[nfb-talk] Youth Empowerment- technology and independence

[S Farwaneh]

Hi Mike,

Point well-taken. I am also of the somewhat older generation who went to
college and launched a career before the internet, note-takers, GPS's, etc.
When I got my first job as an ESL instructor at the University of Iowa, I
barely knew how to type. I agree with you in finding it misleading to
project the idea that when youths learn technology, they have it made!
Perhaps we need to conduct more "back to basics" seminars for youths, and I
know that Joanne Wilson does these seminars upon request. Affiliates can
request a grant from the imagination fund to fund the project. But I think
each affiliate has many experienced members who can do a good job of
conducting these seminars locally.

Another way of producing generations of empowered youths is to work with
colleges and universities who graduate teachers of blind youths, especially
if they have a rehabilitation and counseling program, or teaching of blind
children program (these may also be links through which we can get youth
contacts). An example of the need to enlighten students in these programs
is what happened two days ago, when I received a project abstract from
students in my university planning a video on assistive technology
underscoring its benefits and drawbacks. In their abstract they make the
false connection between technology and independence in this sentence "This
documentary video will explore how three or four types of current assistive
technology are allowing blind persons to have access to a wider scope of
information readily available in front of them and get through their daily
lives with more independence and efficiency.". Efficiency, convenience, and
privacy, maybe; independence, not at all. I have a meeting with them
tomorrow to first commend   them on bringing AT to the forefront of the
academic discourse, while placing independence in its proper perspective.
Perhaps I'll give them a copy of Dr. Jernigan's speech on the nature of
independence.

Thanks for bringing this up!
Samira

At 06:05 PM 10/20/06 -0400, you wrote:
>First (and I *will* show my age here), I think it a defendable 
>proposition that many young people are so dialed in to technology now 
>that they think technology will be their savior whereas people in my 
>generation, while we mostly adopt and enjoy new technology, have few 
>illusions that it will bring "breakthroughs for the blind" or "bring 
>independence to the blind" or the other advertising hype adaptive tech 
>companies throw at us. WE even see some of this on our lists as, for 
>example, when folks advance the notion that if we don't use accessible 
>electronic voting technology, we're not exercising our independent right 
>to vote. If we were to apply that logic, soon we'd not have the 
>privilege to use readers because we have technology. You get the drift. 
>At any rate, I think there's a gulf there that's hard to bridge -- at 
>least until the first time one's electronic note-taker craps out as Josh 
>mentioned. (grin)
>
>Mike
>
Samira Farwaneh
Assistant Professor, Arabic Language and Linguistics
Department of Near Eastern Studies
Department of Linguistics
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Program
Louise Foucar Marshall Building
845 N Park Avenue, Room 440
PO BOX 210158B
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona  85721-0158B
Phone: (520) 621-8629 Or 621-8012
Fax: (520) 621-2333