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From: Norman.Coombs@f204.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Norman Coombs)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Looking for info for Washington history panel
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Date: 5 Mar 90 22:22:38 GMT
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Index Number: 7089

Abstract for Panel Presentation to history convention:

                    Disability and Technology
               A Historical and Social Perspective
 
Norman Coombs Ph.D.
Rochester Institute of Technology
One Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester NY 14623
Electronic mail: NRCGSH@RITVAX.BITNET
 
 
     Physically disabled persons and rehabilitation counselors
routinely perceive the spectrum of problems posed by physical
impairments from opposite viewpoints.  The concern of rehabilitation is
the disabled person and how to facilitate his or her adjustment to
coping with life's problems.  While disabled persons are painfully
aware of the impediment caused by the handicap, they also see the
social structure and social attitudes as a major source of the problem
to be overcome.  From this perspective, the rehabilitation system
itself can be understood as part of the problem rather than of the
solution.  In the first case, the disabled persons must change to "fit
in" to society.  In the second case, negative aspects of society are to
be challenged to provide more opportunities for these persons.  In this
context, the evolution of modern technology is sometimes seen as
empowering the disabled and thereby redressing some of the social
imbalance.  
 
     Technology confronts handicapped persons with two faces.  On one
hand, it must be admitted that some new inventions and machines
developed during the past century have only served to magnify their
problems.  The automobile cannot be driven by the blind, and the radio
does not communicate to the deaf.  On the other hand, over the years,
technology has developed a variety of assistive and adaptive devices
which have minimized and compensated for the handicaps caused by some
physical disabilities.  The transistor and other electronic inventions
have led to a growing number of such useful aids, and it has created a
society dependent on information technologies.  Having equal access to
transportation and to information systems is essential to the
achievements of the handicapped in this age.  The latter will also be
of special interest to an academic audience.  
 
     Simultaneously with the growing empowerment provided by this
technology, disabled persons have been forming a variety of advocacy
organizations as a platform for expressing their own interests.  The
ranks of the disabled have been increased as a result of injuries from
several twentieth century wars, and this has occurred at a time when
many minority groups have been pushing for civil rights and fair
treatment by the mainstream society.  While these advocacy groups
recognize that rehabilitation help is still needed to assist in the
handicapped person's development of coping techniques, disabled
Americans are insisting in having a strong voice in controlling their
own destiny.  Assistive technology and advocacy organization are
looked to by many disabled persons as twin pillars on which to build
their future. 

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