[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Anita,

Does it matter?

Bridgit
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:21:43 -0500
From: Anita Ogletree <yrstrli at gmail.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Sending this again: Article
	showingwhatparentsofblind	kids are facing
Message-ID: <5121823f.467b3a0a.1275.ffffa94c at mx.google.com>
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There are three separate categories for which individuls without 
sight are identified: totally blind, legally blind and visually 
impaired.  Totally blind--if I understand correctly--are those 
who have no light perception.
Visually impaired are those persons who are able to use 
magnifying devices to enlarge printed documents, etc.  What 
exactly does the term "legally blind" mean?
I was told all of my life that I am totally blind but I have 
light perception.  I see objects but no shapes.  Every now and 
then I can guess a particular color depending on how the lighting 
in a room is.  I am able to tell when people are walking by me 
when they are only a couple feet in front of me and I can do that 
if I am sitting in a parked car or some other place.  I can see 
the shadows of trees, poles, buildings and so on when I look out 
of the window of a car.
My question is this: what category would I fit into? My optic 
nerve is damaged so the medical terminology is optic atrophyddI 
ask this because the so-called "experts" have not been able to 
give me an answer.