Accessible and politically correct language opinions?(self.Blind)
submitted by Awaywithwords6
Hey blind and visually impaired people of Reddit. What’s your view on politically correct language in the community. I find that when I tell people I am legally blind they get afraid of me and start tripping over their words because they don’t know “how” to talk to me without offending me or potentially offending me. Does me more harm than good usually. Thoughts?
razzretina7 points3y ago
I use the pc terminology at work and when I don’t know how another blind person wants to be addressed and that’s it. I’ve reclaimed blind for myself and say it proudly. Which is convenient because most sighted people have no idea what visually impaired or low vision even means. I came to terms with the fact that people are going to be nervous no matter what you say because they don’t know anything about blindness and I’m almost certainly the only blind person they ever have or ever will meet in their entire lives. It just is what it is. I do have to resist being snarky whenever someone apologises because I’m blind, though. It makes me want to ask if they’re $20 worth of sorry; I can’t do anything with sorry but I could sure use $20. :D Also I either tell people directly to just say what they mean when it comes to sight based words or I try to string as many of them into one sentence as possible. People in wheelchairs don’t go for a roll and we don’t sit down to hear tv.
Awaywithwords6 [OP]2 points3y ago
I have a snarky dark sense of humor too. Have to watch how I respond as well.
razzretina2 points3y ago
Right?! If I wasn’t representing all of us to a bunch of strangers every day I would play a lot more pranks.
PractisingPoetry5 points3y ago
My vision isn't quite bad enough to have first hand experience with this, but the question has been asked before on the sub. The general consensus then was that it's annoying when people try to change their speech. Even the totally blind use phrases like "Oh, I see that" to mean understand, or "I've watched X movie". It's just normal speech.
bigblindmax3 points3y ago
I prefer to rely on clear terms that can be explained objectively, wherever possible: blind, legally blind, etc. Stuff like visually-impaired or low-vision tend to be a package deal that can mean anything from “can’t see anything” to “needs glasses”, depending on who you’re talking to.
Calling myself legally blind creates some confusion and discomfort sometimes (because I can usually pass for sighted in public) but it gives me a springboard that I can use to further explain my disability.
Generally, I prefer being clear over being “politically correct” in the context of my disability, but your mileage may vary. I’ve had my whole life to grapple with this, so talking about my disability isn’t something that causes me much embarrassment or distress.
Edit: as a side note, fully blind people still use ‘see’ all the time and find it either irritating or hilarious when strangers try to avoid saying it in front of them.
Tegan_star2 points3y ago
If I know that I’m probably never going to meet or work with this person again are usually just tell them I’m blind even though I do have some remaining vision, I just find it a lot easier and they don’t ask so many questions. On the other hand if I know this person or I know that I will be spending a lot of time with them I try my best to explain my situation. (and I also have problems with trying not to reply sarcastically ) 😂
BlueRock9562 points3y ago
Hi I usually don’t find a need to mention that I’m blind in other community threads in Reddit. Not that I’m hiding my disability, but if I’m having a conversation in the Music’s sub, they don’t need to know that I happen to be blind. I learned this on my first post. I had a question, and I added my disability status on the post as part of my intro. It turned into ask the blind person everything regarding how do you post on Reddit if you are blind.
Awaywithwords6 [OP]2 points3y ago
I know! I find that in other situations too. I end up correcting more misconceptions than is really worth it
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