Lets Rant: Visually Impaired vs Blind
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ค. 2019
- In this episode I discuss why I think we as Blind Individuals should say visually impaired instead of Blind if we still have some vision left. Only because it causes less confusion and more understanding to people of sight.
NOTE these are only my opinions
Let me know how you feel about this topic in the comment section.
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I understand but don’t completely agree. It seems confusing to say blindness is a spectrum which includes visually impaired but then say you are not blind. There are some great comments on this video but I fear we are the ones complicating things. Your friends know you can see a little but still relate it to just blindness. Great conversation starter for everyone to think about this since we are all trying to educate the public. One last thought, the sighted have a spectrum as well. Sighted does not mean 20/20, but some wear glasses or contacts and we know they cannot all see the same. How many terms do we need to describe them? Sighted, partially sighted sighted with correction, near sighted or far sighted? Don’t get upset unless you are not given an opportunity to explain.
This was a fantastic comment Chris. These are the comments I like to hear the get the wheels turning. I know you have me rethinking my feelings.
I am not trying to separate we're caterpillar eyes. I was just trying to state that even though visual impairment is still a blindness people react differently when you say you are blindopposed to saying you're visually impaired.
I also do not get angry when people question me. I love to educate just trying to say the way people react you seem very confused at times.
When I say I am visually impaired usually people don't know what to say so they don't say much. But I always still end up educating them but I get to do it on my own terms.
If I'm out and about at a store or say even a airport I will say I am visually impaired blind. So I am not afraid to use the word blind at all still do I just find saying I'm visually impaired what's the time much easier but yet I have a little under two years under my belt with this vision loss of mine.
Thank you so much for your comments he is for the comments I love to hear. I am going to pin this because it is that fantastic of a comment. Keep being amazing and I hope you keep being blessed.
I like your channel friend
The best is when you tell a poor sighted person you’re totally blind and you’re looking them directly in the eye. Takes a bit of practice but it is hilarious!
They don’t know what to think.
I find that when I tell people I’m visually impaired, they don’t understood the severity of it. That’s why I sometimes prefer to say legally blind. But as you said, most people don’t understand what that means, and misinterpret it as total blindness. :/ it’s a tricky subject.
It is definitely a touchy subject I was so afraid of uploading this video as I thought I was going to come off as if I'm against saying I'm blind. That is not the case I just feel it is way less confusing to use visually impaired then blind when I'm actually talking to somebody. I am the type of visually impaired person that could shake your hand and look you in the face. I can't see your face but I know where your head is so people often get confused. When I used to say blind they look at me baffled or s so many questions the most of the time when I say visually impaired they won't say anything. but when they do the questions are way easier to handle at least that's what I have noticed.
I try not to say legally blind which I am not against it it's just always the same questions. Can't you just wear glasses or can't you just get Lasik. Hahaha funny but it is so true. I was just asked this question today , can you wear glasses to help your vision . LOL
I agree when I use the term visually impaired people don't understand the severity of it and when I us the term legal blindness that does create confusion so I usually end up saying legal blindness is a medical term my doctor used and that kind of stops questions most of the time
Hey Vincent! Sorry, I didn’t finish that last video. This one sounds very interesting, I just noticed you have a ton of comments on this video, I’m guessing it’s a little bit controversial. I agree with you, it is so much easier in some situations to say visually impaired versus blind. You made some great points. I’m still listening to this video, but wanted to write you a quick message. Thanks very Vincent, I’m glad you created this video. Matt
Thank you for sharing your strategy. I will have to think about this approach. It sure takes a lot of patience to help people understand us.
I typically never get offended by words people use or blind jokes. In fact, I just started my own channel which is basically just satire and me making fun of myself revolving around being visually impaired. A little levity. Ha ha. But I will admit, to touch on something that you did in your video that struck a chord, the only time I really do get upset at something bothers me is when people accuse you of faking it. I just don’t understand that. Why would anyone fake being visually impaired? Anyway, love your videos! Keep it up.
You’re so right! I’m 100% blind so I don’t have to worry about the distinction anymore! People do seem to get very confused by the words blind and visually impaired.
At least with my experience in the matter every time I told someone I was blind they often asked me so many questions. Which I don't mind educating people but I just realized misunderstanding that so many people have.
I can say that I'm visually impaired and still explain myself without having to hear people questioning whether I'm truly blind or not. They don't understand all the other spectrums of vision loss.
Vincent Grasso My Visually Impaired Life so true! 🤠💜
Great video. I’m legally blind and play washers with my friends. Anytime I win, they all say “the blind guy beat us, etc”. New subscriber here. Love your channel
Thank you so much for subscribing and I am very happy to have you as a new friend on my channel. I read a comment from you in the past and had subscribed to your channel as well. Maybe one day you'll make a video about you playing washers with your friends and how you kick butt doing it as well. LOL
I am very excited to hear more comments from you in the future. If you have any observations for criticism let me know and I'll try to make the channel even better.
No worries, I am 100% perfectly blind.
You have to be perfect at something. 😆👍🏻
Besides someone has to mess with those poor sighted people!
Well I'm happy that you're perfectly blind my friend.
I'm not against saying you're blind or visually impaired or legally blind and I'm not saying we need to categorize each other either. I was just saying that it's less confusing for people with sight when I say I am visually impaired. I hope my video came off that way. I was worried it didn't but I really liked how I found it so I went with it. Thank you so much for watching and I can't wait for your next video. Curious to what gun you'll have on the table next. LOL
When people say "you are faking it" I usually "say you are right, give me your car keys, let's go for a ride." I always try to put a little humor into it. I was in line buying some things the other day and a lady said "So your blind?" I always wear dark glasses and have a cane, so I said "What gave it away" Everyone around laughed a little bit and it just lightened things up. I really think it is just something we have to learn to live with, have some fun with it, because losing your sight (beyond where glasses can help) is something no one can understand unless they live with it.
That is hilarious! I I'm always trying to look at the bright side of life as well. Hope my video didn't come off as if I was complaining. I was just trying to touch on a subject I hear a lot from my friends or visually impaired or blind. I also realized that within the last four to five months when talking to people that I just meet or friends even I always often hear the same things being said and I don't let them bother me however sometimes they can be annoying.
I was just trying to get to the point that people that are still visual often can just not understand no matter how hard you try to explain it. but when you say you're visually impaired instead of blind it tend to just have easier questions to ask. at least for me it is worked better to say visually impaired but I still consider myself blind I just have a form of blindness which is severe visual impairment.
Thanks for the comment it was a good one had me smiling. Have yourself a blessed week my friend
Good morning Vincent. I somewhat agree with you. During the time when my vision was dark and I could see shadows I would tell people that I was visually impaired. People would asked so many questions. So finally I decided just to tell people that I was blind, so that they wouldn’t ask me a whole Lotta questions. Now, my vision is dark and I have only light perception. So of course, I say that I’m blind. I think this was a very good topic of discussion. Stated people are very confused about visually impairment and blindness as you have stated. I think over all, we will get a few of them to think correctly. The majority will probably stay confused. Have a great day!
See I started off as it I was telling people I was blind and I got more questions. But when I said visually impaired it was always far less questions. I think this topic has open my eyes a little.
I'm truly starting to believe I am still just a newbie to visual impairment and blindness. Perhaps my mind change down the road. I still believe I'm blind as like you I see only shapes of people can't see faces or anything other than what I could see in my peripheral which is very little and minimal.
my color vision has been getting worse and worse however my vision loss seems to be stable.
I just find it easier for me to say visually impaired. But there are still times where I say I'm visually impaired / blind to people. People's ignorance can get overwhelming at times. but I like the educated people on the difference but Rosa vision loss.
Thank you so much for your comment and adding to this awesome topic.
hey Vincent finally getting back to the groove of everything. ☺️ I both agree and disagree with you.
I don't see both and I think both is perfectly acceptable to say. Both are true.
before I explain, remember that a lot of the times I do people who wear glasses, when they take them off, they say they are blind. and sometimes they say they are totally blank. When they actually aren't and can probably see better than a lot of blind and visually impaired people. LOL.they often forget this convenient little fact when we tell them that we are blind. LOL
I think part of the problem is a lot of people don't know what is visual impairment. People know what is blind and I really think that it is important for people to understand the blindness is a spectrum and so if we normalize the fact that if we say we are blind, that could mean that we do have some usable vision.
a lot of the time, when I m in a government agency or at the airport or asking for help, I just say that I'm blind and I can't see where to go or what to do or where something is. And that's something that's understood as we need help. When I say I'm visually impaired, a lot of the time people just get confused and don't really understand why I'm asking them.
It's partly like not all rectangles are squares. It's all so dependent on the result you are looking for. especially when it's something quick and you don't have all day to explain or even five minutes, it's easier to say that you're blind.
when I do say that, and I have time, I do mention that I am able to see certain things and briefly describe what my vision is. Or at least how it affects what I see. I honestly think that it doesn't really matter. I think that people should just accept that blindness is a spectrum and if somebody says they're blind, that doesn't mean that they are totally blind.
I agree with you completely. I probably should have rethought how I made this video. I was actually nervous about uploading it.
I as well as you use both but I always start off by saying I am visually impaired. The only reason I do this is because I get less confusion doing it that way. If I'm around everyday people and I say I'm blind they look at me and always ask the same questions. How are you looking at me then? Or something else similar.
What if I go to a government building or even an airport etc like you I would still say blind so I understand that part. I just was talking about more everyday life friends and family and passers-by. I probably should have clarified this in my video. I make a lot of rookie mistakes.
I was so afraid I would have been people. Just trying to go with how I feel through my own experiences. Thank you for giving me your honest opinions. Means alot to me and I'm glad you had fun in Vegas I did watch your live chat.
@@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674 I totally understand where you're coming from and I can see why you do that. I still say that I'm blind. LOLand then I just explained. Or it's really dependent on my mood that day actually. Sometimes I do say visually impaired. I kind of use them interchangeably for my vision.
And no, you can definitely express your opinions! That's what the first amendment is about anyway! 😀
@@LiveAccessible I still use blind as well I wasn't trying to say I don't ever. I was just trying to say it is easier for me to say visually impaired right off the bat. I didn't even think in this video healthy aspect of going to an airport traveling or government facility. I live in the country and I don't get out much so I still have so much more to learn.
But thank you so much for the awesome comment and the replies. I think this video was a great idea this is the most comments I have ever got and the most amazing conversations I've ever had the chance to have on TH-cam yet. Thank you for being a great friend
My eyes burn and hurt at times. Blurred vision. I wear glasses.
There is nothing worse than the times when our eyes hurt or burn. Just last night I could not get to sleep cuz my eyes were hurting so bad. Eventually I fell asleep and today is a whole brand new day.
Thank you for taking the time to watch my video. Hope to see more comments from you in the future. Have yourself a blessed week.
I do think that “blind” is just an easy word for society. And I know personally when I say visually impaired they think it’s correctable or still confused. I think we can work at bringing more awareness to the term visually impaired. I also think it’s a matter of the world learning a difference. Especially when they see my cane *boom* I’m “Blind”. Definitely difficult
I really liked your comment it makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much for watching the video and giving your opinion. This has been a great topic I think to actually talk about. this is definitely the most communication I've had with so many amazing visually impaired and blind and legally blind individuals on TH-cam
Hi Vinny, what an intriguing topic that you have explained very well in this video. I currently consider myself to have, severe loss of sight. Sometimes when traveling I describe my self as blind so that I get The maximum Assistance offered. I have in the past, described myself as visually impaired or legally blind and I have found that friends and even family members assume that I have more functional vision than I really have. When I use the word vision, they assume I have more than I really do and they are shocked when I trap on a step or face plant a door because for whatever reason, they thought my vision was more like their’s, normal, not severe, like in blindness. I think I am very confusing to most people because I do look directly at thePerson that I am talking to, I look at my iPhone when listening to voiceover, I will look at the TV when it is on, I will look around my neighborhood and actually follow the sounds of cars Paul walking with Gretchen but these are all habits. My vision is not reliable even though I do see stuff. I can’t anticipate when I will see an object accurately so I must rely on my other senses all the time. Oh, and of course rely on Gretchen, my white cane and a trusted sided died. What a great topic that we all in the visually impaired, blind community need to talk about all the time so that we can educate the public. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and again this is an awesome topic. Love Beverly
Well thank you Beverly so much for your awesome reply. I can always rely on you for an amazing answer.
I understand if your vision is very severe same blind is the correct way to go. But my whole video was basically just trying to say that if you said visually impaired we usually get a little less questions and more slack on the subject.
but again I have only been like this for less than two years so my viewpoints are always changing each and every day. And I'm a guy never know what I want. LOL
Thank you so much for listening to the video Beverly I hope your family and you have a truly blessed week.
Bama Blind yes I’d agree with you about the habit of looking in the direction of people and noises as I’ve been totally blind now for about 33 years but still do that and I get the alternative comments of you don’t look blind, or I’ve even been asked how much can I see LOL.
Vincent Grasso My Visually Impaired Life like I said above just because someone is completely blind it doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t look at you or in the direction. I also want to dispel a myth that if you’re completely blind and I am meaning no light perception that everything is blackness because I have light in front of my eyes 95% of the time and other people I know who’ve lost there sight experience the same the, and yes not everyone who loses all their vision experiences this either so another fascinating phenomena for discussion LOL. Great video and this is your channel so you’re entitled to give your thoughts and views.
@@martinJSfleming thank you for your comment. I know that no matter what your vision loss level is we are still all blind. I was just trying to say that if we still see a little bit if you were able to shake someone's hand and look them in the face it is easier just to say visually impaired. For me at least that's what I have learned.
But after all the comments from everyone I am starting to realize that whether you say visually impaired, legally blind, or blind it's a mixed bag. Everybody has their own experiences I find it easier to say one or the other. I used to say blind all the time but I would always get the questions like you don't look blind or how are you looking at me right now. But when I say I am fishing and cleared the questions are always different. Some more like okay well how did you lose your vision work what can you see. I find them far less insulting. I love to educate people as much as possible but if I can do it on my own terms it is much better for me.
Vincent Grasso My Visually Impaired Life see Vinny, you started a great discussion which is the purpose of this video I believe. I also think that because you have such excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to explain things, it is good for you to say that you are visually impaired because you can then educate just one more person on the vision loss continuum. I personally am glad that we have so many words that we can use to describe vision loss because it only serves to get the information out there to the general public.
Great video Vincent. I agree completely with you. A lot of people dont know blindness is on a spectrum. I use the term legally blind. Kohlby says hi
Tell Colby that I said hello back. Miss hearing him go crazy in your videos.
And yes it's definitely a spectrum that people just cannot gain the grasp of. Thanks for watching hope all is well with the fam
Honestly, they don’t understand any of it. I say I’m visually impaired because that’s what I’m comfortable with. I’ve had to explain the same stuff to the same people multiple times. I get your point, though.
I am seriously starting to think that this exact topic is different for everyone depending on where you are from. LOL
for me it is just far easier to say visually impaired before telling anybody I am blind.
But if you were to go to a airport or somewhere else if that nature you would say blind cuz it would benefit you less questions in that aspect. But when you're around friends family passers-by telling them your blind but yet still being able to look them in the face they often get confused and then there comes The barrage of questions.
when I say I am visually impaired usually even if they don't understand right away just said it was okay. But this is only my experience so far could change down the road. Thank you so much for watching the video and making a comment.
I always tell people that I’m blind. I can’t see anything out of my left eye and light out of my right. I can’t see colors, shapes or people; just shadows.
I had can still see a little bit out of my right eye but it's so little I pretty much never use my right eye. What vision I do have left is out of my left. I can see a little bit more clear the shapes and colors in my left eye.
Thank you for leaving the comment Hope to see more comments from you in the future.
For me, it is the total opposite. When I tell someone that I am visually impaired, most of the time they don’t have a clue what that means. So I find it easier just to say that I am blind, even though I have some vision.
But that is my point if I say I'm visually impaired they didn't ask what that is in the ball is in my court and I get to explain and educate my vision loss in my own way on my own terms. I don't have to hear questions like then why is it you're looking right at me or yeah right you're blind the same old same old.
Usually if I say I am visually impaired I will get a question like what do you mean by that, or they'll just assume something's wrong my eyes but they know I'm not completely blind right off the bat. From me saying I'm visually impaired just mix the whole situation easier. I still tell people I'm blind the most the time I'll say I am visually impaired / blind.
I checked out your channel and I subscribed. I am under the impression you were going to be making videos at some point soon. Can't wait! Thank you for watching my video and hope to see more comments from you in the future.
great vid Vincent ..since i have been on disability for my eyesight I have refereed to myself as legally blind ..Now I call myself extremely visually impaired .. with my glasses i can read or watch stuff still with my one eye at book reading distance .. any closer or farther away it goes fuzzy .. i can still make out humans and large animals at 5-7 feet away .. but after that its like a badly water damaged painting.. and I don't see black where my vision is gone in the peripheral I see nothing on the most part , what does a normal person see past their peripheral vision ..
I like that, I too am extremely visually impaired. what peripheral vision I have is still very minimal and it only starts from the sides to the top of my eyes my lower peripheral is pretty much gone. Very blotchy and can't see much of anything. Constantly tripping and hurting my knees.
Thank you for watching the video. And thank you for your comment hope to see more
Hi Vincint, this is Dave Jenne. Great video my friend, just subscribed to your channel.
@@Thejukebox091982 thank you for subscribing. I just went and checked out your channel as well. And I have subscribed as you will know in a previous comment I left on your last video.
Always a pleasure to meet new people and make new friends. Hope to see more comments from you in the future as you will be hearing some comments for me on your channel as well.
Very well said! And it's excellent that your family is happy to help your golf game like that. :) Hadn't heard the tip about trying to broaden my visual field using my elbow -- I will give that a shot next time!!
yeah it was something I recently learned I didn't know because I can't see past 4 feet that if they wave their hands was going to notice movement. It's just something I figured out and it worked out for me. The movement I noticed was very very minimal however it was enough to let me know in what area the golf hole was.
Then what I didn't say was I actually walked up and down the gulf bounce felt it with my feet for level changes. Believe it or not it helped out a lot and the mini golf place we play that was all flat holes. They had two different courses one that was flat terrain another one that was a pill.
And yes just like if you eat too much broccoli your parents would tell you you would turn into broccoli same goes for your elbows. If you look through your elbows wind up growing eyeballs in your elbows. You should try it works wonders. LOL
@@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674 Juan told me I had to sing an eyeball growing song as I walk around pointing my elbows around, and as long as I sing the song loudly enough for long enough, that will help the elbow eyeballs grow faster. I guess I need to sing a little louder next time, but on the upside I haven't walked into anyone on the sidewalk for a few weeks ever since I started!
@@KonjikiKonjiki LOL.
Just remember I taught Juan everything he knows. Now you know the secret!
There is not a day that goes by where I am not in a situation where I have to explain my vision to others since I am visually impaired. So sometimes I say I am partially blind to avoid meaningless small talk with strangers. I understand why having this seperation is important, however, I often feel like I don’t belong in any community because of this separation...So today is #blindability day, I can either use this tag and feel like a fraud or not use this tag and use something like #VisuallyImpairedAbility.
You have every right to say blind even while visually impaired. The basis of my video was not intending to separate the two but only to say that when having conversations with others it has been much easier for me to say visually impaired vs. Blind.
Normally I say I am visually impaired and blind or visually impaired / blind. It just makes for an easier conversation and I don't have to hear the same old same old questions after saying I'm blind and someone says why are you still looking at me or how come you can see this or that. When I say visually impaired the ball is in my court and I can explain my blindness in my own way on my own terms.
We are all blind and I am not saying otherwise we all have a form of blindness one way or another. we are all limited on the things we can do compared to most people that are visually and sighted. But we always find ways to adapt and ways around our downfalls cuz blindness, legal blindness or visual impairment.
thank you for your comment and thank you for watching the video. Have yourself a blessed week and hopefully I hear more comments from you in the future.
One of the things I like to use to help people understand, is the term, usable vision. I tell people, I have no usable vision and that seems to help a little bit. I think some people don’t like using the word blind, because they have been told it is something that is offensive. We just need to say what it is. Part of that I think is political correctness. I guess we just need to get over those things. Using the word blind does not bother me one bit.
Using the word blind doesn't bother me either. I hope my video didn't come off that way. I was just trying to explain that it's a much easier experience for me when I say visually impaired vs. Blind. I am able to explain my vision loss in my own way without having to hear people say things like you're not blind you got to be faking or how are you looking right at me. Stuff like that. Which all those questions don't really bother me however when you hear all the time they gets a little annoying.
when I say I'm visually impaired the other just don't understand or they'll ask a question that is more like what do you mean by visually impaired or what's the matter with your vision and then the ball is in my court. I can't explain it in the way that makes it comfortable for me.
I do still say I'm blind at times but usually it's visually impaired / blind.
For example I was on the phone Friday morning setting up cable for my stop.. the lady on the phone I warned her that I was blind and that I was setting up cable not for me but for my stepdad. Instantly, without being rude she stated oh well that's weird you're blind but your dad's making you set up cable? I then explained that I was visually impaired and I still had a little peripheral vision when I used to Giants sharpie marker to write giant letters on paper. And she was a very lovely lady I'm actually chatted me for a while asking me more questions about my visual impairment. Got to the point that she was watching my TH-cam videos on the conversation. LOL she even subscribe to my channel before the end of the call.
But I educated her she had so many questions because she didn't understand the difference between blind and visually impaired. But guess what she does now. Thank you for watching the video. and thank you for your opinions and comments they always mean so much to me. God bless you father
Vincent Grasso My Visually Impaired Life I agree with you 100%, but what I was referring to, are the people who are afraid to say the word blind. I get some of the same comments, since I look directly at people, but I think we also need to make the distinction, how even though we can’t see someone, we are making the attempt to look at them, so that we can meet them where they are, as opposed to just looking down or up at the sky. There are some blind people who don’t have the skills to be able to look directly at someone, either that, or they don’t try. That kind of hurts those of us who do try I think. It’s kind of like what I heard someone else say, when someone approaches us and says that we don’t look blind, then we need to respond with or something similar, well some people don’t look stupid either. 😄
Hi Vincent. Tricky one isn't it? On one hand, In the UK, we have two visual impairment registrations - Sight impaired ( Partially Sighted ) and Severely Sight Impaired ( Blind ). Lat year I was registered as sight impaired, April off this year, my sight has gotten so much worse, and I am now registered as Blind. So, being partially sighted and being Blind are part of the same equation - Visually Impaired.
I totally get what you are saying, as I often get the same - Well, if your'e blind, how can you do this, do that, blah blah. How can you send me texts, FB me, read my texts etc. And it is really, really frustrating at times - BUT, I feel that is we don't use the terms we have been diagnosed with - then nothing will ever change - Jo Public, will think the same that they have thought since time started. You are Blind, or you are not. If you're blind you cannot see ANYTHING. And that's simply not the case, and as such, if we don't continually make the tiresome explanations, everyone will carry on in this ignorance bliss and have the same beliefs.
Since being registered blind - everything is so much more difficult for me to do, than when I was partially sighted - but, again, as you say, we develop coping mechanisms and make changes that allow us to do what we need to do, but just in different ways. So, I tell people that I am blind, and have my stock answers at the ready. I think, in general, when you explain these things, they have a much better, and more informed understanding. I know that before I started loosing my vision just over a year ago, I was the same - Blind id blind - seeing nothing, and there was nothing in between. Through being educated on this myself now, I too have a much better understanding of what being partially sighted or blind is, and I think this has helped me understand myself and others much better.
Anyway - I have said enough haha
Great, thought provoking video. I was only thinking about this a few days ago, as I keep hearing people say things ,like if you are blind or visually impaired, and my initial thought was hang on a minute, blind is visually impaired
Don't you ever worry about leaving along comment or talking too much on my channel. My favorite comments are the long ones.
I feel you had so much informative information to tell. My doctors consider me severely visually impaired. At least that's what I was told at my last visit. I have nothing against being blind or visually impaired or legally blind I do think they are all the same as they are all forms of blindness.
however, for me it's just easier to explain to others coming from the visual impairment standpoint. I get to educate people in my own terms. I find it much more complicated when telling people I'm blind right off the bat they get majorly confused. Because their mindset of what someone blind is supposed to be his way to Hollywood. thank you again for the awesome comment and keep bringing on these super talkative comments in the future. You and I are going to get along just fine
Hi Im grateful I met you I like your video on blindness. Im legally blind with a vision people just don’t understand it. My family is starting to understand. There’s just one person in my family that said oh your vision is not that bad why do you use that cane you wear glasses you must see if you where glasses thankyou for sharing.
Just remember that those people that make comments like that are just ignorant. And I don't mean that in a mean way. I just mean it in a way that they are not educated enough about blindness and visual impairment.
I still get questions all the time because I can look people directly in the face when talking to them. Throws people for a loop all the time. I recently applied for a guide dog and in the process of that currently. And even me my own self. Thought I had too much vision for that. But the truth of the matter is we are now blind/ visually impaired but could be completely blind or pretty close down the road depending on our current eye situations. It's always better to be prepared ahead of time and at the last minute.
In other words, just keep on doing what you're doing and don't worry about what other people think. I'm assuming you're the type of individual who always wants to make other people happy first before yourself. Sometimes we need to just do for us ourselves. God bless you and thank you for enjoying my videos. I do fully intend on making more down the road. Life has gone through a lot of changes.
Visually impaired you can actually still change a tire on a car but yet you can't see good enough to have a driver's license. If you're blind you can't see to change a tire I wish people would make these things simple to understand.
Great video and also a great question. I think different situation circumstances in different people different answer might be appropriate. But it is a question that would increase conversation and thought. I use the term legal blindness I am legally blind but that is a medical term I don't have any detail I can know there's a person standing there but it's just a dark outline not outline but a dark figure and I know if someone is standing in front of light because the light is blocked but unless that person speaks even if I know them I won't know who they are depending on where I am I know a routine In certain places where I am and when I hear people's voices that I know well I know where they are because of where the sound is coming from. Vision is a spectrum and I think it is very difficult for those that have good vision to understand. I had a very hurtful comment recently and I think it's due to the fact that not only advocating but also education is so important I understand that no matter what term we use I think we all see differently even light perception can be different. Thanks for the question to ponder.
Thank you for this amazing comments. Give me a lot to ponder. Hurtful comments are not cool and it's usually brought on by ignorance.
I still feel that we are all blind and I should have clarified this in the video more. I just like using the term visually impaired because there's far less confusion off the start of a conversation. I still get to educate people on the difference spectrum's vision loss take it to do it on my own terms. Whenever I would say I'm blind people with just too many questions or seem as if they couldn't believe it. Because they're so far stuck in what blindness is in Hollywood. And I know this because I was just one of those people over two years ago. never knew a single visually impaired, legally blind, blind individual.
I never say legally blind just because whenever you do say that everyone always gives you the classes questions or Lasik questions thanks forgiving a comment and adding to this awesome topic. I know it's a tough one to talk about I was so afraid of uploading the video just because of this aspect. But everybody has been awesome including you with a great comment.
Hi Vincent Great video x
Thank you my friend. I appreciate you coming to listen and watch the video.
Only having light perception is medically considered totally blind, just FYI. In Molly’s case, she truly is blind.
Oh I know she is totally blind. I was just using her as an example has two not needing to defend herself as much if she had just said visually impaired. Because I know that she talks about how she could see certain things still. but I know her vision is very very bad and I was not saying it was not.
Thank you for watching the video.
Hey Vincent.
It is always great to see you again buddy. I really miss you when you’re not doing your videos.
I will say though I have to agree with you about the difference between visually impaired and blind. In my case I am visually impaired but someone who was born with no vision would be considered blind. But thank you for helping me realize the difference between the two and I will definitely try my best next time when I talk to people just say that I’m visually impaired until I can no longer see again then are use the word blind.
Again Vincent another wonderful awesome video. Like I said I miss you when you’re not the posting videos buddy. I got it ask you though where are you from if you don’t mind? Have a great weekend buddy and I’ll see you in the next video
Well thank you for the awesome reply. I hope the video didn't come off as me saying it's not right to say you're blind at all. I still say I'm blind at certain instances I was just trying to say that when I talked to most people family friends or passersby it's usually visually impaired first. A lot less guesswork for them and confusion. I still think we are blind even though we are visually impaired.
I just realized that my conversations with people are so far better when I tell him I'm visually impaired. When I say I'm blind they think I'm crazy and ask me a million questions.
And if you're curious to where I'm from I live in the good old New Hampshire state.
And I hope your vision never gets to the point of complete blindness as I hope mine does not either. So far mine has been stable however having real troubles with colors. Have yourself an awesome week my friend
@@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674 hey Vincent.
No u you were fine in the video. And you did a great job and gave some great advice and some good information. I sometimes call myself blind to. But like you said, we are blind but we have a form of blindness each and every one of us. Others are completely blind and can't see anything, but others are visually impaired.
Oh cool! My wife and her family are from New Hampshire also. They live in the Canterbury area. And she has other family that lives kind of scattered around in New Hampshire. That is so awesome!
@@anodysseyofsteven1985 well thank you for this reply and actually helping me feel better. I was so worried I was going to come off that's ignorant myself. I am still only two years into my visual impairment and I made this video based on my frustrations in everyday life.
I will say though this video has brought out the best comments and views out of any video I have made yet. I am loving all of this that's it spreads the word it is helping me probably more than I'm helping others.
And if you ever make your way to New Hampshire either find me on Facebook or hit me up in the comments section. Or you can email me. We could always hang out for the day. I can introduce you to my wife and kids and I can meet your family as well. Be a lot of fun we can always grill some burgers and hotdogs. LOL
Thank you lol
You're most welcome!!
I generally flip flop between legally blind and visually impaired
I don't say legally blind because every time you say that I always get the same questions. Usually I hear well can't you just get glasses to help. In fact I was asked that today. LOL
Or I get the famous can't you just get LASIK question. When you say visual impairments they know something's wrong with your eyes but they can't pinpoint what it is.
I get that question either way.
But it’s interesting the things people call my cane anything from stick to light bulb and everything in between like pool, rod, shower rod. Staff, sword, wire
@@techoftheblind1374 that's hilarious! I can't say this has happened to me yet but I'm sure it will at some point.
What is funny though is because I have to rollerball tip I like to hang my cane off of my hips and a holster sometimes when I'm not using it. And it looks like I am carrying a PlayStation move controller. LOL
Hi Vincent, i dont think that it really matters if you say blind or visually impaired. Every human being uses their phones. And it doesnt matter if you then are blind or visually impaired. Every time i hear this kind of things it makes me sad and mad. Not at you but to people who make you feel needed to say something else. Who doubt your vision and you need to be someone else because you they let you be who you are. Its not of anyone’s business if you see shapes when you say your blind. You dont need to say something else so that people are not confused. Let people learn to understand you. Its not important what people think. You live your life the way you want you. Like you said you are learning to adapt and you have a lot of work with that en your family and living your life and being happy. If your neighbor think you fake you low or no sight, let him you know how it works for you and they doesnt matter. Love sabrina
Thank you for this awesome comment. It's always good to hear so many pinions and it was a great topic I think to bring up. It's been one of the best conversation pieces I've put on TH-cam yet. It's nice that we get our feelings out. Thank you for watching and letting us oh no your view. Have an awesome week
Hey Pal, just wanted to say you won the #PatriotInTheDarkGiveaway make sure to shoot me your info.
Congratulations!!
By the way, I am 100% perfectly blind and I still make eye contact
Awesome, I'm psyched. Sorry I missed it Don't know when you announced it. I have been watching your videos as you've been uploading. However I did and watching your live feed early do the fax I had to take care of the fam.
I will definitely be getting in touch. Thank you so much
I can only see light. I know that under UK judgement I'm blind but I don't know if it's different in America
I was not trying to say in my video that if you can see the light and anyway you are not blind. The only thing I was trying to say is that if you have enough vision where you can see somebody in front of you shake their hand and look them in the face it is easier to tell them you're visually impaired then it is blind.
Because when you tell them you're blind they tend to get confused then ask you questions like why are you looking me then how can you see me how many fingers do I have up etc.
When I tell people I am visually impaired I get to tell people on my own terms and educate them about my blindness. Cuz they don't ask the same crazy questions right off the bat.
I I'm definitely blind as I have a form of blindness. What I am not like you or I only see a little light I still have a little peripheral and I see shapes through filter. I was not trying to say that if you can see don't say you're blind ever just trying to say that if you have a little bit of vision it's just easier to start off by saying your visually impaired.
@@myvisuallyimpairedlife5674 the thing is I do look at people but it's only because I can here where their voices are coming from but it does lead to people telling me I'm not blind. When I look at people I can't see anything about them
@@mattinfullvision9598 and when people do that or say those things it's very hurtful. And can be very annoying as well. So that's why I just started saying visually impaired. Thank you for all your replies Matt. You are a great friend here on TH-cam I love that this video has gotten so much traction in the comment section
I think of what all I went through initially and even now on a day to day basis, and it just gets to be exhausting a lot of the time. The way Gabor explains how he felt in the beginning is just about spot on how I was grappling with it. Even when I had a shorter concise answer from the neural ophthalmology people, getting the public at large to just accept that became even more time consuming and exhausting and fruitless. So for a very short period of time I went with, "I'm very visually impaired." However, for all of several other reasons explained well by many commenting here, and safety, I cut straight to the chase and just say, "I'm blind, I know it's not always easy for people to tell, but I really need your visual assistance here." I then just say, "I need you to look for this on the LED screen and tap that part, and 'Is it telling me to enter a PIN yet?' Okay I can enter my PIN, this part is tactile." "Thanks." Sometimes I quick braille something onto a receipt with my tiny little pocket slate & stylus. Yet another favorite of slates & stylus's.
Oh, and when bus drivers would radio into the bus station that they had a "V I P" the immediate hate from the other passengers on the premise of their context of what V I P means, made me say, "Blind! I'm not a V I P! I'm blind!"
The other thing that bothers me big time is when a person cuts me to the front of a line! I know and can feel the rest of the line rankle, can feel the extra heat coming off them! So that is why I just matter of fact say, "I'm blind, I do need some help with this part, but I can do the rest. Thanks." If people press and insist just wanting to extend a courteousness I say thank you as graciously as I can. If it's going to cause harm or a safety issue, I won't accept certain misapplications of "help" though. I have told people trying to waylay me that I can't stop, and they will have to just keep up with me if they want to converse because I cannot afford to miss the last connecting bus!
I used to have a maximum overdrive walk! Ha! It helped hold my line! ...but it's the same now even though I use a wheelchair for a walker. I can instantly tell if I've got an offline troll, or other instigator of sorts, and I don't have time to mess around. I just keep moving even when I feel like I'm about to drop, and you'd be surprised how lazy most cons and hecklers really are. I look a lot of things in the face with my ears and hands, and wheels, and long white stick. It's kind of unavoidable. I don't placate fools much. I realize this makes me seem cranky. I'm really easier going than I seem. Just too tired to put up with much BS. LOL
Best comment ever!!!
So much informative details in this comment. You have officially made me realise that it really determines how your lifestyle is, where you're from, or even how you decide to deal with the life you are given.
I live in a very rural area I don't have Transit, Ubers or even cabs. I am home an awful lot and when I do get out it's with my beautiful wife and family. Normally the more insidious I get is just usually a Walmart or a grocery store. On top of that I've only been visually impaired for 2 years. I am starting to now understand through everyone's comments and especially this amazing one right here.
How we feel in the matter is definitely determined by how our lifestyles are and the challenges we get in front of us each and every day.
thank you so much for leaving this long detailed comment these are definitely my most favorites of favorites. The more we talk on the matter the more information gets put out to the public. It's amazing how many people go through the comments to read to hear what everyone else has to say. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and I cannot wait for comments just like this on future episodes on my channel. Thank you for being a great listener thank you for your great viewpoints and thank you for being a great friend.
Very amazing video well done and keep up the great
Hey man, I know you posted this awhile ago, but issue still comes up for me ALL the time, and I wanted to ask your take on a nuance. A visually impaired person like you or I, who can see but is impaired, decides to use a cane so they trip less often. When I used a cane, it basically screams "I'm blind" but... I can see, I'm just visually impaired. How should someone handle that? I ended up not using a cane and tripping more often because the risk of tripping was less than the risk of an enraged sighted person thinning I was faking.
The answer to this my friend is very easy. Just don't give a flying crap!! Lol
I understand it can be hard to not let people get to you but you know you more than they know you. It's kind of like a mama joke they can make funnier mom all day long but if they don't know her who's it hurting.
I still take my cane everywhere even though I know I'm not going to walk into walls and I can see most things in my peripheral for the most cases. Other than lower that is. I still like knowing that I am more confident and my knees and my shins are definitely happier.
And remember if someone is giving you an attitude or assuming something that is not true just kill them with kindness. I know it sounds so stupid in class shade to say, however nothing makes a person more angry than being educated right on the spot and being told at the end to have a nice day with a smile.
Luckily for me I don't get confrontations very much but I do live in a rural area. I'm not in a city per se. But I am sure there are those who constantly think I'm faking and I do get questioned sometimes, like the everyday question of how much can you see or why you looking right at me. But as annoying as it is I always just re-explain myself. I explain to the individual my vision loss and what it's like to see the way I see. Usually I just tell people that my vision is like looking through a very foggy mirror right after you get out of a steam shower. Usually they understand and go on with their own business. And never be afraid to ask me any questions. I know I don't upload videos lately but that's only due to the times wherein and life itself kids and all. But I have plans get back on track. It's a pleasure talking to people and I've always always always always always enjoyed my TH-cam channel and meeting new people through the comment section. God bless you my friend and I hope my insight helped.
Before I got my esight my brother would do the same thing and stand at the hole I get hole in ones all the time
After watching a few of your videos I understand your vision is similar to mine so I'm going to tell you this. You need to try to play laser tag. I did earlier this month for the first time with my wife came. Three floors of laser tag fun.
I was not sure I was able to play so I asked the guy to let me in to see if I could make sense of any of my surroundings.
I decided to pay the guy and give it a shot. And I'm glad I did because I was able to see the light up vests from what further away than normal. I was actually able to get some shots and not be in last place at the end. I was amazed and it was a ton of fun I'm going to eventually make a video on this topic. You just got yourself a sneak peek.
Laser tag is fun played it several times
My only problem is the laser tag vest don’t fit over me or barely at all
Was up vin😊
☺️ got to love you buddy. Thanks for popping in and leaving a comment.
Vincent Grasso My Visually Impaired Life YW😊