Wise’s article focuses on the
disparity between technology available to those in the mainstream and those
with disabilities. He focused on children and how these technologies have
affected their lives. Thought was also given to the social implications of
these new technologies. This article focused on how technological advances have
helped children with disabilities. He defines technology has anything used as a
preventative and therapeutic intervention for which the goal is maximizing
independence. (170)
We often think of technology as anything computer-related,
but Wise discusses everything from vaccines to prevent diseases, to tests for
early diagnosis of conditions, to early intervention therapies to screenings
and prenatal interventions. All of these would be considered a “technology”
of some kind because it is considered an environmental or societal factor that
helps with health, development or social skills. (171) Technological assistive
devices are considered any item, piece of equipment or product system used to
increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of those with
disabilities. (173) These items would help those with disabilities by enhancing
their education, social functioning and capability for lifelong learning.
However, most studies refer to technology in terms of assistive devices.
Wise spends much of the article discussing the social
disparities in these advances. A
shifting mortality rate may cause chronic morbidity but decrease premature births.
New technologies can also cause a reduction and generation of disabling
childhood conditions. For example, in vitro fertilization may result in
multiple births, which may then in turn result in more premature births and/or
more children with disabilities. Medicaid has also come to the forefront in
helping to alleviate the socioeconomic disparities by helping to pay for
technologies for those who qualify. These social disparities in health are
rooted in social forces and societal stratification. (175)
Clinical technologies can help to divorce poverty from its
implications for health; it is seen as a way not to alleviate poverty but
reduce or eliminate its power. (178) The purpose then of these technological
interventions is to eradicate child mortality in reference to social causation.
The efficacy of these new technologies must be evaluated. Social disparities in
mortality are greater for preventable diseases. For example, fertility
treatments such as in vitro fertilization are available to the wealthy, which
may in turn result in more premature births, which may decrease the difference
between premature birth rates in social classes. The disparities in
availability of more expensive items is much greater; for example, the ease of
purchasing a motorized wheelchair. These assistive technologies have a small
niche in the business world, which causes the costs to increase greatly. (184)
Universal design can help to decrease these differences and make them more
readily available to the masses.
Reflection
Wise’s definition of technology was a
new way of thinking about technology for me. I always consider technology
computer-based but Wise definitely had a broader definition. It was intriguing
to think about technology in this new way, in a societal way. I really
responded to the part of the article where he talked about assistive devices
and how there’s a small niche of businesses
that make and provide these devices, which increases the price dramatically. As
a parent of a child with special needs, I am constantly frustrated by the cost
of these “special needs” items and it is due to
the fact that they’re not widely used by the masses.
Wise also stated that when the need for these devices increases, the cost
decreases, which makes them more readily available which makes sense but is,
nonetheless, frustrating. It is extremely difficult to qualify for any
assistance for special needs items when you are employed. Insurance also covers
very little in the way of technologies. As it pertains to assistive
technologies, I see more of a disparity in the other direction, as it is harder
for those of us with two decent incomes to get help to afford these items. They
are also much too expensive to purchase out-of-pocket, which leaves you with
little choice in the matter.
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