Appeared in Ability Network, Volume 3, No. 4, Summer 1995
It was only a few years ago that people with disabilities were not seen or heard in society. A person with a physical impairment was perceived as also having a mental impairment.
People with disabilities were excluded from life! Work, recreation and relationships were non-existent. Technology has had a part in changing old philosophies and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Computers have revolutionized today's workforce. 60% of all professions utilize some form of computer. It is not uncommon for people to work from their homes. Fax/modems enable people to send and receive information from across the world. They literally bring the world to people! The processing speeds of today's computers allow for applications that were not feasible only five years ago. Voice recognition users can achieve speeds in excess of 100 words per minute! It is difficult for an employer to exclude a person with a disability when they can create text faster than their able bodied employees!
An array of hardware/software applications tie into each occupational group. If someone has aspirations of becoming an accountant they have a choice of software that is best suited for their needs. You want to be an architect, no problem, CAD (computer assisted design) allows an individual to draw. You appear to have an ear for music, midi (musical instrument digital interface) systems allow you to compose your own music! If business is your forte, no sweat, a multitude of hardware/software is at your disposal. The point being that there are technologies that will level the playing field and ensure that if someone has the aptitude careers are possible.
Transportation can be excluded from the employment equation. Internet allows direct communication with suppliers or colleagues. This connectivity will offer home shopping, Banking, even match making services. Home theatre is with us now. THX or Dolby pro logic create the same special effects as your local theatre. Currently, the cable companies have the bandwidth to transmit movies etc. And telephone companies have the switching to route the traffic. When they consolidate their technologies almost anything is possible.
Telephony has altered your common telephone. Call waiting, answer and display are all possible. Voice mail and E-mail coupled with a computer allow an individual to transmit multiple messages simultaneously and receive messages!
So there you have it. Your next job, recreational activity or relationship could be key stroke away!
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