jadelennox (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jadelennox) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
accessibility_fail2011-03-23 11:13 am
jadelennox) wrote in accessibility_fail2011-03-23 11:13 am
bad advice from a university
How to select adaptive technology as GIFTS for people.
I am utterly appalled. Buying somebody adaptive tech as a gift is a nice idea, but it has to be part of a collaborative process. You can't surprise somebody with adaptive technology. You can work with the recipient to find out something they've been wanting, or you could show them some interesting adaptive technology and explain why you think they might like it.
Even at the lowest tier this is true. I have two bottle openers for screw caps: the one somebody bought me as the gift and the one that works with my hands. One of the things this article suggests is buying people "large-print playing cards, playing card holders, talking dice and/or dice with large labels." Which is a great idea! Except there are number of playing card holders on the market and several of them I know I can't use.
In other words, I reiterate, you cannot surprise people with gifts of adaptive technology. Ask us. Work with us.
Explain how the gift can help them pursue their leisure interests. "Help them recognize that they have a need for this technology," York said. [...] "They need to accept their limitations."
I am utterly appalled. Buying somebody adaptive tech as a gift is a nice idea, but it has to be part of a collaborative process. You can't surprise somebody with adaptive technology. You can work with the recipient to find out something they've been wanting, or you could show them some interesting adaptive technology and explain why you think they might like it.
Even at the lowest tier this is true. I have two bottle openers for screw caps: the one somebody bought me as the gift and the one that works with my hands. One of the things this article suggests is buying people "large-print playing cards, playing card holders, talking dice and/or dice with large labels." Which is a great idea! Except there are number of playing card holders on the market and several of them I know I can't use.
In other words, I reiterate, you cannot surprise people with gifts of adaptive technology. Ask us. Work with us.
no subject
I work as an equipment/tech advisor for disabled students, and I only make suggestions after spending time with my students. And often it's a case of one or two things to TRY and I make it very clear that if something I suggest doesn't work for them, that they know themselves better than I do. I am merely knowledgeable in one area and they are knowledgeable in another and our meeting is to bring those two together.
Often I will say "I am wary about X for reason Y" and sometimes I am right, and sometimes I am wrong. I try to be as honest about my concerns and think about their spoons for new stuff and whatever situation they are in.
I do wish there were more opportunities for disabled people to visit disability/assistance centres. I was taken to one by an occupational therapist of mine as a teen and it was really interesting as well as 50% utterly crap. Some stuff I could see being useful for some people but a lot had been designed by people paternalistically thinking they knew all about disability innit and had missed really crucial things out.