[nfb-db] Definition of Deafblind? was new person

[Bdummette]

In answer to what you were saying, Personally I live with deaf-blindess everyday and I can definite speak.   I go to bed at night with deaf-blindness, I wake up with deaf-blindess so who knows better, myself talking about it.  I'm not reading from a book with definitions then go pick another book with more definitions, I can only tell you how and feel, not what I read.  My question to you, have you spoken to a live deaf-blindness person with speech?  That can tell you exactly what is going on in their world, not what you read.  When you do that then you can talk or to speak about true meanings of deaf-blind.  Not to be disrespectful but to be honest and to allow you a peek the real deaf-blind world. Something else that alot of people in agency are doing saying who is more disable and then to the next one, who have crossed eyes or less vision or more hearing or not more, it needs to stop. that is so not right.  As I see, these very people that giving all the different labels to everyone don't know cultures, deaf-blindness culture, hard of hearing culture at all. I welcome comment, please write back to me with the reply.  Thank you

Betty Banks aka Elizabeth

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com>
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thu, Jul 12, 2012 2:39 pm
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Definition of Deafblind? was new person


I would agree with Elizabeth's functional definition. Also, it's
ossible to identify as medically deaf-blind, meaning that you have
he physical conditions but not the cultural identity. If you choose
o identify as deaf-blind, then you are. I've known of people who have
ctually tried to say they were socially deaf-blind without meeting
he functional or medical definition, which I don't really see as
alid, but that's my own personal opinion on the matter.
lizabeth: do you know Jeff
ohrman? I notice you have a 614 area code, which I believeis
olumbus, which is where he lives and works. he's also deaf-blind.
It's great to see activity on this list!!
cott
On 7/12/12, Sammons, Elizabeth <Elizabeth.Sammons at rsc.ohio.gov> wrote:
 Dear Gerardo and others on the list,

 First, Gerardo, hello, and I really want to compliment you on your perfect
 English, as a former English teacher! I am always happy when we have
 international writers on the list.

 I will try to give a very short answer to a big question regarding
 definitions. There are medical or legal definitions commonly used in Social
 Security and in the medical world. While important, these are not the only
 definitions used. In today's rehabilitation world, which is where I work,
 (Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission,) we define disability
 functionally. That is, what can you do, and what can't you do?

 I am going to quote below directly from one of our publications


 What is a functional impairment, and how do we define it?
 It involves looking at disability by results of that disability, not the
 impairment per se.
 The severity of a disability is judged by how many limitations there are
 that affect someone's ability to find or keep a job.

 Functional impairments stem from a disability but are played out in real
 life in effects on:
         Communication, (exchanging information, written or spoken ideas)
         Interpersonal skills, (soft skills someone uses to get along on the
 job, including relationships, behaviors, etc.)
 Mobility, (transportation, help from others, room modifications,
 orientation, etc.)
 Self care, (at home or on the job, for physical or cognitive safety and
 health needs.)
 Self direction, (planning, problem solving, concentrating on a goal, etc.)
  Work tolerance, capacity and endurance (requiring special accommodations
 for safety or job completion because of physical or psychological
 restrictions.)
 Work skills, (learning and performing the tasks of the job.)

 I hope this helps a little bit in continuing the discussion. In a nutshell,
 if you have difficulty doing certain things that require vision or hearing,
 or you can no longer do these things, you have an impairment.


 Best wishes, and if you need to contact me off line, feel free,
 Elizabeth S.



 Elizabeth L. Sammons
 Assistant, Vocational Rehabilitation Programs
 614.466.9844  X. 3644

 Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission -
 www.rsc.ohio.gov<http://www.rsc.ohio.gov/>
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 Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Rehabilitation-Services-Commission/155300754532533?sk=wall/>,
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