What do you think when you hear that someone is blind? The
other day I was reminded again of the different perspectives of blindness.
While some people see being blind as being totally without sight and living in
a world of darkness, still others see it as having severe low vision. Then
there is the definition of being legally blind – for instance, being unable to
read the large print on a newspaper or seeing an object across the other side
of an average room. I fall into the latter category, but explaining to other people
how it is that I see often presents a challenge.
Just the other day I was making a travel booking on the
phone. For safety reasons and for the
protection of the carrier as well as for myself, I usually offer the information
that I am legally blind. The phone conversation went something like this:
Me: Is there a place on the application to
note that I am legally blind?
Agent: What do you mean – legally blind?
Me: I am quite
visually impaired.
Agent: Well,
there are only three categories on the form – blind, deaf or wheelchair user. Are you one of those? What do you want
me to do?
Me: Well, I suppose that you should check “ blind”.
Agent: Are you
blind? Do you use something so that people will know you are blind – like...a
stick or something?
Me: I use a white cane.
Agent: Oh good, that’s it then. I’ll put you down as
blind.
As a postscript, in her next email, the agent sent me a form
to be filled out for passengers with disabilities.
What is your definition of blindness? Did you know that only
ten percent of CNIB clients are completely without sight? The majority of
clients have some degree of vision. How do I describe myself? I suppose that I use a variety of terms
depending on the given situation. Sometimes I say that I am blind or legally
blind or visually impaired. When I am feeling politically correct I use the
term partially sighted but mostly in general conversation I simply say that I
don’t see very well. I wonder again –
What is your definition of blindness?
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