Term Paper on "Technology for Individuals With Disabilities"

Term Paper 8 pages (2563 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Disability & Technology

Disability

People with disabilities form a significant portion of the population and their education and other needs also make important considerations of policy makers and government officials. Generally disability is viewed as something not normal with the physical & mental abilities of an individual. Disability includes blindness, deafness, a variety of conditions that make it hard or impossible to walk or to speak, mental illnesses and such diseases as Down's syndrome and epilepsy. So, disabilities hinder many normal and natural body or mental functions of a person. Some of these problems are congenital and some are developed after a disease or an accident etc. Almost every women, men and children of all ages, races and ethnicities experience a disability some time during his or her lifetime due to different reason and for different period of time. "Today, 54 million people in the United States are living in the community with a disability. That's one in every five people. According to the most recent census data, around 52 million of them live in their community. Additionally, about 2 million live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. 22.6% of 45 to 54-year-olds have some form of disability; 44.9% of 65 to 69-year-olds have some form of disability; and 73.6% of those 80 years and older have some form of disability" (U.S. Census Bureau 2002).

Medical professionals suggest cures, rehabilitation or protection for the individual with a disability according to the condition of an individual. The problem in case of disability is that individuals not only have physical hurdles to overcome but they also face restrictions imposed on them by attitudinal, social, cultural, economic, and environmental barriers to their participation in society. Most people with disabilities can, and do, work, play, learn, and enjoy full healthy lives in their communities but social forces hinder them. In offering solutions to disability medical intervention as well as social solution and contribution of members of society is also important. Some even argue that discrimination against and socially exclusion because of having impairment is more disabling than the problem itself.

Areas of Disability

Different kinds of disabilities affect people in different ways. On the whole people have physical, mental and other disabilities.

Physical Disabilities:

Mobility impairment is the generally considered as the major area of physical disability. Few people get mobility impairment by birth while majority get it by accidents, injuries, diseases or illnesses later in life. Basic mobility, coordination and balance, strength and endurance, and other aspects of body function get affect when a person acquires a physical impairment.

Vision impairment also comes under physical disabilities and includes people with a complete or partial loss of vision. Vision in different people is affected in different ways. Some people are completely blind as they have no central vision while partially blind people have side or peripheral vision or only the edges or a part of the visual field might be obscured. Different light conditions also affect different people's vision sharpness.

Deaf and dumb people are also included in the category of physical impairment. The general misconception prevails the deaf people are essentially dumb or vice versa but in reality deaf people may be able to speak clearly. Impairment in hearing or speaking does not mean that people lack knowledge, skills and abilities.

Mental Disabilities:

Mental retardation or disabilities affect many people permanently or for only a period of time. Mental disability may affect a person's ability to think, reason or remember. People with mental disabilities have their own different strengths and weaknesses that may vary from person to person.

Psychiatric disabilities are also include in the ambit of mental disabilities and may include anxiety disorders, depression, bi-polar disorders, schizophrenia, and other conditions. Some people have cerebral palsy or other muscular or neurological disabilities.

Other Disabilities:

There are many diseases and problems that affect a person's normal functions. At times these disabilities are not visible to the onlooker and prevail in the form of a disease or other retardation. Diseases and illnesses such as asthma, arthritis, heart disease, environmental illness, AIDS, chronic fatigue, hyperactivity disorder, and allergies etc. hinder the normal functions of any individual.

History

The most of the developed world took notice of disabled people and their condition and started taking corrective measures by the 20th century. Before that traditional methods were applied and technology played little whatsoever role in the cure or rehabilitation. Disabled people were regarded as long-term patients by the medical practitioners before. Considering their long-term disabled status many charitable organization set up separate organizations. This approach of excluding disabled people from the normal environment created problems and also created a culture of dependency.

The situation started to change with the Disability Rights Movement in the 1970s. This movement was started by the disabled people themselves and led to their greater participation in society. More emphasis started being given to the technology and independence of disabled people. Human rights bodies, activists and other organization also played their role and more and more help was given by the technology to include them in the mainstream. This movement and the development of social model of disability put more emphasis on environment. For example a person with inability to walk could use wheel chairs but unavailability of lift could disable him even with the help of an assistive tool.

The role of assistive technology became more prominent by the end of 80s that U.S. Federal government passed and signed into law Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act). The legislation emphasized the need of Assistive technology devices that could be used in early intervention and education, rehabilitation and training, employment, residential living, independent living, recreation, and other aspects of daily living. Legislation also helped in improving the availability of, and funding for, assistive technology. The same legislation was later emended and became Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Over the last two decades assistive technology has grown and inculdes everything that assists people with disability. "Although many people believe the term assistive technology applies only to computers, in reality, assistive technology devices (e.g., adaptive feeding instruments, wheelchairs, vision aids) have a long history in the field of special education and rehabilitation. Current estimates suggest that more than 25,000 assistive technology devices have been designed to enhance the life functioning of individuals with disabilities (Able Data, 2000). Nonetheless, some have argued that the definition is so broad that it could include anything; others have noted that the definition simply reflects the fact that assistive technology solutions may involve no technology, low technology, or high technology" (Edybum, 2000).

Physical Disabilities & Technology

Technology is available in the form of adaptive equipment of one kind or another for the people with physical disabilities. Previously people with means used to hire help for assisting them with carrying or retrieving items and opening doors etc. Canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs are most common instruments used by these people for a long time. More help came in the form of prosthetic devices (such as artificial arms or legs), and body braces. As technology improved the mobility with the help of prosthetics became more common helping people lead almost a normal life.

Vision Impairment: People with vision impairment used to be completely dependent on canes or a guide or helper while reading and writing were not considered areas in which blind people could perform. With the development of initial Braille System vision is not considered necessary for people who have to do a lot of reading.

Science is a benediction which serves the mankind in many beneficial ways. It enables blind people to work normally by providing different technology. Blind people usually use software which is known as screen reader which allows them to understand what is written on the screen. The working of this software is simple. It converts the letter or text in synthesized speech.

Another useful device that is used by blind people is Braille display. It converts the content of the screen into number of cells comprised of independently controlled pins enabling the blind user to understand the screen's content. Braille is also useful for a blind person while reviewing and editing the text.

For those who are suffering from low visionary problem magnifiers are available which enlarge the characters on the screen. Due to this magnifying device a person suffering from problem of low vision can read the text or content properly and comfortably. Other than that special types of keyboards with enlarged keys are available for the people who face problems of low sightedness.

Mobility Impairment: When people become unable to navigate with their environment this inability refers as mobility impairment. In order to deal with this disability assistive technology provides a large number of antidotes. For those who are not ambidextrous alternative pointing devices are available to control the mouse. Apart from that if a standard joystick of a computer when combine with a special software can also serve for that purpose. Those who are suffering from sever… READ MORE

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