8:02pm August 19, 2014

“One of the oppositions to assistive technology is that it’s a crutch. To that, I would say, can you pass me your glasses? Can you read this? Your glasses are not a crutch,” said assistive technology consultant Karen Janowski. “It’s not a crutch if it promotes success, confidence, and mastery, but mostly independence.”

Speech Apps to Smart Pens: Tech Aids Students With Learning Disabilities

the crutch analogy is so terrible. crutches are not bad! people use them for mobility! neither are glasses or ipads or wheelchairs or any other assistive technology.

(via disabilityhistory)

John Hockenberry’s dad told him “You’re using your wheelchair as a crutch.” And John was like “Uh.. if I could use crutches I probably wouldn’t use the wheelchair so much…” and his dad thought he missed the point, but I see that as a wry joke on the whole idea of ‘using assistive technology as a crutch’ as if crutches are bad.

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