[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Lynda Lambert]

this is so accurate.
Two years ago I was connected to a lady who needed help due to sight loss.
When I contacted her, she told me she didn't need help because she was not 
"legally blind."  She told me she was not "ready to go there." I just gave 
her my information and told her if at any time she needed my help, just 
contact me.
In about a year, I got an urgent email from this woman. She lamented she 
cannot read the labels in her gallery (she is an art gallery owner), could 
not see to do the book work, use the computer, cannot read the box 
directions to bake a cake, and cannot read a book to her grandson - she was 
really frantic at this point.
Again, she told me she could not have any help because she is not "legally 
blind." I told her that is not true (and I knew with her description of 
problems she was certainly lower than the label of legally blind would be.

I contacted the district rehab. for help in knowing what to do. It was not 
long before she finally made that phone call, and help was on the way. That 
was last fall.
She just sent me an email this week - talking about how happy she is to be 
able to run her business all by herself, and she can even paint again with 
the help of an Acrobat.  Her life is now much better and she feels more in 
control.

Because someone had somehow put a label on her, even though it was a wrong 
one, she would have never had the help she needed.  Putting labels on things 
just creates so many more problems for us all.

If you watch the Rita Dove video I sent out for our discussion on Sunday 
night, you will hear her talk about these very same things that she 
experienced as a very young school child.  Rita Dove was labeled in 2nd 
grade by another little girl who she thought was her friend - lables can 
come from anywhere at any time, and they are not always put on us by 
professionals in the filed.

Lynda







----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 2:51 PM
Subject: [stylist] Definition of blindness


> But we don't need to be defined or boxed in to choose tools and methods.
> Labels like this tend to create, and perpetuate, a hierarchy of
> blindness. If blind, whatever the level, you are aware of the situation
> and what you need to do. To label you type of vision loss just places an
> unnecessary distinction in my book. What does a formal definition or
> label do in terms of tools and methods? In most situations, these labels
> are what box us in such as low vision students being denied Braille
> education or cane travel. It says visually impaired seniors don't need
> alternative skills training. It denies services and alternative skills
> training to a lot of people because of this label. You have low vision
> so you can strain to use that vision. You are totally blind so you don't
> need education because you have little opportunities. I don't want to be
> known as the blind girl; I just want to be the girl with a talent, with
> a personality, with an opinion... Labels do nothing to bring equality.
>
> Bridgit
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:58:23 -0500
> From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Definition of blindness
> Message-ID: <008901ce0ccb$6a3d9c00$3eb8d400$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Yeah it actually might.  You should want to know as much about yourself
> as possible.  When experts can't give you an answer that's kind of
> pathetic. It is good she knows how much she can use what limited sight
> she has.  Use every tool in the tool box, but always use the best tool
> for the job.
>
>
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