[access-uk] Re: Appropriate terminology.

  • From: "Andy" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 22:59:47 -0000

Hi Steve and all.
It's quite shameful that we have conversations of this nature in the first place. The reasons why we do is tied up with public understanding, awareness and indeed, distrust of disability. I firmly believe that the National Assistance Act was quite wrong in it's definitions of Blindness and Partially Sighted. I'm convinced that the definition of blindness should have been reserved for those individuals lacking all vision, including light perception and as for the rest of us, myself included, could be considered as Partially Sighted. What in the world is wrong with that?
As a consequence of this judgment, the general population have difficulty in understanding people like myself, who may have a Guide Dog and who may appear to have some useful vision, yet tell them that they are blind. This, in my opinion, leads to distrust within the general population. We have all heard statements like "She can hear what she wants to hear" and "He does not really need that wheelchair you know", and I'm sure statements relating likewise to myself in my own community are prevalent.
I was told once that a conversation in a local pub concerning myself concluded with someone saying that they saw me using a cash machine the other day. What they should have said is that they saw me standing by a cash machine the other day, patiently waiting for assistance. As I said above, people simply don't understand and subsequently distrust us. We need to re-define the terminology, but could you imagine the outcry? 

Very best wishes.

Andy
----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Nutt" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 9:11 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Appropriate terminology.




Hi David,

I agree with you entirely here.  As I am total, I can not be visually
impaired. That would be like saying if you had your leg cut off, you have a 
bad leg.  Your vision is not impaired, it is not there.
But anyone who has sight at all, I feel Vision Impaired or Visually Impaired 
are OK.  Just don't use that awful word handicapped.

All the best

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
David Russell
Sent: Thursday 6 November 2008 20:30
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Appropriate terminology.

Leonie,
I'm not sure I really care very much. As I have no sight at all, my vision 
is not impaired, it is non-existent.  I suppose vision impaired is more
correct than visually impaired, but phrases like visually challenged are
truly dreadful.  Blind or partially sighted used to always be regarded as
perfectly acceptable and understandable.  But, as long as everyone
understands what is meant, then that is all that really matters.

There are more important things to worry about in life.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Chris Hallsworth
Sent: 06 November 2008 20:21
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Appropriate terminology.
To me they mean the same, however "vision impaired" and "visually impaired" 
doesn't necessarily indicate they're blind. In theory someone could be
"visually impaired" even if they're short sighted and needs glasses for some 
tasks.

--
Chris Hallsworth
e-mail: christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MSN: ch9675@xxxxxxxxxxx
skype: chrishallsworth7266
klango: chrishallsworth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Léonie Watson" <tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 8:16 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Appropriate terminology.



I'm curious as to people's opinions of the term "vision impaired",
as opposed to "visually impaired", or "blind and partially sighted
people".
It's something I've been meaning to explore for a while, so I'd much
appreciate people's thoughts. Thanks.
Léonie.

--
http://www.tink.co.uk/


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