bad advice from a university

[jadelennox]

How to select adaptive technology as GIFTS for people.

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.

Comments

[amadi]

All of these ideas came from someone at the National Center for Accessibility.

The National Center for Accessibility.

I called the phone number at the bottom of the article, presuming I'd be connected to the "journalist" so that I could ask if they spoke to any actual PWDs before writing this dreck ("make sure the technology is easy to understand" because crips and old folk don't understand complicated stuff, every single one of us needs the simplest things available) and instead I was appallingly connected directly to said center.

I wanted to ask for this York person to ask where these ideas had come from but I didn't have the spoons to challenge it all thoughtfully so I just hung up.

But someone empowered to be quoted in universally released media by The National Center for Accessibility thinks this way about us.

I don't even know what to do with that.

[rydra_wong]

"Help them recognize that they have a need for this technology," York said. [...] "They need to accept their limitations."

AAAAAAARGH. Gift-giving as a way of bullying someone into accepting that they need something they don't think they need; if they don't want it, obviously they're in denial about their "limitations."

[pauraque]

Yeah, people always love passive-aggressive gifts. Don't get them what they want, get them what YOU think they ought to have!

[trouble]

This ... just... I...

No.

[jalendavi_lady]

Beyond the rest of the fail...

"Select subtle over glitz. Select a technology that is assistive to the recipient without calling attention to them. "People with disabilities typically do not want to use something that makes them stick out too or be different from others," York said. "If the gift technology stands out too much they may not embrace it even if they do need it." "

Um yeah, I'm pretty sure the medical supply store around here specializing in walkers and canes has that many floral and otherwise patterned canes in multiple grip and footing designs because people actually want them, not because it makes the front displays pretty.

[adrian_turtle]

I read it differently. I thought it was pretty clear that they were talking about a specific subset of people with disabilities--people with gradual progressive impairments, who don't think of themselves as disabled because they weren't disabled a few years ago. Sudden changes after illness or injury can make a person start thinking of themselves as disabled, but it's easy to ignore gradual changes.

It's still easier for me to think "I used to really enjoy X, but it doesn't seem to be worth the trouble anymore," instead of thinking about why X has become so difficult recently and looking for ways to adapt it. That's for me, after years of disability awareness. I'd expect it to be even more challenging for somebody who was also working against ageism, without the support of organized disability awareness.

[yarram]

"They need to accept their limitations."

o.O

Yaknow, I think I know my own limitations pretty damned well. Sometimes I have a damned good reason for fighting a limitation, especially if it's externally-imposed or the result of TABs' failure of imagination. Sometimes it's sheer bull-headedness.

...and sometimes, like children, I test limits just to prove to myself what they really are. I've been pleasantly surprised more often than not.

That quote just absolutely drips with condescension, even in cases where it might possibly be true.

[barakta]

Argh yes annoying.

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.

[sami]

What the hell?

I'm trying to think of a way to rephrase "Help them recognise they have a need for this technology" so that it's more condescending, but I'm kind of failing.

My parents are getting older. I wouldn't dream of buying my mother a new phone that's extra-simple with great big buttons, because if she wanted one, that would be HER DAMN CHOICE, and she would either buy it herself or tell me she wanted it. I select gifts for people I love on the basis of will this make them happy, not will this show them how I only think of them in terms of their disability/increasing decrepitude.

[pauamma]

What are the chances that whoever came up with this would get it if provided (in great ceremony) with shoes bought without their advice or knowledge?