Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Will I offend people if I call being blind a handicap? (self.Blind)
submitted by MoonInTheSkye
So I’ve been writing a story with a blind side character and I want to say she goes to a privé school because they are better equipped to teach her because of her handicap. Now my question is: is it offensive if I call being blind a handicap? And if so, what should I call it instead?
Thank you in advance for you answer.
EDIT: the main problem is: my language (Dutch) does not have a word for disability the closest thing is either 1. literally: incompetence (I absolutely do not want to use this one because it just doesn’t fit what I’m trying to describe) or 2. More freely translated: handicap. This is my problem
Thank you in advance for you answer.
EDIT: the main problem is: my language (Dutch) does not have a word for disability the closest thing is either 1. literally: incompetence (I absolutely do not want to use this one because it just doesn’t fit what I’m trying to describe) or 2. More freely translated: handicap. This is my problem
zersiax 11 points 2y ago
In Dutch, generally it's a toss up between handicap and beperking. Beperking seems to be the more accepted term these days and I must say I rarely hear people actually use handicap these days. Mensen met been beperking, iemand die visueel beperkt is, phrasing like that is pretty common. You can also just not even go there and simply refer to it as blind, blindheid etc to take away ambiguity.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Ja dat is wel zo maar ik ben bang dat ik het woord “blind” iets te veel gebruik op een bepaalde pagina en ik wilde een ander woord om er naar te refereren snap je? Maar jij stelt dan voor dat ik het een beperking noem?
zersiax 2 points 2y ago
Lijkt me het verstandigst idd, dat is het woord in de volksmond als het ware :) Let's not flood the poor Anglophones with dutch though :)
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Allright I’ll go back to English too then :) I will call it “beperking”. Thank you so much for your help! I’m just very afraid I’m going to accidentally offend someone and that’s absolutely not my intention.
MostlyBlindGamer 10 points 2y ago
"Disability" is the word you're looking for.
Do read up on the issues with writing a blind character and why you might not want to do it.
Do read up on the issues with writing a blind character and why you might not want to do it.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you and yes I have done a lot of research already but the problem is: my language (Dutch) does not have a word for disability the closest thing is either 1. literally: incompetence (I absolutely do not want to use this one because it just doesn’t fit what I’m trying to describe) or 2. More freely translated: handicap. So that’s kind of my issue...
MostlyBlindGamer 5 points 2y ago
Let me see if I got this. You're looking for a Dutch word that's not offensive?
I can't help you. Languages come with culture attached. No English speaker can decide which of those words is the right one, without knowing the cultural baggage that's attached to it.
I can't help you. Languages come with culture attached. No English speaker can decide which of those words is the right one, without knowing the cultural baggage that's attached to it.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
That’s too bad. But I understand what you’re saying. The problem is that I don’t know anyone in real life to find it and searching online gives mixed results which is why I came on here. But thank you for trying anyways
zersiax 8 points 2y ago
Hii :) native dutch speaker and blind person, feel free to ask more questions if you need :)
MostlyBlindGamer 4 points 2y ago
You definitely need to find something in Dutch. Chances are one or both or those words are absolutely fine to use in Dutch.
Here's what you can do - search Google for government assistance programs for people with disabilities. Use whatever word works in your search and you'll find the "government sanctioned" word or expression. It's guaranteed to be, by definition, politically correct.
Here's what you can do - search Google for government assistance programs for people with disabilities. Use whatever word works in your search and you'll find the "government sanctioned" word or expression. It's guaranteed to be, by definition, politically correct.
Winnmark 8 points 2y ago
You're a native Dutch speaker, it seems.
If anything we should be asking you, but it's fine, if a bit dated.
You could also just be explicit and say they're "a blind person" thereby side stepping the issue entirely.
If anything we should be asking you, but it's fine, if a bit dated.
You could also just be explicit and say they're "a blind person" thereby side stepping the issue entirely.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks! And I know but I’ve been using blind so much I’m afraid I’m becoming too repetitive you know? Hence the post :)
ElfjeTinkerBell 5 points 2y ago
In het Nederlands zit het verschil hem in hoe je het woord gebruikt. Een gehandicapte klinkt alsof de persoon niets meer is dan zijn/haar handicap. Een persoon met een handicap klinkt als een objectieve beschrijving.
Persoonlijk heb ik de voorkeur voor handicap, omdat beperking heel erg klinkt alsof het je leven ook direct moeilijker maakt. Ik heb vooral het idee dat het je leven anders dan gemiddeld maakt.
Helpt dat een beetje?
Persoonlijk heb ik de voorkeur voor handicap, omdat beperking heel erg klinkt alsof het je leven ook direct moeilijker maakt. Ik heb vooral het idee dat het je leven anders dan gemiddeld maakt.
Helpt dat een beetje?
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Ja ik denk het wel, dank je. Ik wilde het gebruiken als: “Ze ging naar een privéschool vanwege haar handicap.” Wat vind je daarvan? Past dat of niet?
ElfjeTinkerBell 1 points 2y ago
Ik vind dat best okay. Als je het helemaal veilig wil spelen, zou je nog iets kunnen schrijven als "Ze ging naar een privéschool, omdat ze daar ervaring hadden met blinde kinderen/jongeren"
Denk niet dat het zo heel veel uitmaakt, in het Nederlands het er vooral om dat je duidelijk maakt dat iemand met een handicap niet zijn of haar handicap **is**
Denk niet dat het zo heel veel uitmaakt, in het Nederlands het er vooral om dat je duidelijk maakt dat iemand met een handicap niet zijn of haar handicap **is**
4humans 5 points 2y ago
I would do some more research on blindness. Public schools are often better equipped to best meet the needs of diverse learners. Many private schools refuse entry to students with disabilities and when they do let them in make parents pay extra for a support teacher.
CloudyBeep 2 points 2y ago
That's in the US; the OP is writing in Dutch.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Indeed :) thank you!
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
It’s not like that here :) but thanks for the constructive criticism
CosmicBunny97 3 points 2y ago
i can't speak for the handicapped term but the school thing ... I don’t have the full context of the story, but in general in this day and age it’s better for someone who’s blind to go to a mainstream school, unless they have other, more significant, disabilities.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Oh alright thank you. The school thing in itself doesn’t actually matter because a big plot point is that it’s a lie anyways :) but thank you for letting me know
FaerilyRowanwind 3 points 2y ago
Some people say visually impaired as well. Dies Dutch have a word for impairment? I’ve found that it really depends on the person. I’ve heard all terms used when describing oneself.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Not really, I don’t think. We do have “bad sighted” but I don’t think that fits because I am bad sighted (as in a strong prescription for my glasses) but I’m no where near blind.
FaerilyRowanwind 2 points 2y ago
We have legally blind here in the US. Which means you are badly sighted even with glasses.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Apparently we have juridically blind here. I just looked it up :)
hopesthoughts 2 points 2y ago
yes probably, that's the one thing that offends me. Just say they're more equipped to teach her because of her blindness. Also since "Handicapped" is a word out of the late 1800's, it's just old-fashioned. You could say "disability." [[https://www.slideshare.net/yourkamden/a-history-of-the-word-handicap-extended-by-keith-armstrong]]
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I have found the right word thanks to some other Dutch speakers on here, but thank you for replying :) we don’t have a word for disability, which was my main problem. I’ve found another word without saying handicapped
blindnessandbees 2 points 2y ago
Hallo, Nederlandse blinde hier. We zeggen gewoon beperking!
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Oh dankjewel! Dat is inderdaad het woord dat ik zocht :) ik weet niet waarom ik er niet op kon komen.
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
A bit dated but not really offensive.
If you need help and want some perspective on a real blind person let me know.
If you need help and want some perspective on a real blind person let me know.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I will thank you so much!
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
Sure not a problem.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
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