Are Colorblind People Disabled?
- Posted by Daniel Flück on May 16th, 2007 filed in People
- 18 Comments »
If you are colorblind, do you feel disabled? And what does the law say about it? Do others have to take some precautions, in a way that colorblind people are not excluded because of their handicap?
There is an interesting discussion going on at boagworld.com, if color blindness has to be looked at as a disability or not. In this case looking at the UK law and their Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The question is not easy to answer, because there are many different types of color blindness and the law doesn’t really name any disability, but just describes them.
You might like to join the discussion at Are colorblind people disabled?
Do you think color blindness is a disability or not?
May 18th, 2007 at 3:58
Im glad I stumbled across this blog, I never thought about color blindness could be considered a disability
May 18th, 2007 at 11:38
You are right; it could be considered as a disability. I would say in most cases it’s more a handicap and one shouldn’t talk about a disability. But in some cases like rod monochromacy it should be seen as one.
September 26th, 2007 at 6:36
Yeah, I came across this blog because I’m researching my own color-blindness (dichromatic, missing M-cone) because for years my dad would tell me I just didn’t know my colors.
Deep down I kind of thought he was right and just didn’t talk about colors when I saw something ever. The eye doctor who diagnosed me years ago never explained anything to me about how it works.
I think it’s a definite handicap and should be accomodated for when necessary. I work in IT, and I have frequent trouble creating network cables because I can’t tell the colors apart.
Also, rarely I mistake a stop-light’s green light for an overhanging dirty white lamp. As a young guy at 25 I’m pretty alert but in old age I could see it possibly becoming more of a hinderance to my driving.
Not that I’m going to let them take my license away due to my disability, come hell or high water.
October 23rd, 2007 at 15:49
How can it not be a disability? I do not have the ability to see colors that are required for certain employment situations. I was denied a license by the Federal Goverment, I have been turned down by the Army for certain jobs and flat out denied employment solely on the basis that I couldn’t pass the test. I relate to Mark as I didn’t know all throughout my youth that I was colorblind, I have red/green and blue/yellow difficiency. I believed that I was to stupid to remember my colors. I became very confused in certain situations that effected my understanding of reality. I disassociated with children of my own age simply because I did not see what they saw. I felt like that person whom hears a joke but doesn’t get the punch line, daily. When someone comments “Wow look at the pretty flowers” and you think ’so, look at the pretty dirt’ it gives you a different path in life, frustrating and isolated. To those who do not think it’s a disability but a ‘handicap’ try it, feel what it’s like to be denied because of something about yourself that you have no control over, nor can change. We get to see the world but it’s true beauty is hidden from us.
October 24th, 2008 at 6:53
Hello World!
I have a Colege Degree! i have Navy and army! I have have EMT! I have a Public Police academy certificate! I cant pass a freaking color test to save my life or my familes: literally!!!! I cant get a job because I cant freaking see colors…You tell me its not a dissabilty. Your full of it and you dont see the world in black and white.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:54
I wanted to join the Defence Force.
I couldn’t because I am color blind.
I wanted to join the NSW Police Force.
I couldn’t because I am color blind.
I wanted to join Australia Customs.
I couldn’t because I am color blind.
If that is not considered disability discrimination then the people writing our laws must be the ones whom are blind.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:49
I agree with Todd, while as a disability it is not as serious as blindness, colour blindness does leave you in a grey (!) area. I well remember the discomfort I felt at one job where we were required to make a simple colour identification, someone asked, “What if you are colour blind?” The instructor answered, “Just say what colour you think you see!” This produced a laugh from the roomful of people; I was, alas, unable to share the joke, having thoughts of alternative employment n mind.
November 2nd, 2008 at 13:56
Paul : That’s not disability discrimination. That’s ability discrimination, misguided or not, it’s just the same as insisting that your pilots have both arms, your wine taster has a working nose, etc.
Red and green are iconic colours for “danger/safe”, “stop/go”, “hot/….errr minty? pistachio?”… ; and that cultural hurdle is difficult to clear.
With 1:12 of the male population RG colourblind, designing colour coding that doesn’t take account of that could be considered foolish, but it also means that you are making things harder for 96% of your audience.
Where it’s been an issue, I’ve settled for using additional visual indicators that do not rely on colour ; red AND strikethrough, green AND underscore.
It might interest the military types to know that WWII bomber crews would try to recruit at least one member who was RG colour blind – because like an Ishihara test in reverse, they could spot certain kinds of camouflage with ease where their “chromatically unchallenged” fellows would have difficulty.
November 11th, 2008 at 13:55
I am a 16 year old and have been disaproved by the army as fit for a soldier. This is because I was born with somthing that I cannot change or practise for. Colour blindness. And what is worse that I was in the defence force cadets and was lead scout because I was the first person to see movement not colour difference! But life goes on.
February 15th, 2009 at 20:13
I dont know wether I would class as a disability but am starting to think it should be. I left the Navy in 2005 having served 4 years on a submarine. I had a few ideas of careers I would like to have pursued when I left but each of them I was unable to do due to my colour blindness so Im with Paul on this one!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 23:17
A recent job I researched before applying has under essential criteria MUST NOT BE COLOURBLIND.
It was for a role in forensics with the police, I was just surprised to see it stated so boldly. I can kind of understand the reason, but cross forensics of the list: it’s not just the military.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:38
Adrian: It’s a shame you think the way you do.
November 6th, 2009 at 18:25
I’ve found all the points raised really valid and firstly, I have always been of the view that a handicap is an older way of saying ‘disability’ (unless talking in golfing terms). Secondly, I agree that it is the lack of ability to see colour and therefore should be given acceptance and understanding as other congenital conditions are under the disability discrimmination act, particularly as it is a life-long condition.
And!!! I would invite any clinician or health professional to come and tell my 8 year old daughter, who was recently found to be colour blind in both red/green and blue/ yellow shades,that it doesn’t matter or is not important that she will probably never see Santa’s red coat or Rudolphs red nose in its rightful colour. AND – never mind – that she thinks the pink fluffy room we have created together is white, struggles with certain reading books,colour co-ordinating clothes and make-up, thinks that a grey dull sky (which is quite often round here)equals a bright day and blue skies are void of colour, cannot distinguish who/where her friends are when outside if she is not stood next to them, or if she has sunburn, she struggles to read the whiteboard info if the teacher has written in orange or pink. Can only tell the difference between a grapefruit and a large orange, or an orange and a lemon through shape alone, cannot see green tomatoes or bad grapes. Thinks she is stupid becaue she doesn’t get stuff that others get – well !!! of course she doesn’t, because she literally doesn’t get it…H E L L O. She also cannot share the joke at pantomimes with men in pink dresses and stage makeup and asks what is so funny. So social exclusion occurs at many levels. Not to mention her reaction time to dark coloured cars on the road when she wants to cross over as brown, black, purple, darker blues all appear as black to her, so her whole attempts of crossing over the road is exaggerated and longer as she is often looking for movement. Her brain must work overtime at school just trying to keep up with things that full visually seeing people take for granted.
Finally, if being colour impaired, colourblind or void of many colours is not such a big deal and a case of “Awh well you’ll just have to live with it”, then why do thousands of people pay more to watch colour tv, when they could, effectively get just as much from watching black and white tv at a cheaper lisence rate? Can you imagine the frustration and how some people would react to being only allowed a black and white telly in their house and being told “thats what you’ve got so deal with it”!! well thats how som people feel. However, it remains to be said, the ones who have a choice, make a choice and – interestingly – they choose colour because colour interprets stories, visual aids, information, and enhances communication,detail and understanding. It complements certain detail in certain ways and communicates a wider area of the subjects we are dealing with on a daily basis. Therefore, my daughter has a right, just like everybody else to have knowledge, understanding and access to services available to her that will enhance her knowledge and help her lead her life to her full potential, whether at school, shopping, at brownies or any other part of her daily life.
Oh and just one other point – she too has major strengths in areas such as being able to see through the doors and windows at school which are mirrored on the outside, intentionally to stop people being able to see into the classrooms, which us mere mortals can’t and yes! she can see camouflage straight away and not to mention her fantasticly intricate detail in drawings.
December 4th, 2009 at 17:01
heck no
just because you retards cant see doesnt mean you can complain because daddy didnt care … i mean seriously maybe you should think of a job instead of fricken abbly to work with colrod item when neccesary .. really if you where actually worried about this you will go to a vocational rehabilitation counscil and get any job you could want
January 12th, 2010 at 8:25
This is absolutely depressing.
I am 14 and every Job I am interested in is unavailable to me due to my colour blindness.
Nsw Police,
Australian Army,
Electrician,
Pyrotechnician
Automotive Mechanic
Pilot
Graphic Design
Web Designer
This is utterly disturbing.
If you call colour blindness not a disability you are out of your mind. I used to believe it wasn’t an issue but when looking around career paths like you should be doing around my age you realise it truly is!
Please email me your opinion or experiences.
joshuajameschamberlain@gmail.com
January 18th, 2010 at 20:53
Maybe not Josh.
I am R/G colour blind and have a degree in Graphics and have been a web designer for the last 4 years.
There are loads of ways to help you pick colours that match, so I wouldn’t rule out design.
February 28th, 2010 at 20:23
what about electricians? Are there any of you out there? I am r/b deficient and I was considering pursuing an electrican career. I read a lot of contradicting information on the internet about the possibility of being a color blind electrician.
March 8th, 2010 at 18:23
Colour Vision Defect or Colour Blindness is a disability I’ve got Tritanopia and can’t see Blue – Yellow section of the colour spectrum. Also gets worse when you get older..