By Jane M. Hardin, M.Ed., Associate Professor of Practice, Simmons College, Boston, MA
We need to applaud the companies that invest money and time into creating equipment and services that assist those with disabilities. Yesterday, I attended the Abilities Expo where companies shared their latest developments in technology and services. This is my third year in attendance and every time I go, I learn more about the challenges that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. There are some incredible advances in technology that one can observe in the more sophisticated wheelchairs, adaptive equipment and high-tech adaptive automobiles. These things are noteworthy and demonstrate the improvements for those who need these tools. The reality is that all of these high tech gadgets are quite expensive and out of reach for the average person; and for the unemployed or underemployed person with a disability, these things are often economically inaccessible, even with insurance or disability benefits.
As advocates, we can work to provide better educational and occupational opportunities for those with disabilities. We can encourage businesses to offer employment and high quality benefits to those with disabilities. We can also advocate for equal attention to advances for both low technology and high technology innovations. We can make sure that accessibility is not limited to a ramp or a handicapped parking sign, or exclusively focuses on unattainable technology, but demands accessible access to all aspects of society for those of all social status.
We need to applaud the companies that invest money and time into creating equipment and services that assist those with disabilities. Yesterday, I attended the Abilities Expo where companies shared their latest developments in technology and services. This is my third year in attendance and every time I go, I learn more about the challenges that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. There are some incredible advances in technology that one can observe in the more sophisticated wheelchairs, adaptive equipment and high-tech adaptive automobiles. These things are noteworthy and demonstrate the improvements for those who need these tools. The reality is that all of these high tech gadgets are quite expensive and out of reach for the average person; and for the unemployed or underemployed person with a disability, these things are often economically inaccessible, even with insurance or disability benefits.
As advocates, we can work to provide better educational and occupational opportunities for those with disabilities. We can encourage businesses to offer employment and high quality benefits to those with disabilities. We can also advocate for equal attention to advances for both low technology and high technology innovations. We can make sure that accessibility is not limited to a ramp or a handicapped parking sign, or exclusively focuses on unattainable technology, but demands accessible access to all aspects of society for those of all social status.
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