Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
17
↓
What percentage of Blind Folk are "Completely blind" vs "mostly blind"? (self.Blind)
submitted by highlightprotein
Hi there, I've only recently learned that blindness is a spectrum, where some people are completely, 100% unable to see anything at all, whereas other people are still able to see just a tiny bit. The folks who can see just a tiny bit are able to use some tools on the computer to help somewhat.
Does anyone know what percentage of blind people would be considered as "completely blind" compared to those who would be considered as "mostly blind"?
And a follow up question, is the life of someone completely blind much more difficult compared to the life of someone who is mostly blind? Or are they about the same? Obviously, if your work involves computers, it would be better to be able to see just a little bit and be able to use tools to help, whereas someone who cannot see at all wouldn't be able to have that advantage. But I wonder, in other facets of life not involving computers, are people who can see just a tiny bit basically the same as someone who cannot see at all, or are there other advantages that I may not have considered?
Does anyone know what percentage of blind people would be considered as "completely blind" compared to those who would be considered as "mostly blind"?
And a follow up question, is the life of someone completely blind much more difficult compared to the life of someone who is mostly blind? Or are they about the same? Obviously, if your work involves computers, it would be better to be able to see just a little bit and be able to use tools to help, whereas someone who cannot see at all wouldn't be able to have that advantage. But I wonder, in other facets of life not involving computers, are people who can see just a tiny bit basically the same as someone who cannot see at all, or are there other advantages that I may not have considered?
Bsmith0799 23 points 1y ago
10-15% of the people considered legally blind have absolutely no sight.
https://www.perkins.org/10-little-known-facts-about-blindness/
I get light sensitive migraines. When I mention I'm unable to sign the paperwork on my own due to my vision (they need to tell me where the signature line is and guide my hand there as print is impossible for me) the hospital has often accused me of lying about either the symptoms or the blindness as "if you're legally blind you can't see light". Not true. I frequently have to quote that statistic.
https://www.perkins.org/10-little-known-facts-about-blindness/
I get light sensitive migraines. When I mention I'm unable to sign the paperwork on my own due to my vision (they need to tell me where the signature line is and guide my hand there as print is impossible for me) the hospital has often accused me of lying about either the symptoms or the blindness as "if you're legally blind you can't see light". Not true. I frequently have to quote that statistic.
Simply_Limeade 7 points 1y ago
Relatively newly legally blind. And that's so wild. Hearing about so much ignorance and misinformation about our community. It just really astounds me sometimes. I haven't come across any issues or horror stories just yet. And definitely not looking forward to it. Will keep these statistics handy.
Bsmith0799 7 points 1y ago
And remember - these are medical professionals in a hospital doing this. Not random strangers off the street.
I don't go to the hospital for every migraine either, only have when the pain is so extreme that I'm vomiting and can't hold down any fluids for several days in a row.
And I've dealt with TWO different doctors asking that.
I don't go to the hospital for every migraine either, only have when the pain is so extreme that I'm vomiting and can't hold down any fluids for several days in a row.
And I've dealt with TWO different doctors asking that.
Simply_Limeade 3 points 1y ago
That's so mind boggling. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. Seems that unless people are affected by something they don't care to actually know about it. Which is sad. Especially for people in the medical field. They should know better.
Fridux 7 points 1y ago
I've been at the top of the legal blindness spectrum as defined in the US for my entire life until I lost my sight completely 7 years ago, and for me it was a world of difference. The only thing I lacked was acuity, so I had no trouble doing almost anything without accessibility aids except for driving, which I couldn't do simply because I couldn't see road signs from far enough. As a result I never took advantage of any of my disability benefits until I went totally blind despite having been entitled all along.
I think that the rules governing legal blindness in most parts of the world are unfair, because in my opinion someone with 100% acuity and 10% contrast perception is functionally blind, while someone with 10% acuity and 100% contrast perception without any other issues can get through life just fine, and contrast perception isn't even part of the definition of legal blindness anywhere I'm aware of.
I think that the rules governing legal blindness in most parts of the world are unfair, because in my opinion someone with 100% acuity and 10% contrast perception is functionally blind, while someone with 10% acuity and 100% contrast perception without any other issues can get through life just fine, and contrast perception isn't even part of the definition of legal blindness anywhere I'm aware of.
highlightprotein [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I apologize, would you mind defining what you mean by acuity and contrast?
Fridux 1 points 1y ago
Acuity refers to the ability to see detail; contrast refers to the ability to tell different colors or levels of brightness apart. I never had more than 10% acuity, or 20/200 in the US, and that never affected my life much since all other vision aspects were normal, until my vision began dimming and losing both field of view and contrast perception.
Mamamagpie 6 points 1y ago
I used play ping-pong with a completely blind friend. I could never beat her. She and I were college roommates. The used tech, preferring her versa/Braille to a computer, but that is typy Braille was faster for her and she liked to read the Braille instead of listening to the primate late 1980s text-to-speech.
The one problem we had that sighted students didn’t would be text books that were not available from Talking books. For that we had a stipend from the commission for blind.
The one problem we had that sighted students didn’t would be text books that were not available from Talking books. For that we had a stipend from the commission for blind.
xmachinaxxx 5 points 1y ago
Those who are completely blind learn to use tools for the computer same as those who are mostly blind, dare I say probably even more efficiently.
highlightprotein [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Would you mind elaborating? I would have assumed that someone who was completely blind would not be able to benefit at all from computer tools. Sorry, I don't know much about the subject.
Pinknose27 6 points 1y ago
There are screen readers that the blind use on their phones, computers etc. you should also be aware that some people lose just central vision, others peripheral vision. Blind folks are just people too. They just want to be treated respectfully. I think it’s hard to lose any vision. You can’t drive. You’re ALWAYS advocating for yourself. My daughter calls it advocacy fatigue and it’s a thing. Not only is life hard but then the people that are supposed to help make nothing accessible.
mantolwen 3 points 1y ago
Screen reader technology is amazing. My friend who is completely blind has a job where he teaches other blind people to use screen readers so that they have a better chance of finding work. Screen readers basically read out what's on the screen, but they are highly dependent on developers programming things well, especially on apps and websites. There are also technologies that use phone cameras to pick up text and read it out, which my fiance (he is not completely blind) uses all the time. Technology is continually making blind people less dependent on sighted people and it's great.
silverwolfdude 2 points 1y ago
Do you happen to know the name of the app your fiance uses? I am totally blind in one eye and mostly blind except for a little central vision in the other so a tool like this would be very helpful I've even reading on my phone or with a magnifying glass can be difficult some days.
mantolwen 2 points 1y ago
Envison AI, its on Android. Not sure if its on iPhone.
HeftyCryptographer21 3 points 1y ago
I am pretty sure that in the US, 10 percent of blind people are totally blind? Not sure though, I just remember reading that somewhere.
I just wanted to say that I am someone who works with computers and has some sight left, and it isn't actually helpful. If you can't read print, it doesn't much matter if you can see the computer or not, you know.
I just wanted to say that I am someone who works with computers and has some sight left, and it isn't actually helpful. If you can't read print, it doesn't much matter if you can see the computer or not, you know.
PrincessDie123 3 points 1y ago
I mean people who are 100% blind can navigate computers like a boss so long as they have screen readers enabled. Those with partial vision on the other hand even with tools tend to strain ourselves by automatically trying to rely on our sight anyway. But I digress, idk the percentage as of now but most blind people have some form of sight be it images or light perception, I myself am legally blind and have a fair amount of residual vision but the usefulness of it depends on what I’m trying to use it for (reading signs is pretty useless but seeing an animal is okay)
divgirlarb 3 points 1y ago
i feel you, with trying to rely on remaining vision when it comes to using computers. I'm really trying to switch to screen reader but ughhhhhh
PrincessDie123 1 points 1y ago
I just suck so badly at remembering the key strokes for navigating the screen it’s like the information is leaking out of my ears.
Wicked-elixir 2 points 1y ago
Right! 20/200 is legally blind right? That’s different from “cf at 2/3/4 feet (counting fingers). HM (hand motion), or LP (light perception).
mdizak 2 points 1y ago
No idea about the percentages, but I'm definitely completely blind, as in I can't see anything.
I've decided to view it as an learning experience. Being blind makes me stronger than I otherwise would be, because I don't have a choice in the matter. I have to be strong, because that's the only way this works.
I've decided to view it as an learning experience. Being blind makes me stronger than I otherwise would be, because I don't have a choice in the matter. I have to be strong, because that's the only way this works.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
Honestly why did you assume that computers would not be useful to the blind?
highlightprotein [OP] 2 points 1y ago
As I said, my assumption was that computer assisted tools would be helpful to those who were mostly but not totally blind, but that these tools would not be helpful to those who were totally blind.
Can you please explain how those who are totally blind would benefit from computer assisted tools?
Can you please explain how those who are totally blind would benefit from computer assisted tools?
bradley22 3 points 1y ago
There are ttools called screen readers. Someone who's completely blind will use these screen readers to read the screens of computers with shortcuts or flicks/taps if you're using a phone.
Those who are not completely blind might bennifit from them too in certain situations, (I'm not sure what ones as I'm completely blind,) but I know they do use them sometimes.
Those who are not completely blind might bennifit from them too in certain situations, (I'm not sure what ones as I'm completely blind,) but I know they do use them sometimes.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
I’m just curious why that is your assumption. What barriers do you think exist that would not make a computer helpful for someone totally blind?
highlightprotein [OP] 2 points 1y ago
My assumption was that the tools simply increased the size of the text sufficiently large that someone who was mostly but not totally blind could see the text.
But I just learned from other responses in this thread that there are tools that will convert text to sound which can let someone who is totally blind navigate a computer.
But I just learned from other responses in this thread that there are tools that will convert text to sound which can let someone who is totally blind navigate a computer.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
Good point that I had not considered. I have right homogeneous Hemianopsia, which is fancy words for having no acuity in both eyes on the right side. ($1). The vision I have left corrects to 20/20 and I can go without glasses. But I’ve use screen readers for over 30 years. I honestly assumed everyone might know they exist.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
With the accessibility features available now, the computer will read and say what is on the screen, it will say what you type, and anyone that is any good at typing does not look at the keys, you memorize where they are and just type.
$1
Maybe if you see the tech in action
$1
Maybe if you see the tech in action
Mamamagpie 1 points 1y ago
silverwolfdude 1 points 1y ago
Thank you so much, getting it now.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.