Paper: Assistive technology boom enhances ADA efforts
The "assistive technology" field covers a wide variety of items, from curb cuts and access ramps to high-tech wheelchairs and artificial limbs, from text-to-voice systems to voice-recognition software, from Web-based resource lists to "universal access" systems that allow a wide variety of hardware, software and other devices to work together.
Whatever the device, service or system, assistive technology is a rapidly-growing field that has many sector advocates in awe of the potential, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
"Technology has been a godsend. It has provided those with disabilities more independence at home and work without relying on personal attendants," Steven Tingus, public policy director of the Sacramento-based California Foundation for Independent Living Centers told the newspaper.
Tingus is speaking from experience: he has muscular dystrophy and must use a powered wheelchair, a ventilator and voice-recognition software to go about his daily life.
That's the point, advocates say -- technology is either in place or emerging to help a wide range of disabled people live on their own, hold jobs and take part in mainstream society. And the firms that are providing this technology are not only doing good for society, they're doing well financially, the newspaper reports.
The people behind many of these assistive-technology firms aren't just high-tech entrepreneurs looking for a profitable business niche: many are people with disabilities who decided to help themselves, and then transferred their discoveries to the marketplace
Vernon Cox, for example, has been a quadriplegic for decades, but he helped develop an early voice-recognition system for computer use. This development has led to a universal-access system that combines a variety of computer and mechanical systems, and an emerging text-reading technology that will work with computer system;
Marilyn Hamilton, who became a paraplegic after a hang-gliding accident, 20 year ago used a variety of recreational and high-tech fiber technology to develop revolutionary sports and power wheelchair;
Ted Henter, an internationally-ranked motorcycle racer blinded in a 1978 accident taught himself computer programming and then developed a system to read computer screens and translate the words into synthesized speech;
Van Phillips, a waterskier who lost a foot in an accident, started the Flex-Foot company which produces a range of "superstrong, flexible carbon fiber and titanium lower-limb prosthetic devices," the Chronicle reports.
There are a number of other companies providing quality assistive technology devices and service. Likewise, there are a number of online resources mentioned in the article, including:
the AccessLife.com site, touted as an "all-inclusive" Web destination site for people with disabilities;
the Assistive Technology (AT) Network featuring government initiatives, technology services and device information;
the CanDo.com site is an international destination portal;
the Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology (CART) site helps both children and adults with physical disabilities;
the Center for an Accessible Society offers a wide variety of disability and independent living information;
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research site is part of the federal Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/
chronicle/archive/2000/07/26/BU5955.DTL
|
