Driving home from my first Assistive Technology course, I listened to "Ideas", a CBC radio program. The course instructor, Barbara Welsford, asked us to set up a blog entry following the course, and I was waiting for some inspiration for my first blog entry.
"Ideas" featured a documentary--"Remembering Polio". As I listened, I was struck by the continuation of the themes explored in our AT class. Barbara had shared with us videos of individuals using a variety of supports that they needed to continue being involved with life.
I think of Marie-France Bru who types using a switch access software and a muscular switch attached to her jaw. Such use of technology really inspires me... so practical in its function, and so creative in its expression.
In "Remembering Polio", one woman shared a story about needing to wear braces and orthopedic shoes . She hated them, and longed to be able to wear "pretty shoes"! On her wedding day, she wore her "pretty shoes", and in the first week of marriage, she threw out her "supports" (as she called them) and for a whole year, endured callouses ... and much pain. After a year, she did return to her "assistive supports".
With all the advances in technology, and with so many creative applications, just imagine... if this woman were to wed in 2008, how gorgeous and comfortable those wedding shoes could be!!
After the "Ideas" program, I 'googled' to find out more about polio ... I discovered Drive-Master, founded in 1952 by Alan B. Ruprecht after he had become seriously disabled from adult polio. This is a quote from the website: "(Ruprecht) soon realized that there was little he could do without the freedom of driving his automobile. Unfortunately, the hand controls available at the time were too costly and poorly constructed. Using his engineering background and vast experience with cars and metals, he designed the Drive-Master push-pull hand control system to operate the gas and the brake by hand. "
Marie-France Bru, our bride (whose name I can not remember!), and Alan B. Ruprecht... only a mere sample of individuals whose lives are shaped and transformed by assistive technology.
*Catherine*
Dynamic Boards
16 years ago
