[stylist] Definition of blindness

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Ashley,

Yes, this true, but Lynda, Donna, myself and others are trying to say is
that these distinctions have become so much more than a way in which to
disseminate services, and keep in mind that often services are denied
people who could truly benefit from them because of these definitions
and what the so-called professionals consider appropriate vision loss in
order to receive services.

Also, I don't know why we as individuals are so stuck on the labels
either. They don't determine who we are or what our personality is like;
at least it shouldn't. Why does blindness determine who we are when it's
just one of many aspects of who we are?

Blind is blind, and as Donna has stated, we need to get over the stigmas
behind the definitions. No one should allow something like a disability
to determine who they are or to be pegged because of it. And by the way,
I hate the term *disability* I prefer differently able, and I don't
believe blindness itself is a physical disability because those who only
have blindness are not physically unable to do things; rather, we have a
sensory disability.

It doesn't matter, and it shouldn't be a matter of comfort. We are
blind, we have varying levels of vision loss. Period, end of story. If
other people want to get caught up in labels, let them, but we need to
be comfortable in our own skin and just live our freakin life.

Bridgit
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:14:49 -0500
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Definition of blindness
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	reply-type=response

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