This week's reading and video reminded me how fortunate I am to have the knowledge and accessibility to the things that we, able Americans, take for granted. Only some people know about Wi-Fi or how to use a smartphone because only a few can access one. Some of us can take the stairs, escalator, or even the elevator, depending on how we feel. But someone in a wheelchair or leg walker may not have these options.
I
thought back to my trip through an airport, pushing my daughter in her
stroller, and everyone got on the escalator. I took the elevator, and it was
the only one; I waited a very long time. As much as I wanted to take the
escalator, I knew the elevator was a better option because it was safer for me,
my daughter, and others. "Capabilities are the real and actual
possibilities from which individuals can choose so as to achieve those things they
value being and value doing. Functioning are the aspirations that makeup
people's well-being." (Wolske, 2020, pg. 42)
Although the advancement of technology and accessibility has made our daily life more accessible, the elevator at that airport, with thousands of people traveling daily, would be more feasible with a second elevator. Or how about reinventing the escalator steps to be twice as big to accommodate those who do not need an elevator but cannot take the stairs?
We can
make progressive changes by incorporating universal design in all of the
technology, "build upon and explore, explore how you in each and every one
of your roles can include Universal Design in one part of your life; if you do
that, you will help to create more commonality more diversity and more
inclusion for all people including persons with disabilities." (Doupe,
2018) With the diversity of our society and worldwide, universal design can be
the most extensive modification for technological advancement for
everyone.
Citation
(2018).
Diversity, Inclusion and Universal Design | Teddi Doupe | TEDxUAlberta.
Retrieved November 12, 2022, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI-rsKbIvfc&t=880s.
Wolske,
M. (2020, October 7). A person-centered guide to demystifying technology:
Working together to observe, question, design, prototype, and implement/reject
technology in support of people's valued beings and doings. Windsor &
Downs Press. Retrieved November 12, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.21900/wd.7
Hey Amy, great post. I agree, this week's lecture's made me reflect back on my own life and thinking about all the people who have to go through more obstacles to get somewhere. I think adding more accessibility options would be super helpful, as our population is increasing, we need more options for people.
ReplyDeleteI like your post Amy! I agree with you We can make progressive changes by incorporating universal design in all of the technology.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! I remember the days of having to push a stroller... then when I had my second child, I had a double stroller! It was not easy to maneuver that big thing around. I ended up using a baby carrier for my youngest one which made life easier for me, but I did miss the ease and accessibility of escalators.
ReplyDeleteHey Amy. Great post. I like your ideas. Sometimes things to improve accessibility are right in front of us and we don't always see them. I do agree there are lots of ways we could modify existing technologies to accommodate more.
ReplyDelete