[stylist] Definition of blindness

Tue Feb 19 22:58:05 UTC 2013

Bridgit,
I guess I disagree with this notion, like the public is the enemy; labels 
are power if you give them power.
Those people not getting services probably haven't gottenthe doctor's 
signature for vision impairment or admitted they're blind.
I think it’s the blind people themselves with some vision refusing services 
cause of the stigma.
I am on lists of blindness professionals and often they talk about when to 
pressure people to  use canes on O&M. Do they provide service without a cane 
if people refuse it? It’s a hard question some professionals grapel with.
Yes, we get treated differently based on vision amounts. But isn't that why 
we should live our lives fully regardless of what
people think of us? I think we can educate them and tell them whatever label 
we choose.
People know I have usable vision but see a cane and I sometimes am asked 
about how much I see.
It doesn't bother me. Except for federationists, most people with vision 
call themselves visually impaired, visually challenged, or low vision.
Labels only separate us if we let them. You can have a meeting with blind, 
sighted and those with usable vision and simply accommodate all with 
braille, large print, and regular print for instance.
Whatever label people choose is okay. I have friends with no vision and 
various levels of vision and those fully sighted.

To me visually impaired term says you can see but your vision is restricted; 
nothing else.
I think I'll disagree with some of these positions and that we all have to 
be called blind but that is me.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 10:42 AM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Definition of blindness

But how do you explain the flaw in the system due to these labels? It's
the same levels denying kids Braille and mobility travel. These labels
deny seniors a full range of services that would be beneficial. These
labels have allowed so-called low-vision people to be employed over
totally blind people regardless of education, experience and ability.

We are not debating or denying the fact that these visual levels are
what give us entrance into things like NLS and Learning Ally, but rather
we are discussing a philosophical concept behind the labels. Like most
minorities, the labels tend to do more harm than good. Instead of people
we are black people, Latino people, deaf people, blind people...
Stigmas, distinctions and prejudices often follow these labels.

For a lit class at university, I did a research paper comparing the
totally blind/partially blind issue to the dark vs. light skin issue in
particular addressing the *fitting in* for lighter black people vs.
darker skinned black people. It's often called *passing.* It was an
interesting process, and I found a lot of similarities.

Having been fully sighted and now totally blind, I've been in both
worlds and often find it difficult to *fit in* in either. I am the same
person, act the same, do the same things, but I'm often treated
differently because I'm blind, not to mention female, but that's another
topic for  another day. I don't think I'll ever adjust to this
treatment. I'm defined because of this label, and people assume they
know me and what I like and don't like.

So yes, the labels and definitions may provide me services, but they
also stamp me allowing people to make assumptions and perpetuate
prejudices. And I go back to my earlier point too: I'm totally blind so
most services are open to me, but what about partials? In my experience,
I've only met two partials who could effectively and efficiently use
their sight still. All others would have greatly benefited from some set
of alternative skills, but due to a definition followed with a social
stigma, these people were either denied services or refused them.
Doesn't seem like the labels help here.

Bridgit
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:37:08 -0500
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Definition of blindness
Message-ID: <A17D89EF8EB642D6B9D27C844103A346 at OwnerPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response

Lynda,
But what you all are failing to remember if that you have to meet labels
or
visual criteria for services.
You cannot get rehab unless you meet some visual criteria.
You cannot even qualify for free hadley school courses unless you in
fact prove you have a vision loss significant enough to hinder your
daily life functioning.

So labels do matter. Btw, in your example, if that woman had her eyes
checked regularly, I bet she would have been deemed legally blind
sooner.

Ashley

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