[nfbwatlk] Use of word "vision" to describe professionals and services in the blindness field

[Frederick Driver]

What a great resolution!

Thank you.

Rick


National Federation of the Blind of Washington

Resolution 2006-03



Resolution regarding elimination of "vision" to describe blindness
professionals and services



WHEREAS, the terms "teacher of blind students," "Braille teacher," "travel
instructor," "department for the blind," and "nonvisual access to technology
seminar" accurately and straightforwardly describe their purposes just as
"math teacher," "teacher of foreign language," "department of music," and
"astronomy seminar" clearly and accurately describe in a straightforward
manner their purposes; and



WHEREAS, the terms "vision teacher," "vision class," "vision department,"
and "vision seminar or summit," etc., are wholly inaccurate by definition
for the purpose of describing teachers of blind students; instruction in the
alternative techniques of blindness; administrative centers of services for
blind children, students, or adults; or seminars, workshops, or summits
concerned with equal access and integration of the blind into the worlds of
education, employment, and society at large; and



WHEREAS, with increasing frequency it has become the practice for many
institutions of higher education that prepare teachers of blind students,
school systems, and special education departments throughout the United
States to refer to the instruction of blind children as "vision classes,"
and teachers of the blind often refer to themselves as "vision teachers" and
their departments as "vision departments" and specialized gatherings such as
seminars, conventions, summits, and workshops as "vision."; and



WHEREAS, in addition to being patently wrong, this terminology conveys
misleading notions--such as the idea that blind children can be taught to
see--that sight is the best and most effective way for all children to
gather information, and that a child's ability to learn is directly related
to what he or she can see and serves to undermine the value and
effectiveness of alternative techniques, which these professionals also
teach and which the departments and programs exist to promote; and



WHEREAS, the term "vision" focuses on what blind students lack, rather than
on their capabilities and the potential they can fulfill through the use of
alternative techniques, causing them falsely to internalize notions that
their value and opportunity are related to the amount of eyesight they
possess; and



WHEREAS, the term "vision" is used to avoid the use of the word "blind,"
contributing to the general discomfort surrounding use of the word "blind"
and its erroneous use as a stigmatizing term and further hindering the
progress of blind people toward equality and full participation in society:
now, therefore,



BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Washington in
Convention assembled this fifth  day of November, 2006, in the city of
Vancouver, Washington that this organization condemn and deplore use of the
term "vision" to describe educators, programs, services, events, and
institutions related to the instruction of blind children and adults; and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that these individuals
and institutions replace their use of the word "vision" in this context with
the word "blind" to indicate to our blind children that no shame attaches to
their being blind, that eyesight is not the sole link to success, that the
value and potential of human beings are completely unrelated to the
possession of sight, and to make clear to them that through mastery of
alternative techniques they can succeed and that the blind will choose what
we call ourselves, our programs, our education, and our services; and



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon the Washington
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Northwest Association of
Educators and Rehabilitators of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and all
other appropriate entities to implement the letter and spirit of this
resolution and thereby eradicate the inappropriate use of the word "vision"
in the education of blind children and training of blind adults.