[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Henrietta Brewer]

Think of this, there is nothing about who we are that says blind. Our eyes are like a window. The only problem we have is someone pulled the shades down. The window is open and we can hear everything outside but the shades being closed we have to create the pictures ourselves.

Now, blind, that is the person who isn't willing to create the pictures. The sighted  person, or blind for that matter, who allows the window to be closed too. They are missing all that is outside of them.
Henrietta
On Feb 18, 2013, at 9:52 PM, Donna Hill wrote:

> 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.
> 
> 
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