[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Donna Hill]

Bridgit,
You hit on the reason we have the terms. It has to do with "services" and is
perpetuated by the professionals -- not that we don't perpetuate it
ourselves. Braille isn't for low vision students. It's better for them to
strain their eyes, get headaches, have no life and fall behind -- at least
they aren't blind. I agree with you that we're all in this together, but I
also think that the labels we've been given by doctors, teachers and rehab
counsellors impact our lives, many times in ways that are similar to what
has happened to others carrying around the same labels.
Donna 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 2:51 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
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.


_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epix.net