Week 3 (again) Assistive Technology

I caught Oprah the other day and saw assistive tchnology in a new way. Her guest was film critic Roger Ebert, a survivor of throat cancer that left him unable to speak/produce sound. He used an amazing computer that allowed him to communicate. He also had been working with scientists/engineers in Scotland to create technology that could actually approximate the sound of his real voice (as opposed to the more robotic sounding computer voice). His wife was so excited and said she hadn't heard his voice since 2006. The whole thing was so emotional and inspiring. I know this particular technology is probably cost prohibitive in the education world but I am reminded that new assistive technology is constantly being developed. Its use can ensure equal access to information and participation in educational, social and civic life. The concept of universal design is so important. As new schools (with libraries) are being constructed in LAUSD I wonder if they are designed/built using UD principles.

Here is a link to a Washington Post article on the Oprah-Ebert interview.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030201365.html