Using the former verbiage implies that members of the Blind and Deaf community are “imperfect” and therefore cannot serve as valuable, functioning members of society. This cannot be farther from the case. They are not “lacking”, they simply perceive the world differently, and therefore we should treat them as such - human beings just like us, who just take in the world a different way. With decency and respect.
As a legally blind person, don’t be offended on my behalf.
“Can’t see fully” honestly sounds much much worse than “can’t see perfectly”. I am not blind, but I certainly can’t see perfectly. Both are pretty stupid ways to describe blindness.
What’s respectful is describing disabilities accurately and still treating the people who have them like valid human beings who are as valuable as everyone else. Not treating them like fragile children.
They’re lacking. If most people have five senses and someone has less then they’re lacking.
All humans are imperfect.
Great, more pointless words to be careful about. Have you run this by any blind or deaf people? Do they care in the slightest about this? I’d imagine most wouldn’t give two shits which you used as long as you’re not being a dick about it
Why don’t we let the people affected by this define the verbiage used to refer to them?
Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel wrote the song “Spasticus Autisticus” back in 1981 about Ian’s experiences as a person who was disabled due to polio as a child. He also viewed 1982 being deemed the International Year of Disabled Persons as being patronizing. The BBC and many other UK radio stations banned it from being broadcast.
In 2012, it was broadcast to a worldwide audience as part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
