0:00:04.490,0:00:06.670
>> Clarissa: We are all like,[br]different people.

0:00:06.670,0:00:08.170
We can't be the same.

0:00:08.170,0:00:09.459
We are all imperfect.

0:00:09.459,0:00:13.620
>> Antonio: The concept of trying[br]to use technology

0:00:13.620,0:00:17.810
to create a utopian society[br]is interesting, to say the least.

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>> Stuart: One thing I am[br]always being asked about,

0:00:21.060,0:00:23.340
the Olympics and[br]the Paralympics.

0:00:23.340,0:00:27.800
I do believe in 10, 20 years[br]a Paralympian will be faster

0:00:27.800,0:00:30.369
than a human, than a person[br]without a disability.

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>> Dewald: Why would you change[br]your natural ability?

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[music]

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>> Sheryl: My name is[br]Sheryl Burgstahler.

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I direct Accessible Technology Services[br]at the University of Washington.

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Science and technology has[br]progressed to a point

0:01:05.070,0:01:08.900
where we might be able to[br]eliminate certain disabilities.

0:01:08.900,0:01:12.130
But just because we can,[br]should we?

0:01:12.130,0:01:13.920
We talked to some students[br]with disabilities

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and we asked them[br]to answer that question.

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>> Nolan: I like the idea of kind of[br]using technology to help people out,

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to advance the human race,

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but at the same time it[br]creates this whole dilemma of

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at what point does[br]it become too much?

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>> Courtney: I can personally say that[br]technology has definitely helped me

0:01:44.819,0:01:47.650
to access things that otherwise I[br]wouldn't be able to access

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and I think progression[br]for technology

0:01:53.049,0:01:56.340
is definitely beneficial[br]to people with disabilities

0:01:56.340,0:02:00.840
but I think there’s definitely[br]a line between something like

0:02:00.840,0:02:05.640
a more improved wheelchair[br]and an exoskeleton

0:02:05.640,0:02:08.259
for someone in a wheelchair[br]to be able to walk

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and I think the difference[br]between those two things is

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one seeks to improve the life[br]of the person with a disability

0:02:16.660,0:02:19.000
or make access easier for them.

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The other one seeks[br]to eliminate disability.

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And I think that is a key difference[br]that a lot of able-bodied people

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who don't have a lot of[br]experience with disability miss.

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>> Shelby: I know everything probably has[br]a little bit of a disadvantages

0:02:34.690,0:02:38.170
but if something’s going to help you[br]be able to complete a task,

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and you’re still using your brain power[br]and understanding what needs to happen

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then I think it’s great.

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>> Courtney: I think that if that is[br]something that you personally really want,

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you want to be better,[br]you want to be this extra human

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that should be an option.

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But it should not be a requirement.

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Like I personally am[br]very happy how I am.

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I would not change a[br]single thing about myself.

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If I was given the option[br]tomorrow to walk, I wouldn't.

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I love my life.

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>> Antonio: Instead of trying to use technology[br]to create the perfect human being,

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we should focus more on

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just trying to deal with the[br]issues at hand in terms of

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creating a society that[br]is equally accessible

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for people who are currently[br]not able to have

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the same opportunities[br]as others.

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>> Niki: For some of my friends[br]who have disabilities

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that are putting,[br]shortening their lives,

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and there's technology that is

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bringing out new studies,[br]bringing out new drugs

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that are going to help them get[br]stronger and be able to live longer

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I think that stuff is great.

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But I also do see where[br]it's problematic in

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trying to force people[br]to become more "normal"

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and when they don't[br]necessarily want to be.

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Why do we need to fix everyone[br]and fix everything?

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So I think it's just up to[br]the person themselves and

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if they want you know certain parts[br]of their disabilities to be not

0:04:04.480,0:04:07.040
a part of their lives[br]they have that option

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then that's great for them

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but I don't think it[br]should be forced upon anyone

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and that societal pressure

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shouldn't be, you know,

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you have to do this[br]because it's available.

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>> Clarissa: We cannot be perfect

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so I think like the[br]differences between us

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even though if it's like[br]disability or not.

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It's what makes us special[br]and stands out

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so we should be proud[br]of that I think.

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>> Courtney: If I were talking[br]to scientists developing

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the next round or the next[br]generation of technology,

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the first thing I[br]would say to them is,

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"Do you have a disabled person[br]on your team?"

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Because the best way to[br]make things more accessible

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is to include people with disabilities[br]in the creation process.

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>> Stuart: The goal of technology[br]is to make people’s lives easier

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and I don’t see how having somebody[br]who has lost their legs

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and trying to get them to walking[br]is a negative thing.

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I don’t know maybe[br]200 years from today

0:05:21.659,0:05:25.770
when robotics improves[br]and takes over the world

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that could be some other discussion.

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>> Linsey: There is a very fine line

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where we have this technology[br]available to people

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to better their ability to[br]get around in the world but then

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we also have to be sure that we're not[br]assuming that they want this technology

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because it's going to[br]quote unquote cure them.

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Or make them[br]more able-bodied.

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We should be[br]asking the question,

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"Do you want this technology because,

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not because it's going to make you[br]more, like, able-bodied

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but is it actually going to improve[br]your life as a disabled person

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able to get around and accommodate you[br]with the things you need help with?"

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Instead of trying to get people to kind of[br]merge toward this one standardized version

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of what the body[br]should be able to do.

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>> Shelby: So maybe one of the[br]tools is having a hand

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or some type of device[br]that can help them climb.

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I think that’s awesome.

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But really the key thing is that[br]they want that for themselves.

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>> Courtney: Being disabled and[br]living life is completely worthwhile.

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The thing that makes it challenging

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is the fact that systems are not built[br]with people with disabilities in mind

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and so the change that[br]really needs to happen

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more than fixing[br]people with disabilities

0:06:38.129,0:06:43.539
is changing our society to be accessible[br]for people with disabilities

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to be able to have access to all the things[br]that everyone else accesses.

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>> Dewald: Why would you[br]not want to be yourself?

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I feel like that would[br]change who you are.

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There are so many little things[br]that make up you as a person,

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why should you care[br]if there are little flaws?

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As long as you're[br]a great person as a whole.

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>> Courtney: Humans will never[br]be without disability.

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It's written into[br]our physical existence

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that as we age it's[br]almost certain that we will

0:07:24.420,0:07:26.060
develop some kind of disability.

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Having a disability[br]is completely natural.

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It just happens earlier[br]for some people.