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Enabling people with |
| Information and communication technology in its broadest sense refers to electronics and media. It is a way of sharing and absorbing information through mediums such as televisions, radio and computers. It is the most powerful line that eliminates all kinds of barriers and bridges almost everything in every part of the world. Earlier in the past, persons who are visually impaired, especially those who are totally blind were regarded as useless and pathetic members of the society. People have this notion that if you are visually impaired, success and productivity is unattainable. Blind persons are always associated with their stereotypical beggar-image in the community, but all of these have come to an end. As technology vastly evolves, the way we perceive life in general has changed. Nowadays, computers are the most powerful technology used in consuming information. It is the primary device used to access the Internet. As we all know, the Internet is so powerful that through this, access to almost everything was made possible. For a long period of time, this accessibility was limited to sighted persons only. Eventually, the Internet changed major aspects in the lives of blind individuals such as education, employment and even their social lives. The development of adaptive technologies lead to this accessibility for persons with disability, Adaptive technology refers to tools and gadgets that help persons with disability cope with their environment. These tools primarily bridge the differences between the worlds of persons with disabilities to the world of persons without disability. This assistive gadget enhances the lives of persons with disability most especially in their education, employment and social life. Technology does not only enable persons with visual impairment to have access to information and communication but it also brings convenience to their everyday lives. These assistive technologies help them to be independent for they could have access to the society on their own. Customized gadgets such as screen readers, Braille, talking canes with sensors and GPS are some of the most common assistive tools intended for blind persons. Through these tools, a better quality of education can be obtained, and wider job opportunities are given for persons with visual impairment. Firstly, in the area of education, students who are visually impaired encounter struggles and obstacles of all types. The ignorance of the society and its lack of knowledge in handling blind individuals became their greatest enemy. Blind persons used to be deprived of attaining the quality of education that they deserve since appropriate facilities for them to cope up were not available. Most schools do not know how to render suited education for blind persons, and worse, most of the time; persons who are blind are underestimated and are not even given the chance to enhance their skills. Doubts on their abilities are always present as if they were not capable of going beyond their disability. These sentiments have been ejected the moment that these adaptive gadgets were brought to schools and universities. These tools gave blind individuals the chance to shine in their studies, and these also served as the eye opener to the figuratively blinded eyes of society to what blind individuals are capable of doing. Lines of communication between students and instructors were opened. Through these tools, blind students had the chance to attend to regular schools and be integrated with sighted students. Attaining a college degree became possible since a wider variety of courses is offered such as those computer related ones. Minnie Aveline Juan, a totally blind Magna Cum Laude graduate in Trinity University of Asia, is now a teacher by profession. Lucie Manarpaac, the first totally blind graduating Information Management student of Saint Louis University in Baguio, is a consistent Dean’s Lister. Julius Charles Serrano is a totally blind programmer and a web writer who graduated Cum Laude in the school where he attended. The writer herself, Rhea Althea Guntalilib, who helplessly turned around the sighted world and crossed over to the world of the sightless found hope through the aid of these gadgets. Rhea is now back to school and learned to establish a new chapter of her life in the midst of physical darkness. These people are just very few of the several blind individuals whose lives were changed because of the presence of adaptive technology. Secondly, employment opportunities for persons with disabilities became available. The corporate world has opened its doors because persons with visual impairment already have the means of coping with the demands of work. Their access to information and communication technology enabled them to apply their talents and capabilities in their area of employment. Persons with disabilities can now be hired for computer-based and home-based jobs such as on-line writing and transcription works through the aid of the technology mentioned a while ago. Some companies such as call centers and banks now give equal opportunity to persons with and without disability. Lastly, social aspect is one of the most important aspects of life. Through socialization, we learn many things. We learn how to properly deal with all types of people, and this aspect helps us grow to be better and more productive individuals. Persons who are visually impaired can now engage themselves into sports. Through the evolution of technology, revisions and modifications were made so that blind persons could enjoy the ball games that are being played by sighted individuals. Volleyball and Tennis are two or the most popular sports that are revised. Automated and sound emitting board games were also developed so that blind persons can also enjoy playing chess, Chinese checkers and other board games. Volleyball can now be played by persons with visual impairment. The Volleyball for the blind originated from Japan. Some physical education instructors for a school for the blind in Japan modified the tools and rules of a normal volleyball game so that visually impaired persons could play the sport. The court and ball for the volleyball of the blind are the same of those used in a normal volleyball game but the net is lower. The ball is rolled on the floor, the team consists of six players, three front players are totally blind, and wear an eye mask, and three partially sighted as the backward players. The players recognize the ball by its rolling sound. Nowadays, most people call it as floor volleyball. This sport could also be played by the visually impaired together with the sighted. Another sport is Sound ball Tennis, this sport is for persons with visual impairment. This was invented and developed by blind Japanese who once dreamt of hitting a tennis ball. This sport is being played by persons who are visually impaired by locating the position and the location of the ball through the sound that it emits. The size of the court is that of a badminton court. It is played indoors because of the importance of the sound. A special sticky tape with strings is used so that players could detect the dimensions of the court. A junior size racket is used in this sport and a special type of a sponge ball is used. The sponge ball is light and soft that is why it is safe and it can not harm the players even if it hits their body. These sports help in the physical, emotional and mental growth of persons with disabilities. These kinds of activities help them to develop their ability to recognize the surrounding. It also develops their agility and flexibility. By joining and engaging in these physical activities, persons with visual impairment can improve their overall physical fitness. They will learn the essence of team work. It has a psychological uplift and it relaxes the mind and it contributes to social development such as the sense of responsibility, the spirit of fair play and cooperation with other people. Screen reading software also plays a vital role in the social life of blind persons. Because of its presence, blind persons can now use computers and have access to the internet. Now, they can also engage themselves in networking sites and find friends. They can now enjoy the benefits of the Internet. Computer games for the blind are also available. Blind persons can play these games by the aid of a screen reader. This special software for the blind is not only for computers; screen readers for cellular phones are also generated. It enables blind persons to use cellular phones and be in touch with anyone at any time. This advancement of technology does not only produce assistive gadgets for persons with disabilities but studies are now being conducted to research on how technology can actually reverse the impairments on a person’s body. Micro chips are being implanted on specific cranial nerves which malfunctioned and special apparatus are accompanied with these procedures in order to restore the damage. One specific example is the experiment done to five blind individuals in the Moorefield Hospital in London wherein microchips were implanted in the optic nerve of these people and after which, they wore a special type of eyeglasses and after the whole procedure, these five blind persons were able to regain their sight. Stem cell implant is also beginning to be known and gaining ground as the cure for what once were incurable diseases. In this procedure, neural cells are being generated on laboratories and these are then implanted on specific damaged parts of a person’s body. The implanted cells then grow and develop to take the place of the damaged body part. All these procedures would not be possible without the help of technology. The good effects or the advantages brought by technology are very obvious, but behind these advantages, there are also bad effects and disadvantages not only to persons with disabilities, but to everybody in general. It is true enough that today, almost everything and anything can be done on the internet including illegal and demoralizing immoral acts done through the internet by the so-called hackers and the personality thieves. Regardless of your disability, if you already have access to the internet, you can already do things that are beyond the control of anyone. Technology can connect and attach you to the society, but it also detaches and disconnects people in some aspects. The personal connection is being sacrificed because of these advancements. Technology truly plays a vital role in the lives of persons with disabilities. Technology is truly life-changing, but the sad part is, despite of all these advancements, everything falls into one big issue of affordability. It is the painful reality that every person with disability faces. The gadgets are available but the means of possessing these gadgets seems to be limited, because not all persons with disabilities can afford to buy these assistive technologies. In fact, according to the National Statistics Office, 75% of persons with disabilities here in the Philippines live in rural areas and belong to the below average type of family. This is probably the reason why despite of the fast evolution and advancement of technology, the Philippines is so slow in being oriented in terms of its awareness on persons with disabilities, considering the very expensive technologies that are needed to enhance their lives. It is the disability sector that is one of the least funded. These facts are indeed disappointing, but on the brighter side, these problems could be eliminated. There are bills crafted and laws passed so that persons with disabilities would be given more preferential attention. Despite the negative side, it is still fair enough to say that information technology truly facilitates a big part in the lives of persons with disabilities. Technology helps persons with disabilities in almost every aspect of life. Technology paves the way to a fulfilling life. Through these current assistive technologies, the number of students with disabilities who attend school increased. A wider range of employment opportunities became available and because of their chance to socialize with other people, the totality of a person with disability is enhanced. Technology evolves and it is continuously growing. It is possible to say that there will be a time in the near future that all kinds of barriers between persons with and without disabilities will be totally eliminated. |
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