? Any
>>> thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Elizabeth
>>>
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