# How do you Identify with Your Disability?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 14:54:10

Hi all,
I know I’m going to get an overwhelming response from the blind community here, but I’ve had little luck getting response to this, because who honestly wants to take the time to answer questions? So if you know anyone else with a different disability than blindness, I’d be eager to get their input. If you answre nothing else, i'm particularly interested in questions 6 to 8.
The Language of Disability; Internal and External Factors
I am gathering data for a class paper on how individuals identify with their respective disabilities. I am also interested in the use of language with regards to disability, and appropriateness of word choice. Answer these questions in as much detail as you wish. You can reply on the forum, or, if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you can private message me your response. No names will be used in this paper.
1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
10. What is your disability?

## Post 2 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 15:37:24

1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
I am visually impaired, or legally blind. My vision borderlines the two. I have Optic Nerve Hypoplasia; thus, my nerves never fully developed. It's certainly an inconvenience, but being blind is a lot easier these days than it used to be.
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability? See question 1.
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability? I care less about the words use than the implication behind them. Generally, Visually impaired will suffice. But if someone calls me blind, it only bothers me if the connotations are negative.
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it? The same way I would; see question 1.
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them? Again, question 1 reveals all.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why? Diferently abled, handicapably, I have a "mixed ability". Any of those hoidy-toidy politically correct terms. My condition is far from the end of the world, and nor does it define me. But it is part of me, and it is technically a handicap when compared to the rest of the world. I find people get too caught up in the words to allow themselves to understand the truth behind a condition. We're all so worried about offending to bother making an effort to understand.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why? Blind, visually impaired. Stick to the basics. We need to dispel the negative connotation to the words, not the words themselves.
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability? I Think my immediate society as a whole is. They see the white cane, they know what it means. But anything beyond that? Not really. Most people are still controlled by their discomfort, and by the way the media portrays us.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself? I have other friends who fall into similar catagories. But while it's nice to have that in common, I'm not friends with them because of it. I generally stear clear of "blind politics and activism", unless it relates to an issue I'm really passionate about.
10. What is your disability? See question 1.

## Post 3 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 16:14:42

1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability? visual impairment
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability? blind
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability? visually impaired
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it? She is totally visually impaired.
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them? I say I am visually impaired
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? retard Why? it is hurtful to people with this disability.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why? People first words, person with a disability, not disabled person
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability? No, not really. They are still prejudice.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself? No not at all.
10. What is your disability?
totally visually impaired

## Post 4 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 19:58:32

1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
blind as a fuckin' bat
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
Blind as a fuckin bat, only remove the fuckin for those fuckin-impaired.
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
Questions 1-2.
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
I dono, I don't think it cares. If it does, too damn bad, it's my bitch, so it can sidddown and shuddup.
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
See Question 4.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
Thpecial.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
No and no, I'm tending to be more interested in other shit.
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
People will always think what they want, good bad or indifferent, regardless of what they see. Fantasy / ideology / beliefs porn is a lot more fun for most people than the objectivist stare-down of reality I rather engage in.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
Sure, I hit up the bastard parade every year.
10. What is your disability?
If my disability (question 1) could speak up, which it won't, it would call me a douche.
But our real disability is just lack of money, power and influence. With those three things you can handle anything.
Until then, I'm payin for it, I'm picking up the slack it leaves, so till it pulls its own weight, it can sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up.

## Post 5 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 19:59:43

I have never done a disability survey or any of that before, but that was fun. Damn think of the psycho babble and raggedy-ass bullshit I've been missing out on all these years.

## Post 6 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 20:22:24

That was hilarious. It just was.:)

## Post 7 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 20:36:39

This survey sort of reminded me of the psycho crap they try to push on people at those stupid training centers.

## Post 8 by Binary solo (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Monday, 11-Mar-2013 3:32:09

People on the internet....... I think it's many of the questions on here are kind of interesting. The words we use to describe things around us can be interesting to look at.

## Post 9 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Monday, 11-Mar-2013 17:23:33

LOL, I'm not a member of the psychobabble crew, I promise. I'm in a people with disabilities in american Siciety class this semester, and the prof is shoving person-first language down our throats. for my final project, I decided to go out and see how p/w/d really feel about the language surrounding our disabilities. for example, I'd rather be blind than visually impaired any day, because as somebody above said, and I'll quote it in my paper, we're too caught up in the words themselves. We need to dispell the negative conotations surrounding the words, not the words themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being blind, deaf, disabled, handicapped, in my book. Call it as you see it. I'd rather you call me the blind chick and be comfortable with it, than alienate me as the visually impaired student. So that's what this survey is about.

## Post 10 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 11-Mar-2013 18:23:04

I was just being an ass and having fun. Take no offense. Though, if you can use any of mine in your paper and not get graded down for it, have fun and congrats on that.

## Post 11 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 11-Mar-2013 18:34:00

Leo, fuckin cracked me up as always!
HauntedRevery, good luck with your paper. I couldn't agree more with your opinion regarding calling me the blind chick and being comfy with me as opposed to the student witht he visual impairment that nobody wants to get anywhere near.
I am not a big fan of the word handicapped just because I think it has a negative connotation. I am in favor of person first language whenever possible so long as it doesn't lead to further awkwardness in syntax.
Are these things I'm going to get all bent out of shape about? Hell no. It actually irritates me when I make a new acquaintance and he or she goes bonkers trying to figure out any way to refer to my blindness other than just saying the word blind. So, then I have to have all sorts of fun with them.
I realize I haven't answered your questions specifically though so here goes.
1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
blind, or A pain right in my ass
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
blind
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
blindness
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
blind, blindness, visually impaired, whatever floats their boat so long as it doesn't have some cutezy fluffy euphamism for the most accurate descripter of all, blind
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
Depends on the situation. Usually, I just say I can't see or I'm blind.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
I'm not a fan of the word handicapped. I was tought from a young age that it had negative connotations so I guess that just sort of stuck with me. Also, the silly things like visually challenged, sight challenged, etc. Those indicate to me that the person with whom I'm dealing is quite obviously uncomfortable with blindness.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
Again, this isn't something I get all bent out of shape about but since you've asked, I do appreciate person first language. I do find it makes sentences awkward at times though. I guess I got caught up in this because my husband works with people with disabilities so he has to be very sensative to his wording. Honestly though, until he came home talking about it one day, I hadn't really ever paid it any mind.
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
You're kidding right? Hell no.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
Well, I'm hear on the Zone, aren't I? lol Seriously though, I guess not. I'm not in any organizations for, or of, the blind. I have as many blind friends, oops, excuse me, friends who are blind, as I do friends who are sighted. I'm certainly not ashamed of it, just like I'm not ashamed of my blond hair and short stature. I don't wave a big blind flag around either. IT just is what it is. Now that that's clear as mud, we'll move along.
10. What is your disability?
I'm def. lol j/k I'm blind.
Good luck with your paper. I'd be interested in reading it when you're done.

## Post 12 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Wednesday, 13-Mar-2013 16:43:30

first, I hate that word! I am blind, not disabled, it's not really a true disability. if it was paralization or mental retardation then fine, but blindness does not criple me, it only provides me a challenge for me to overcome. I call it a disorder but that's all.
1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
I am blind,
nothing else wil do as an answer. a spade is a spade.
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
blind of course. isn't that the pure truth?
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
to be honest, the only way of course, and tell them the plain and simple truth. I think that it is much better to tell the truth, do you not agree?
I am blind.
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
If I am present not at all, then let me tell them for myself. For I am just like any old tom or joe, and I can talk for myself too, isn't that correct? If I am absent and they are talking about me then why would I want any of them to lie. why would I tell them to say what is not the truth? of course, blindness or that I am blind.
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
dear me, this is getting repetitive. This is very much like previous questions, but of course that I am blind. a person with no sight is termed blind. so it is. that's all. It's simple, and the only way to be truthful.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
a great many. words that are not strictly scientific and proper terms that discribes the disability is offensive to me. some of these are but not limited to
hearing impared, mentally hallenged, intellectually disabled, sight challenged, visually impaired, cognitively challenged. .
simple, I am not these things and neither are people with these other disabilities. I am not challenged in seeing, I can not see anything. I have no vision to speak of to be impaired. besides, the scientific term is blind. lets just use that. no need for such wishywashy words.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
the scientific terms given to the disability. it is more truthful, correct, and in that sense more ethical.
for example but these are not all of them there are certainly more disorders.
blind, deaf, mute, mental retardation, manic depressive but bipolar might be okay. schizophrenic, etc....
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
a lot of people will disagree with me but I think that the general public is indeed somewhat well informed. It is not perfect of course and not by any means all the way but it is decent. compared to 30 or 40 years ago, we are indeed very lucky and I do recognize that. For example, we can sit in normal classrooms without being harassed or ride the bus without fear of mockery. or be confind at home with no prospect of a job. We have it fairly decent today, is there still inaccccessibility, yes, but comparitively small things, that you must talk over.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
online, yes, but in real life, no. and, I think the time is past when these advocacy groups are useful. there is now not much to fight and this is when they become sue happy.
10. What is your disability?
I am blind.

## Post 13 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 13-Mar-2013 16:50:37

How is blindness a disorder and not a disability? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

## Post 14 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 13-Mar-2013 20:57:39

Well, my answers to questions 1-5 will pretty much be the same, but here goes.
1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
Blind
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
Blind
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
Blind. It's what I am, so call it that.
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
See question 3. Call it like it is.
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
Once again, blind.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
As to blindness words, things like visually challenged, sightless, print impaired. As to disability in general, handicapped, handi-capable, differently abled, etc. Political correctness annoys me. People try to dance around the truth. I'll add here that person first language annoys me too. What is the big deal in how you say it? I have written a couple essays for entrance into grad school, and got warned by several who had already gone through the programs that my evaluators would look down on it if I did not use person first language. Give me a fucking break here.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
Disability. That's what it is.
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
Absolutely not. If they were, far more of us would be employed.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
I wouldn't use the word strongly here, but to a degree. I am involved with NFB, but on my own terms. It's not something I eat, sleep, and breathe.
10. What is your disability?
Um...blind, if you haven't figured it out yet. LOL

## Post 15 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 8:39:25

okay union labor girl, there's a difference with being a disability as the word suggest disable which if you say to disable something is to not let it work and let it get in your way. but blindness is not such a thing is it? it doesn't stop you from doing house work, interacting with people walking, going places in I mean getting there, and such, some of these things might be more difficult but it's doable with modifications, correct? well, then it's not a disability, a disorder means something is out of order and it's exactly that it doesn't handicap us but it simply doesn't work stopping us is another issue sure you can disable yourself but as a general rule, it doesn't do that.

## Post 16 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 9:36:49

A disorder is
An ailment that affects the function of mind or body: ...
A disability is
incapacitated by illness or injury; also : physically or mentally impaired in a way that substantially limits activity especially in relation to employment or education ...
I'd say blindness is a disability, not a disorder.

## Post 17 by Thunderstorm (HotIndian!) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 10:43:17

As many of them said, I don't mind introducing myself as a blind.
Visually handicapped, visually impaired, visually challenged all these sugar quotings are not necessary, in my opinion. I am a blind man, that's it!
For an example, in India, in the publick transportations, there are two seats allotted for old aged/handicapped people. whoever comes first. Here, I mentioned handicapped because all types of handicapcy are included in it. Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Orthopadecally handicapped and etc etc.
Ok, let's come to the point. Initially, they were placing a board telling as these two seats are for old aged/disabled. Now, they have sugar quoted it and changed it as, old aged/differently abled. After that change, once I travelled by publick transport and heard a girl was asking her friend, "what is differently abled?"
Instead of confusing people, well known blind is ok I feel.
Raaj.

## Post 18 by Maiden of the Moonlight (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 12:40:09

I'm not sure if my answers are going to be very different from others', but here goes.
1. In your own mind, what do you call your disability?
Blindness.
2. With friends or family (those close to you and comfortable with you), how do you refer to your disability?
Blindness
3. For someone who isn’t close with you, how would you like them to refer to your disability?
Blindness. I think trying to find other words is just unnecessary.
4. If a friend or family member is introducing your disability to someone new, how would you like them to introduce it?
By calling it what it is, blindness. Sarah can't see anything, but she uses her guide dog to get around, and if she needs help, she can ask for it. Something like that, I guess...
5. When dealing with strangers, or meeting people for the first time, how do you introduce your disability to them?
Well, with most mature adults, they can figure it out just by the service animal leading me around or the white cane, but with little kids, I usually say, "My eyes don't work at all, so I can't see anything, so I use my hearing more..." Something to that effect. I usually throw something in there about how my doggy helps me see or whatever, just something so kids can understand it, at least the basics. With adults, I kind of leave it up to them to ask questions, but I answer pretty much any questions. It might be bad to assume that sighted adults know I'm blind from just looking at me, but honestly most of them do.
6. Are there any words related to disability you absolutely dislike? Why?
The only ones I can think of are handicap and special. Those seem to have developed negative conotations, and besides, special is such a fluff word that doesn't really mean anything, in my opinion. It's not that those words offend me necessarily, but I would just prefer people to use words that really tell it like it is.
7. Are there words regarding disability that you prefer people to use in general? Why?
Going along with the previous answer, I would say words like blind or visually impaired are preferable because they explain my "disability" best and most efficiently.
8. Do you feel that the general public is well-informed about your disability?
I think someone else eluded to this. Yes, I feel the general public understands that the white cane or the guide dog represents a visual aid, so they usually get that I can't see, but that's about all that they know. There are usually a million questions from your average Joe about life as a blind person, but I always appreciate these kinds of questions because explaining things to one person makes the world one person less ignorant.
9. Do you strongly identify yourself with your disability? For example, are you involved with communities, organizations, or groups of people who share a similar disability as yourself?
I do strongly identify with my disability as it is part of who I am, but I don't let it define me. So yeah, I'm involved in a couple of different groups and programs specifically for blind people, in particular, blind students, but I put most of my time into organizations for students in general. I feel it is most beneficial to immerse myself in the real world, with all people integrated together, whatever their abilities are. For example, while I'm a member of the ACB (American Council for the Blind,) I am also a member of my University's student government, chorus, and newspaper, and the ladder are what I focus the vast majority of my attention on.
10. What is your disability?
I am blind.

## Post 19 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 16:17:29

Hi guys,
I know that questions 1-5 and 10 are kind of repetitive, I'm not a professional question-maker! But what I am trying to get at with those first four is that in different situations, people refer to their disability differently, based on who is around. To my own mind, I'm blind. To my friends, I'm blind, the blind chick. To my family or strangers, I can't see. This survey is about the language used, and how you refer to your disability. In a professional setting, I might say that I'm visually impaired, because that is more familiar and intelligent-sounding hoyty toyty terminology.

## Post 20 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 16:40:05

Rachel, blindness is a disability. Here is why. You need Braille on elevators, you probably get services from so-called rehab, even though I think that's a funny raggedy-ass social psychology word, you probably get Braille books from the library.
And you have probaby benefitted from the Americans with Disabilities Act. All of these accomodations are extremely expensive to the taxpayer, which you as a self-described capitalist ought to realize. As a capitalist, you would understand that nobody should pay for inconveniences. It is a disability. Do I boo hoo about it? No. Do I cry in my beer about it? No. That is abuse of alcohol / waste of perfectly good and drinkable beer, you see. I have no illusions: the world doesn't owe me shit and most won't notice when I'm up and gone. However, if we are to stake a claim, or benefit where others have staked a claim, based on a disability, then we have to acknowledge that in the legals sense we are disabled, yes. Sorry if that offends your psychology / religion / ideology or whatever, but if you really are a capitalist, then you are first and foremost an objectivist and understand complete and bald-faced rationality.
I acknowledge I am disabled, and so did the recruiters in the Coast Guard, else with my engineering background they'd have encouraged me to enlist in the air program and learn to become a pilot. Now that is bad-ass, and I very much would love to do it, but I can't seeing as I'm blind, so I do other shit, you see. But I'll readily admit I'd love buzzing a bird around doing surveillance, and don't you know it.
All this shit about it being an inconvenience and not a disability only applies to you if you never take a single government service including the special NLS program, never got a extra help like a orientation mobility instructor in the schools, never got anything that your sighted friends didn't get. No taxpayer dollars are spent on a inconvenience, and the public will be forever pissed at us, and justifiably so, if they ever think it's all just a inconvenience. They already have a hard enough time with what they already do have to sponsor, and again, from a totally objectivist standpoint, which you being a self-proclaimed capitalist have to understand, they have a valid point. And if ever we can obvuscate it and require nothing extra from them, hell yes we will, and do, and then some. That's just nature. Anyway I read your post after having had a few beers and just had to respond.

## Post 21 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Saturday, 16-Mar-2013 19:45:07

A freakin men Leo! Couldn't have said it better myself! Its like I said in an earlier post, if you are so good and better than every other blind person, stop using blindness services!