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At the Closing The Gap (CTG) Conference this fall I was invited by the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) to view Freedom Machines, a new documentary film from Richard Cox Productions. As I watched I was reminded of those excellent early films from Apple Computer with examples of individuals with disabilities utilizing technology. Richard Cox is a man who wanted to see the film made and just wouldn't give up. He recruited a full crew to help in the production, including award-winning director, Jamie Stobie and Oscar-nominated Executive Producer, Janet cole. They were able to attract funding from the National Science Foundation, the Independent Television Service with funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, the California Endowment and the Community Technology Fund of California, among others. Early on the filmmakers got the attention of PBS.
With ATA as an advisor on Freedom Machines, filming took place in several ATA centers across the country. Jackie Brand, founder of the ATA, played a significant role in the production of the film and provided commentary in the film as well. The ATA is the key outreach partner for the film and will be a distributor of the film. Freedom Machines was broadcast in September 2004 on PBS's award-winning series P.O.V.
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"Without technology, I couldn't survive." |
The movie has many heroes, people with disabilities who are experiencing success with the help of technology. An outstanding example is Susanna, a bright, determined, and very positive young woman. We see her as a young child who wants to do everything and doesn't want anything to stand in her way. As a high school student she indicates that she can't imagine what life would be like without her computer based assistive technology (AT). Susanna demonstrates her technology by working on a school assignment employing word processing with speech recognition software.
Susanna is a power wheelchair user and we see her filling the role of a soccer sideline referee by speeding along the sideline in her wheelchair. Later we see her graduate from high school and move on to college. For the first time she leaves home and the comfort of her mother always being there to help. However, you can see that early on she has been moving toward independence. If there is an update to this movie some day I'd be willing to bet Susanna will have a graduate degree and a job in oceanography or marine biology.
Another hero is a woman who is blind and dropped out of the school for the blind in Tennessee and graduated from her local public high school after the passage of PL94-142. She wanted a job that was more than running a concession stand. She uses JAWS software to read and send email, search the web for information, prepare sermons, prepare Sunday school lessons, and support her radio ministry. She pointed out that there are now lots of jobs for individuals who are blind including teachers, nurses, and more. Her experience hasn't been that lucky. Although she a whiz on the computer, can scan text, have it read to her, and is a JAWS expert, she hasn't had much luck getting a job that would let her use her obvious skills.
Floyd became quadriplegic in a car accident at the age of 38 and spent 5 years in a nursing home, which he hated. He wanted desperately to get out, but access to AT was very difficult. Eventually he was able to get into a program so he could complete a college degree and is now employed by a center for independent living. He uses a mouth stick and voice input for computer access and now returns to the nursing home in his power wheelchair to encourage others to think about a career that will enable them to leave the nursing home and become as independent as he has. Funding such programs remains a problem that Floyd addresses poignantly.
The film provides views of many more heroes using technology to improve their lives. These stories are positive and inspiring, but in most cases there is also frustration. In many cases the value of the technology is noted, but also the fact that our technology is not perfect. For example, Susanna liked her voice input software, but the demonstration illustrated the errors that occurred and the difficulty in correcting the errors through voice input.
It has been my experience that behind most successful children like Susanna is a strong parent(s) who has provided support, advocacy, and probably fought hard for their children. These parents often give their children enough leeway so that they can become independent and even fail on occasion. I was lucky to know a young man named David who was successful in school and did have technology, but this wouldn't have happened without the help of his parents. As with Susanna, his parents knew the necessity of David becoming independent and supported his desire to travel to California to attend and graduate from the University of California, Berkeley.
No one represents these strong parents better than Jackie Brand. When her daughter, Shoshana, developed multiple disabilities as an infant, the experts encouraged Jackie to be realistic and not expect too much. Her daughter was growing up in California during the computer revolution, but no one knew how it could help. Undaunted, her husband began writing simple computer programs for Shoshana. Then they discovered a very large keyboard from the man who started Unicorn Engineering (later to become IntelliTools Inc.) that seemed to make a big difference for the young girl. Today this young woman is a power computer user who goes online for email and research. She has started her own small business (Blue Rose Videos with a Voice) to rent described videos for those with a visual disability. During the quiet times in a video there will be a description of things like scenery, customs, and facial expressions - things others would see in the video. Fairly early on, as a reaction to frustrations concerning access to technology, Jackie Brand founded the ATA, which now has 37 centers throughout the United States which help people find technology solutions.
For me, Jackie Brand was the most powerful voice in the film. You knew that she had been there from the beginning and had witnessed the great strides and great frustrations of providing technology to all those who would benefit from it. Jackie talked of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires that AT must be considered when developing an IEP for a youngster with disabilities. She also spoke of the promise of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the need for public policy providing greater access to technology for all children and adults with disabilities.
Jackie notes that the public does not have very high expectations for those with disabilities. She would argue that this is our loss because we are ignoring the contributions of a very large part of the population. Fifty-four million people in the U.S. have a disability. Seventy percent of working age adults with a disability are unemployed and many many individuals with a disability live below the poverty level.
Jackie reminded us of the original reaction to the notion of adding curb cuts at every corner. People said curb cuts would be dangerous, too expensive, and no one would actually use them. Now we know that strollers, skateboarders, anything with wheels, and even wheelchairs use curb cuts. Everyone benefits from this simple accommodation.
Jackie feels we are making slow technology progress. We do have some wonderful technology, but we have a very long way to go. A huge roadblock is that so many people don't know that there is technology available that can transform the lives of individuals with disabilities. This technology can provide tools for employment and allows individuals to participate in the world.
Freedom Machines is a significant tool to provide the knowledge people need about the promise of technology. It also shows how far we need to go in this area, what problems exist, and even some ways one could become involved in being part of the solution. What is needed is to get as many people as possible to see this important documentary film, Freedom Machines. Its message needs to be shared with the widest possible audience. I recommend that you visit the Alliance for Technology Access website:
On the website you can obtain help on how to host a screening of Freedom Machines in your community. You can download a screening guide, press release, discussion guide, a 30 second promo, and more. You can check with your local PBS affiliate to find out when they may be re-broadcasting the film, and help promote it in your community. You could also purchase Freedom Machines from the ATA. Be sure to consider their book, Computer Resources for People with Disabilities, 4th Edition. . This is the most recent edition and is full of useful information. There are many other useful resources on the ATA site. For further information on Freedom Machines you could consider:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/freedommachines/index.html
Or
http://www.freedommachines.com/
The ATA will be screening the Freedom Machines at the ATIA Conference on Friday night, Jan 21st at 7:30 in the hotel (with popcorn). All are welcome!
I've given my copy of Freedom Machines to the NEAT Marketplace in Hartford so you can preview it. Contact NEAT at 860-243-2869.
*My thanks to the people at ATA for answering all my questions on the ATA, the film, etc..
© 2005 ConnSENSE Bulletin