WEBVTT

00:00:04.490 --> 00:00:06.670
>> Clarissa: We are all like,
different people.

00:00:06.670 --> 00:00:08.170
We can't be the same.

00:00:08.170 --> 00:00:09.459
We are all imperfect.

00:00:09.459 --> 00:00:13.620
>> Antonio: The concept of trying
to use technology

00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:17.810
to create a utopian society
is interesting, to say the least.

00:00:17.810 --> 00:00:21.060
>> Stuart: One thing I am
always being asked about,

00:00:21.060 --> 00:00:23.340
the Olympics and
the Paralympics.

00:00:23.340 --> 00:00:27.800
I do believe in 10, 20 years
a Paralympian will be faster

00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:30.369
than a human, than a person
without a disability.

00:00:30.369 --> 00:00:33.580
>> Dewald: Why would you change
your natural ability?

00:00:35.720 --> 00:00:45.780
[music]

00:00:55.760 --> 00:00:57.440
>> Sheryl: My name is
Sheryl Burgstahler.

00:00:57.449 --> 00:01:02.559
I direct Accessible Technology Services
at the University of Washington.

00:01:02.559 --> 00:01:05.070
Science and technology has
progressed to a point

00:01:05.070 --> 00:01:08.900
where we might be able to
eliminate certain disabilities.

00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:12.130
But just because we can,
should we?

00:01:12.130 --> 00:01:13.920
We talked to some students
with disabilities

00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:16.759
and we asked them
to answer that question.

00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:24.659
>> Nolan: I like the idea of kind of
using technology to help people out,

00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:30.729
to advance the human race,

00:01:30.729 --> 00:01:35.850
but at the same time it
creates this whole dilemma of

00:01:35.850 --> 00:01:39.270
at what point does
it become too much?

00:01:39.270 --> 00:01:44.819
>> Courtney: I can personally say that
technology has definitely helped me

00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:47.650
to access things that otherwise I
wouldn't be able to access

00:01:47.650 --> 00:01:53.049
and I think progression
for technology

00:01:53.049 --> 00:01:56.340
is definitely beneficial
to people with disabilities

00:01:56.340 --> 00:02:00.840
but I think there’s definitely
a line between something like

00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:05.640
a more improved wheelchair
and an exoskeleton

00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:08.259
for someone in a wheelchair
to be able to walk

00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:12.670
and I think the difference
between those two things is

00:02:12.670 --> 00:02:16.660
one seeks to improve the life
of the person with a disability

00:02:16.660 --> 00:02:19.000
or make access easier for them.

00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.810
The other one seeks
to eliminate disability.

00:02:22.810 --> 00:02:27.730
And I think that is a key difference
that a lot of able-bodied people

00:02:27.730 --> 00:02:30.700
who don't have a lot of
experience with disability miss.

00:02:30.700 --> 00:02:34.690
>> Shelby: I know everything probably has
a little bit of a disadvantages

00:02:34.690 --> 00:02:38.170
but if something’s going to help you
be able to complete a task,

00:02:38.170 --> 00:02:41.920
and you’re still using your brain power
and understanding what needs to happen

00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:43.540
then I think it’s great.

00:02:44.100 --> 00:02:47.040
>> Courtney: I think that if that is
something that you personally really want,

00:02:47.050 --> 00:02:49.900
you want to be better,
you want to be this extra human

00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:51.600
that should be an option.

00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:53.450
But it should not be a requirement.

00:02:53.450 --> 00:02:56.740
Like I personally am
very happy how I am.

00:02:56.740 --> 00:02:59.920
I would not change a
single thing about myself.

00:02:59.920 --> 00:03:03.120
If I was given the option
tomorrow to walk, I wouldn't.

00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:04.730
I love my life.

00:03:04.730 --> 00:03:10.490
>> Antonio: Instead of trying to use technology
to create the perfect human being,

00:03:10.490 --> 00:03:12.440
we should focus more on

00:03:12.440 --> 00:03:15.130
just trying to deal with the
issues at hand in terms of

00:03:15.130 --> 00:03:18.790
creating a society that
is equally accessible

00:03:18.790 --> 00:03:22.210
for people who are currently
not able to have

00:03:22.210 --> 00:03:24.440
the same opportunities
as others.

00:03:25.540 --> 00:03:28.760
>> Niki: For some of my friends
who have disabilities

00:03:28.760 --> 00:03:33.090
that are putting,
shortening their lives,

00:03:33.090 --> 00:03:34.990
and there's technology that is

00:03:34.990 --> 00:03:37.120
bringing out new studies,
bringing out new drugs

00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.730
that are going to help them get
stronger and be able to live longer

00:03:40.730 --> 00:03:42.620
I think that stuff is great.

00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:46.570
But I also do see where
it's problematic in

00:03:46.570 --> 00:03:50.290
trying to force people
to become more "normal"

00:03:50.290 --> 00:03:51.980
and when they don't
necessarily want to be.

00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:55.930
Why do we need to fix everyone
and fix everything?

00:03:55.930 --> 00:04:00.800
So I think it's just up to
the person themselves and

00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.480
if they want you know certain parts
of their disabilities to be not

00:04:04.480 --> 00:04:07.040
a part of their lives
they have that option

00:04:07.040 --> 00:04:09.820
then that's great for them

00:04:09.820 --> 00:04:11.600
but I don't think it
should be forced upon anyone

00:04:11.600 --> 00:04:12.820
and that societal pressure

00:04:12.820 --> 00:04:15.160
shouldn't be, you know,

00:04:15.160 --> 00:04:18.840
you have to do this
because it's available.

00:04:20.920 --> 00:04:22.700
>> Clarissa: We cannot be perfect

00:04:22.710 --> 00:04:26.800
so I think like the
differences between us

00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.669
even though if it's like
disability or not.

00:04:30.669 --> 00:04:34.759
It's what makes us special
and stands out

00:04:34.760 --> 00:04:39.480
so we should be proud
of that I think.

00:04:41.200 --> 00:04:45.020
>> Courtney: If I were talking
to scientists developing

00:04:45.030 --> 00:04:48.720
the next round or the next
generation of technology,

00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.000
the first thing I
would say to them is,

00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:55.210
"Do you have a disabled person
on your team?"

00:04:55.210 --> 00:04:58.439
Because the best way to
make things more accessible

00:04:58.440 --> 00:05:02.610
is to include people with disabilities
in the creation process.

00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:06.360
>> Stuart: The goal of technology
is to make people’s lives easier

00:05:06.370 --> 00:05:12.999
and I don’t see how having somebody
who has lost their legs

00:05:12.999 --> 00:05:16.919
and trying to get them to walking
is a negative thing.

00:05:16.919 --> 00:05:21.659
I don’t know maybe
200 years from today

00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:25.770
when robotics improves
and takes over the world

00:05:25.770 --> 00:05:27.860
that could be some other discussion.

00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:31.820
>> Linsey: There is a very fine line

00:05:31.830 --> 00:05:34.310
where we have this technology
available to people

00:05:34.310 --> 00:05:37.930
to better their ability to
get around in the world but then

00:05:37.930 --> 00:05:41.900
we also have to be sure that we're not
assuming that they want this technology

00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:44.840
because it's going to
quote unquote cure them.

00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:47.360
Or make them
more able-bodied.

00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:48.699
We should be
asking the question,

00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:51.220
"Do you want this technology because,

00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:53.569
not because it's going to make you
more, like, able-bodied

00:05:53.569 --> 00:05:56.969
but is it actually going to improve
your life as a disabled person

00:05:56.969 --> 00:05:59.930
able to get around and accommodate you
with the things you need help with?"

00:05:59.930 --> 00:06:05.860
Instead of trying to get people to kind of
merge toward this one standardized version

00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:08.039
of what the body
should be able to do.

00:06:09.200 --> 00:06:11.819
>> Shelby: So maybe one of the
tools is having a hand

00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:15.650
or some type of device
that can help them climb.

00:06:15.650 --> 00:06:18.140
I think that’s awesome.

00:06:18.260 --> 00:06:21.820
But really the key thing is that
they want that for themselves.

00:06:21.829 --> 00:06:26.620
>> Courtney: Being disabled and
living life is completely worthwhile.

00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:27.969
The thing that makes it challenging

00:06:27.969 --> 00:06:33.689
is the fact that systems are not built
with people with disabilities in mind

00:06:33.689 --> 00:06:35.870
and so the change that
really needs to happen

00:06:35.870 --> 00:06:38.129
more than fixing
people with disabilities

00:06:38.129 --> 00:06:43.539
is changing our society to be accessible
for people with disabilities

00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:49.529
to be able to have access to all the things
that everyone else accesses.

00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:55.979
>> Dewald: Why would you
not want to be yourself?

00:06:55.979 --> 00:07:00.870
I feel like that would
change who you are.

00:07:00.870 --> 00:07:04.939
There are so many little things
that make up you as a person,

00:07:04.939 --> 00:07:08.279
why should you care
if there are little flaws?

00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:13.370
As long as you're
a great person as a whole.

00:07:13.370 --> 00:07:16.930
>> Courtney: Humans will never
be without disability.

00:07:16.930 --> 00:07:19.270
It's written into
our physical existence

00:07:19.270 --> 00:07:24.419
that as we age it's
almost certain that we will

00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:26.060
develop some kind of disability.

00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:28.200
Having a disability
is completely natural.

00:07:28.260 --> 00:07:30.720
It just happens earlier
for some people.