Willard McCarty <MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca> (02/03/90)
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 997. Friday, 2 Feb 1990. (1) Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 09:19:58 PLT (6 lines) From: "Guy L. Pace" <PACE@WSUVM1> Subject: administrative bugbears (2) Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 11:20 EST (25 lines) From: <EDHARRIS@CTSTATEU> Subject: dehumanizing? (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Feb 90 09:19:58 PLT From: "Guy L. Pace" <PACE@WSUVM1> Subject: administrative bugbears Just a note to applaud John Slatin's efforts and successes. Keep up the fight, John. (2) --------------------------------------------------------------31---- Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 11:20 EST From: <EDHARRIS@CTSTATEU> Subject: dehumanizing? We have recently begun an assistive technology lab which employs diverse hardware and software to make computers accessible to those to whom they haven't been. Machines that speak what is on the screen are used by blind students, machines that anticipate what will be typed and machines with huge keyboards are used by students with motor disabilities. The machines aren't human, of course, and disabled students remain disabled. Still, as post-secondary education seems continually to imply increasing access to computers, computers are accessible in ways that I think most resources are not, or have not been. Disabled students using computers can do what temporarily able-bodied (as the jargon goes) students using computers can do. There is a level pitch for every course which is enhanced through a student's use of computers. And watching the disabled kids realize they can do this kind of work is a moving sight. A recent article germane to this issue, "Challenging the Myth of Disability," by Alan Brightman appeared in Educom Review 24:4, pp. 17-23. It's available from listserv@bitnic as disabili brightma (I think). Ed. Harris, Academic Affairs Southern Ct State U, New Haven, CT 06515 (203) 397-4320, 397-4207 (Fax)