[Ohio-talk] FW: Blind Person vs. Person Who is Blind

Fri Feb 3 18:36:55 UTC 2017

When I saw this topic come up, I sighed deeply in dread of what I assumed was coming, but I was delighted at the thrust of the comments. Some of you may remember that Dr. Jernigan wrote a famous article in the Monitor about it, and he came down against people-first language for all the reasons that have been discussed here. I am very pleased at the healthiness of members’ outlooks on this subject. Everyone who has expressed views should take a bow.

Barbara 
Barbara Pierce 
President Emerita
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
440-774-8077
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> On Feb 3, 2017, at 1:26 PM, Cheryl Fields via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Robby, I guess I am not that politically correct on this matter
> either. When a person is identified with a variety of minorities,
> blind-deaf or just blind, Asian or African American, unconventional
> hair or fashion style, height or weight, female, sexual identification
> and on and on... people have described me in so many different way,
> sthat it does not bother me too much. Interestingly enough most of the
> people I encounter hesitate to use the word blind while in my
> presence. Usually I bring it up or list some carachteristics from the
> list above to make them feel a little more comfortable with me. This
> may not be acceptable for everyone, but it works for me.
> 
> 
> On 1/31/17, Robert Spangler via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hello everyone:
>> 
>> This topic has undoubtedly come up before, but either I wasn't around for
>> it
>> or I don't remember.  So I am curious to know people's thoughts on being
>> referred to as a blind person vs. a person who is blind.  It's something
>> with which I struggle.  Those of you who know me well are aware that I have
>> no use for political correctness, which is usually why I refer to myself as
>> a blind person.  On the other hand, however, I can see the point of why one
>> might prefer to be called a person who is blind.
>> 
>> To my understanding, saying "a person who is blind" means a person who
>> happens to be blind--referring to the blindness as another characteristic,
>> such as being skinny, fat, tall, short, blonde, you get the picture.  I
>> like
>> this form of speech for this reason, because I believe that all of us work
>> hard to get people to stop paying attention to our blindness over
>> everything
>> else.  All of us are tired of our blindness coming up as the main point of
>> conversation with so many sighted folks.  Sure, there are those people who
>> pay it no mind, but I would say most of the people we come across on the
>> streets make one comment about it at least.  So explaining this form of
>> speech to them helps to explain that blindness is just another
>> characteristic.  When we must prove ourselves all the time and face lower
>> expectations, we only want it to be seen as another characteristic.
>> 
>> Now there's "blind person," which in many ways describes me, I think.
>> Maybe
>> I'm being hypocritical, I'm not quite sure, but I do think that blindness
>> changes how we do many things.  It doesn't make things impossible, but my
>> life would be significantly different were I not blind.  My hobbies would
>> probably be different, my skills, my upbringing, etc.  I don't necessarily
>> see this as a bad thing, so long as I am happy with myself, which I am.  So
>> in a way, I see blindness as being a defining characteristic of myself,
>> much
>> like how someone who is black may see that characteristic as defining them.
>> I have never let blindness stop me from doing anything and, whenever
>> someone
>> tries to tell me that I can't do something because I am blind, I do it
>> anyway and usually succeed.  So maybe I have a little bit of "blind pride."
>> Inside, I see myself as a blind person because I have fully grasped
>> blindness and do not see it as something that holds me back.  I had a
>> friend
>> tell me yesterday, "you identify as blind, whereas I just consider it
>> another characteristic of myself."  Yes, it is a characteristic but I can't
>> help but also thinking that it does make our lives different, as much as
>> many people may deny it.  I think the only reason people would deny it,
>> though, is the negativity that surrounds blindness.
>> 
>> I think the main problem we have identifying with blindness is that so many
>> people see it as negative and tragic.  While I'm comfortable with being
>> blind and lead a normal life, I still explain to sighted people who I am
>> trying to educate that blindness is just another characteristic and reserve
>> the identifying as blind (blind person) thoughts with those to whom I am
>> very close.
>> 
>> Thoughts?  I know I rambled a bit but this is something I've been thinking
>> about lately.
>> 
>> Robby
>> 
>> --
>> Robert Spangler
>> Secretary, Miami Valley Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
>> Ohio Spangler.robert at gmail.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Ohio-Talk mailing list
>> Ohio-Talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Ohio-Talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1957%40gmail.com
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Wishing You All the Best,
> 
> Cheryl E. Fields
> 
> 
> A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human
> life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will
> never sit.
> --D. Elton Trueblood
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ohio-Talk mailing list
> Ohio-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ohio-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/barbara.pierce9366%40gmail.com