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The Disabled Netizen Much of what we read about the Net raves about 'cutting edge', the flashy sexy side. This leads some to dismiss it as an expensive toy, or worse, an immoral distraction. Its hard to reconcile this with my recollection of a young co-worker at a disability centre. His facility with computers and the Net were helping him live with cerebral palsy. With a pencil mounted onto a makeshift headband, he typed university term papers and maintained contact with friends and colleagues via e-mail. This month we learn how Net technology and Web access has benefited a couple of our neighbours with disabilities. Without this technology, their lives would be seriously curtailed, their isolation ensured. Janet describes how she thrives through an online community. She finds her own website allows her expression and companionship. She writes of her situation: "I have Parkinson's disease; I was diagnosed in October 1988 at age 41. I found the Internet in July 1995 and I found the pieNET (the Parkinson's Information Exchange Network) in October 1995 - each discovery changed my life. My website is dedicated to both miracles." Janet offers a poem-commentary on her experience: ------------------------------------------------ a new voice a new voice discovers an accepting and accessible listener a list of people describing struggles and victories communicating through a miraculous medium a list of humans sharing their pain and joy connecting in a profound way a list of siblings becoming a family a new voice <http://www.geocities.com/janet313/index.html> come visit ------------------------------------------------ M. is an Almonte man who has been living with Multiple Sclerosis for several years. He has little strength in his limbs and finds it difficult to type even a few lines. His computer and Net connection extend his abilities far beyond what would have been the case a decade ago when he left a high tech job. As his disability progressed, he used the Net to acquire information about his condition. "I found out about things, experimental treatments, and talked to my doctor about them so he could discuss it with neurologists." The disease moved quickly, soon limiting his hand controls. "Getting the mouse to work is my biggest difficulty". He is starting to explore alternative controls like head controlled or mouth activated systems. He is also experimenting with voice activation. "I’m hoping with voice control I’ll be able to do e-mail, control my computer...." Unlike Janet, M. doesn’t visit group areas or chats. He enjoys supplementing his reading and TV viewing by searching out background details online. "The information on Net is probably the most important part to me. It puts it all at your fingertips, like the Encyclopedia Britannica.". So far he hasn’t used audio or video sites. He does, however, make extensive use of the audio capabilities of his PC to provide a computer-assisted phone service. "(The phone..) opens up the rest of the world. I can talk to friends across Canada, I can do it myself, I’m independent." Technology, partly because of his own technical background, is a favorite topic for M. when friends come to visit. He uses it to stay in touch with distant friends. He even exchanges e-mails with some of the nursing staff who serve him. He is surprised at how some people avoid the technologies which mean so much to his quality of life. "People get afraid of it ..(where I live, other disabled).. people in general are not using it, there’s really no interest here. I thought just how much time I’d spend (if I weren’t disabled) - I’d spend more than I do now." Only 25 years ago, a common image of a persons with disabilities like these two was one of dependence, isolation and severely constrained quality of life. Current technology makes for a richer and more satisfying life. New technologies will only continue these trends. My sincere thanks to both of these folks who shared so openly with me in preparing this report. by Ray Parchelo <A HREF="http://www.realperson.com/sideroad/colmn032K.htm"> http://www.realperson.com/sideroad/colmn032K.htm</A> the Humm <A HREF="http://www.thehumm.com/">http://www.thehumm.com</A> janet paterson 53 now / 41 dx / 37 onset a new voice: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ 613 256 8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario Canada K0A 1A0