Computers and The Disabled
The computer age has changed many things for many people, but for the disabled the computer has ultimately changed their entire life. Not only has it made life exceedingly easier for all disabled age groups, it has also made them able to be more employable in the work force. Previously unemployable people can now gain the self esteem from fully supporting themselves. Computers have given them the advantages of motion were it had not previously existed. Disabled children now have the advantage to grow up knowing that they can one day be a competent adult, that won't have to rely on someone else for their every need.
Windows 95 has made many interesting developments toward making life easier for the nearly blind and for the deaf, including on screen text to synthesize speech or Braille, and adaptive hardware that transforms a computers audible cues into a visual format. Computers have given the limited back their freedom to be an active part of the human race.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Acts, any office that has a staff of more than fifteen people now has to provide adaptive hardware and software on their computers, so that workers with disabilities can accomplish many tasks independently. Before this Act was passed the disabled were normally passed over for jobs because of their handicap, now however employers can be assured that people with disabilities can work in the work place just like people without disabilities. The self esteem disabled individuals have gained from the experience to work and be self supporting, is immeasurable.
Computerized wheelchairs have given disabled people a whole new perception on life. It has given them the mobility to go just about anywhere they want to go. It has given them the ability to explore an unknown world, and progress intellectually as well as spiritually. Computerized vans allow many disabled people to drive, by having onboard computerized lifts to place the disabled in the driver's seat. Movement sensitive hardware, as well as computerized shifting devices allows the disable to control the van with very little physical movement.
Children with disabilities now have access to many computerized devices that enable them to move freely in their home as well as outside. The battery operated bigfoot truck, much like the ones that we buy for our own children to play on have been adapted and computerized for children with special needs.
These trucks have been designed for even some of the most limited children to operate with ease. With the newest technology these children can now go to public schools with their peers, and have an active social life.
There are many “tools” that could be considered for a student who has trouble listening and understanding instructions. Sometimes, just an adjustment of where the child sits fixes the problem or eliminates the barrier. Other times, assistive technology is needed. Today, the options for assistive technology are endless. In Samanthas case there were many options of assistive technology I could provide her with to help her be successful in the classroom.
2. Today, more girls are encouraged to participate in sports and other activities. College is now a possible option in a young woman's decision for Post High School Plans. Now a job, beyond being a wife and mother, is well within reach. As women competed publicly, they gained more respect. Becoming Role Models for millions of little girls and young women who could now truly dream about a life in professional sports.
As stated by C.Dave Hingsberg “For hundreds of years, western society regarded the mentally retarded as sad accidents of nature to be closeted behind walls of secrecy and silence. Thousands were forcibility sterilized in an attempt to erase the genetic stain of their misfortune. But scientists now know that barely 10%of mental retardation is passed on genetically” (Hingsberg, Dave C.2001). This section came directly from the video “Is Love Enough”. Throughout history, there was the belief that the disabled would produce offspring that would be burdensome to society. Policies were put into place that forced sterilization of 60,000 American citizens, some as young as ten years old (Reilly 1991).
“The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it” -Chris Joseph
In countries with life expectancies over 70 years of age, people spend on average about eight years, or 11.5 percent of their life span, living with disabilities. The passage "A Giant Step” by Henry Louis Gates Jr is a memoir about how he came to injure his foot, and all the complications that went along with the permanent injury. Similarly “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a story about a teen named Junior who has hydrocephalic, we learn the many complications that come along with this disability. There are similarities and differences in how both people live their lives. Both people with their disabilities find it within themselves not to give up and still overcome challenges. On the other hand both mothers aren't the same, their motives for their children are completely different. Junior was also able to live a little more normal life, have freedom meanwhile Gates was held back a little more from
being able to make more money, having a better job security, more career opportunities and furthering
Disabilities. Many people don’t realize how lucky they are. They feel like they are hard done by and complain about all sorts of things, when they don’t realize the agonies that some people have to go through just to make it through the day. I will be comparing two different instances of disabilities. One from a book called The Miracle Worker, where a girl named Helen has had a disease that left her blind and deaf. And the other from the movie The piano, where the main character Sylvia, has been mute since she was 6 years old. I will talk about how the people around the one impaired were effected, how the person impaired was treated, and how they overcame their disability.
...ll help them flourish in the world and become the independent, successful person everyone strives to be.
...r lives, these children will be able to better prioritize their responsibilities and work out processes to fulfill their goals.
It is established that as a person goes higher in their academic career they have a greater opportunity in earning higher incomes, good employment opportunities as well as an improvement in their daily living conditions (WHO,2014, as cited Swain et al.,2014). Evidence suggests that children who have access to good early childhood education tend to earn a good income, low crime rate, reduction in teenage pregnancies, improved adult health status and decrease behavioural risk factors (Muennig et al.,2011 as cited in Swain et
Persons with disabilities encounter countless environmental and societal barriers which affect their daily lives. There is numerous definitions worldwide and in Canada for the term “disability”, and debates about who is considered a person with a disability. Winkler gives an elaborate definition of this term which will be used to define disability throughout this paper. Above and beyond the general definition, Winkler states “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” (2009, p. 329). Winkler mentions that in addition
More skills are gained to manage their lives and make choices. Things you will eventually take for granted as you grow older, such as getting a driver’s licence, earning an income, going to parties, voting and creating a home.
For my I-Search topic I chose to research health related issues due to increased computer usage both in the work and home settings. Computer technology is becoming commonplace in the work field. As a teacher, I use the computer to present topics to my students, enter grades, send email to co-workers and parents, and to post homework assignments on the Internet. Ten years ago, teachers and other professionals used computers on a limited basis. I became interested in the side effects caused by prolonged usage of computers since several family members complain of wrist soreness as well as eyestrain due to the effects of monitor radiation.
the actions of the analytical engine were to be done through the use of punched
In the year 1977 computers went on sale for the national public. Today in the year 2004 computers with connection to the internet are an essential item to have in the household. Accountants and typists are no longer the only ones buying computers. Age does not matter. Everyone needs a computer in the household. Computers help all kinds of people. Meeting different people’s needs, therefore computers are a useful tool for all age groups. Children, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens all can use the same computer, but they all use the computer for a different purpose.