There have always been disabilities to hinder human ability. However, as time goes on, human ingenuity has progressed to a point where technology is able to help those who are rendered incapable because of these disabilities. This surge of technological advancement has been crucial in accommodating Elle O'Gorman, Mason, and Lukas Bratcher in their everyday lives.
Elle O'Gorman is a fourteen year old girl with Cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is group of permanent movement disorders that appear early in childhood. The way it reflects in Elle is in her speech. Without technology, people had difficulty interpreting what her needs were because she couldn't communicate them. Her family tried to help by starting with a book chart, where Elle would glance at what she needed. After trying a pathfinder, in which the options were many and overwhelming, the family progressed to having Elle use a laptop with communication software. Soon after this, the family settled on technology called a Dynavox. A Dynavox is an augmentative communication device that helps Elle communicate. According to Jill O'Gorman, Elle's mother, the Dynavox "opened up a lot of doors for Elle in terms of just being able to tell us everything that she wants and needs" (Assistive Technology in Action: Meet Elle). The Dynavox supported Elle in her speech and helped her with her schooling as well as communicating with her peers. The Dynavox has supported Elle and helped her communicate, which makes her one step closer to being the normal girl that she aims to be.
Mason is a visually impaired six year boy who is blind in his left eye and only has a partial retina in his right eye. At school he uses a Mountbatten Brailler, an electronic machine used to type braille. The Mountbatten speaks the letters as Mason types them so he knows that he is spelling correctly. Mason uses the Mountbatten for typing, but this is not the only piece of technology that furthers his education. Mason also uses an iPad for educational games, which is especially useful because the letters are large and the contrast is better, which means that Mason is able to see more. In school, Mason is also able to use the SmartBoard with his classmates, making him seem like every other child in the classroom. It is technology, whether it be the Mountbatten, an iPad, or the SmartBoard in his classroom that supports Mason and allows him to continue to learn at the same pace as the rest of his classmates.
Lukas Bratcher is a high school student with a condition which renders his limbs useless. While there is stiffness in multiple joints in his body, some muscles just aren't there. However, this disability doesn't render Lukas incapable of living his life. With monetary help from the community, a music store was able to create a machine which helped Lukas play the euphonium. Before, Lukas would wait until his part came to a note that he could play. Now, there is a small box with a joystick that triggers solenoids and operates the valves of the horn which allows Lukas to play an entire piece with Jazz, Concert, and Marching Band. Because of this technology, Lukas is able to play as well as, and in some cases, better than many of the students in the band.
It is technology, whether it be the Dynavox, the Mountbatten, or a small box with a joystick attached, which supports all three of these students, Elle, Mason, and Lukas, in their education and their quest to be able to function like normal children.
To learn more about these students, please see these videos:
Elle
Mason
Lukas
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