[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Ashley Bramlett]

Lynda,
Actually, it matters because your lack of vision qualifies you for most 
services we talk about and take for granted in the blind community. Some 
people are functionally blind but have enough acuity or field of vision to 
not be legally blind.
Services such as nls, bookshare, learning ally, and rehab services are just 
some services that  look at your vision and the acuity numbers.
It also matters because it is who you are. You define yourself as a label.
So, I think Anita was just trying to sort out whether to call herself blind 
because she has light perception and can see shadows sometimes.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Lynda Lambert
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 10:25 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Definition of blindness

This is my thought, too!
Is there some kind of litnus test we must take to be part of the group?
And, must the group itself be broken down into little squares on a grid?
Creating various definitions for each of us only serves to fratgment us more
than we already might be.
We have a common bond in that we all have situations to deal with due to
various eye conditions. I think we can just be who we are without labels,
don't you?
Lynda






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 11:53 PM
Subject: [stylist] Definition of blindness


> 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>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> 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.
>
>
>
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