How well do you reminisce your first hands-on experience with modern computers? I came from Eritrea, a country along the Red Sea coastline in East Africa, where possession of a computer for the majority is still a pie in the sky. More than 90 percent of the population, particularly people with disability, do not own or have access to computers given their disadvantaged background.
Back in 1997, I decided to register for a typing skills training. There was a wonderful teacher at the school, who patiently taught me how to use the manual paper roller, the carriage return, the keyboard and what not. She would sit next to me and start reading from the “How to” material. Ready, get set, roll! Keyboard clicks and clink-clanks from Olympia and Olivetti typewriters reign in the room. No sooner than I joined a university in 1999 did I begin tinkering with DOS-based computers. Microsoft ® Windows ® 97 was a great leap.
The advent of information science following World War II has resulted in multi-dimensional dynamism launching a new era of information technology. With the ever expanding infotainment options, the dawning of the era of information technology together with the emergence of assistive technology heralded mankind, especially for people with disabilities, a new age in electronics, independent living, education and employment as well.
Assistive technology, a term which came common into use in 1970’s, is any item, piece of equipment or system, comprising specialized instructional materials, services and strategies that is used to increase, maintain, or improve how a person performs some task of daily living. Large print for students with low vision is a simple example of specialized instructional material of assistive technology.
Sec. 300.5 of IDEA and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulate that schools and employers provide with appropriately befitting accessible technology to students and employees with disabilities to ensure access to information and productivity. The supply of accessible technology both at school and workplace remains to be a fundamental question in many countries. Unless protected by law for people with disability as of right, the supply of assistive technology will, in many places such as Eritrea, continue to be regarded as a luxury.
There are a number of countries (mostly developing ones) across the globe that have adopted and ratified proclamations or acts for persons with disability. The overall import of the laws for persons with disabilities is prevention of discrimination against people with disabilities resulting from or arising out of their disability by making the code of conduct of institutions and associations comply therewith and to provide, so far as possible, assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative appliances and other equipment by setting standards of technical services and accommodation for institutions.
Furthermore, all countries with laws of disability do agree, at least, in principle, that no employer shall discriminate against any person with disability in relation to: the advertisement of employment, or, the recruitment for employment; or, the creation, classification or abolition of jobs or posts; or, the determination or allocation of wages, salaries, pensions, accommodation, leave or other such benefits, or, the choice of persons for jobs or posts, training, advancement, apprenticeships, transfer or, promotion; or, the provision of facilities related to or connected with employment.
On March 4, 1994, the United Nation’s General Assembly adopted “The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities”, comprising 22 articles which expound that all persons have the same rights and duties. Although the Rules are not legally binding, they can become international customary rules when they are applied by the majority of member-States.
We have heard and read time and again that every person is equal under the law. When an employer recruits an employee with disability, for instance, the employer should bear in mind to provide with the necessary tools, instruments and implements. Should an employer hire an able-bodied and a person with disability and if they fail to provide the latter with the appropriate assistive technology, the whole point of equality of opportunity will be defeated. For by failing to provide the same, the person with disability is in effect being discriminated against. This is so because people with disability will not make a living in the absence of equality of opportunities, and thus, their welfare will not be guaranteed.
Education by definition is a lifelong learning process. By ensuring that individuals have the intellectual abilities of reasoning and critical thinking, and by helping them construct a framework for learning, colleges and universities provide the foundation for continued growth throughout their careers, as well as in their roles as informed citizens and members of communities.
Contrary to the enthusiasm they possess for work, employees with disabilities have been encountering challenges that emanate from lack of well-disposed initiative on the part of employers to fulfill their demands, especially, with materials that are of prime necessity to their work. However hard they endeavor, employees with disabilities are still under the mercy of grueling dependency on others, always anticipating for willful readiness of their respective supervisors.
Most employers are inclined to the attitude that people with disabilities are less productive and deserve to get minimum wages. Employees with disabilities have in most cases been trying to primarily accomplish the double assignment they shoulder when they first get recruited: to competently overcome the negativities that often emanate from erroneous perception on the one hand, being a model, to pave a way for other people with disabilities to follow suit on the other.
The right to assistive technology for people with disabilities needs to be enshrined in law everywhere and translated into practice. Assistive technology has not only helped a number of us achieve great independence in education or at workplaces, but our good command of computers has morphed work relationships into the best friendships, thanks to assistive technology. More importantly, assistive technology is not an aid but a means of living for people with disability.
