multiple sclerosis victim finds intellectual stimulation in internet
Just a brief post about something interesting I heard today. My parent's real estate agents daughter (sounds as likely as the second uncle of my next door neighbours dog doesn't it?) has had multiple sclerosis for 25 years. She is incredibly bright, but can now only move her fingers on one hand, and as such she has found all her social and intellectual fulfillment through the internet. It must certainly be a vital social outlet for people with these kinds of disabilities, where people don't judge by looks etc.
posted by bodhiflip @ 4:05 pm
3 comments
3 Comments:
Definitely people's needs have to be built into future advances of internet / virtual technology, INCLUDING people with disabilities (I'm a carer for children with disabilities, so I feel strongly about this) who are often forgotten. Its interesting to think that for people with severe disabilities, a good enough virtual world will far outweigh their desire to spend time in their normal, not fully functional, body. Changes ahead?
Developing websites appropriately for the blind using screen reading software is another example of the need in this area.
However, perhaps I'm an eternal optimist ( :) ), but I sense that the web is starting to lift its game in this area. There are a growing number of awards to recognise and encourage work in this area (eg. http://www.mysan.de/article80648.html)
Checked out that site: Sounds like a step in the right direction. I wonder if there's a serious drive to make computing for the blind a high tech reality though? Could there be a way of making people 'see' again, inside a virtual realm?
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