Paying For It

 Disability  No Responses »
Jul 082013
 

The Times looks at efforts by people with disabilities in France to legalize sexual surrogacy services. France allows prostitution to a certain extent, but sexual surrogacy (the kind of sex-as-therapy service depicted in the movie The Sessions) is not allowed and the French government doesn’t seem inclined to join other European countries, like Germany and Switzerland, that have legalized the practice.

Until technology finally produces a functional and affordable sexbot, the issue of how people with disabilities can express their sexuality is going to remain fraught with emotion and controversy. It’s a subject that forces people to confront some conflicting notions about the nature of sex and love in a modern society. We want to believe that everyone can enjoy sex in the context of a relationship that is free of any commercial taint. But we also recognize that none of us is promised such a relationship. And for people with disabilities, opportunities to even seek a relationship can be rare. So, should those people with disabilities who can’t find a romantic partner be allowed access to sex workers (another marginalized population)? And if commercial sex is an acceptable option for people with disabilities, shouldn’t it be acceptable for everyone else?

As another gimp who has experienced his share of sexual frustration, I get where these activists are coming from. But I’m not sure I agree with their attempts to frame the debate in quasi-medical terms. Sex work is sex work and we do ourselves and sex workers a disservice by trying to behind the kind of medicalized language that, in other settings, provokes a lot of outrage from the disability community. We can’t duck behind the medical model when it might help us get laid. If someone wants to pay for sex, fine. I’m not sure the government should subsidize the activity for anyone, but that’s the extent of my qualms. I’m sure plenty of sex workers would be happy to see clients with disabilities without having to receive any additional training or certification.

But good on the French for having the debate. We Americans can’t seem to discuss gimp sex without a lot of nervous giggling and awkward silence.

Alternate Input Device

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jun 282013
 

9to5Mac uncovers a new accessibility option in the forthcoming iOS7 that allows users to control an iPhone or iPad using head movement. A video at the link offers a demonstration of the head gesture system. I probably don’t have enough head movement to make this work for me, but I’m sure others will be able to make good use of the feature. What intrigues me more about this function is that it appears to support other kinds of switches to mimic touch gestures. Will this be the key to me finally being able to turn pages independently? Stay tuned.

Smile!

 Disability  No Responses »
Jun 212013
 

We’ll close the week with a story about a boy in a wheelchair and a class picture. 7-year-old Miles earned some attention on the Internet when his 2nd-grade class photo showed him posed in his wheelchair and at a noticeable distance from the rest of his class:

The first version of the photo of the second-graders at Herbert Spencer Elementary in New Westminster, British Columbia.

There probably wasn’t any ill intent here; just a clueless photographer and a teacher who could have been a better advocate for her student. Eventually, the school arranged for the photo to be re-taken:

 

Miles Ambridge sits with his class — and without his wheelchair — in a new class photo. The original version, which upset his parents and elicited sympathy from around the world, had Miles at the edge of the frame in his wheelchair. In this one he’s in the first row, at far right.

Sometimes, integration requires a little shove from the Internet.

Thanks to Rose for the tip.

The Future Goes Local

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Jun 052013
 

It’s no giant robot with laser cannons, but researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a brain-computer interface that can control a toy helicopter. They emphasize that the interface only requires a sensor cap; no implants are necessary. Here’s a video of the team demonstrating the technology:

So, how long before I can sign up with the Air Force for fighter pilot training? Or perhaps I could be a drone operator for some intelligence agency. I could even work from home!

Gimp Semiotics

 Disability  No Responses »
May 282013
 

Some academic types have come up with a replacement for the international disability symbol. The new symbol is meant to be less passive and more “progressive”.

The disability community has plenty of barriers confronting us. Public signage isn’t one of them. A new icon isn’t going to prevent some jerk from parking in that one disability spot that has room for my ramp.

And does this mean we have to abandon all other versions of the symbol? Because I’m quite fond of this one:

Bad Medicine

 Disability, Health Care  1 Response »
May 272013
 

The Times examines the reasons why people with disabilities continue to receive substandard medical care. Most outpatient clinics are ill-equipped to serve patients with disabilities, particularly those of us who have limited or zero mobility. The staff have little training on how to safely transfer people with disabilities and the exam rooms lack accessible equipment. As a result, people with disabilities may only receive partial exams that may overlook potential problems.

I experienced this firsthand a couple months ago when I went to see my doctor with what turned out to be a urinary tract infection. The exam room lacked a table that would allow me to lie prone, which made it difficult for the doctor to examine me. She nearly sent me home to collect a urine sample, which would have only delayed my diagnosis and treatment. It might have made more sense for me to simply go to the emergency room, but I shouldn’t be forced to visit the ER to receive adequate care for a relatively minor issue.

The Future Isn’t Quite Now

 Disability, Tech  No Responses »
Apr 302013
 

The Times looks at the commercial promise of neural interfaces and concludes that the crude devices available on the market today will seem archaic in just a couple years. I’ve read enough of pieces like this over the years to realize that tech journalists lack a functioning hype filter. As much as I’d like to believe otherwise, the sixth- or seventh-gen iPad probably isn’t going to include a neural connection. We have yet to understand how to accurately decode brain signals using noninvasive hardware, much less figure out how to cheaply produce that hardware. I have no doubt we’ll eventually see such tech emerge, but it’s probably not as imminent as this article would have you believe.

Please Remain Seated

 Disability  2 Responses »
Apr 222013
 

I’m hoping to travel to San Francisco sometime this year to visit my brother. And while I’m looking forward to seeing him and exploring the Bay Area again, I don’t look forward to flying again. For us gimps, flying can be an uncomfortable hassle that forces us to abandon our wheelchairs and sit in seats that are not designed to accommodate our unique anatomies. Then there’s the added stress of wondering whether our wheelchairs will arrive intact once we reach our destination. It’s enough to make someone start a petition to require airlines to allow wheelchairs in the passenger sections of airplanes. On-line petitions probably don’t carry much weight, but I signed it anyway because I’d someday like to fly without choreographing the whole endeavor.

Up-And-Comer

 Disability  No Responses »
Apr 082013
 

Even though I may lose my last few remaining readers as a result, I invite you to check out Shane Burcaw’s blog entitled Laughing at My Nightmare. Shane is an engaging writer who brings a sense of humor to his stories about living with spinal muscular atrophy. He’s also younger and better looking than me, although I’m trying to not let that color my assessment of his talent. Shane also answered questions about his disability on a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread. Reddit alternately fascinates and frightens me, so Shane is also much braver than me. In short, I don’t know why you’re still here when you could be reading Shane’s blog.

A Few Thoughts On Disability Benefits

 Disability, Wonkery  2 Responses »
Mar 292013
 

NPR is receiving significant flak for its recent series of reports entitled “Unfit for Work”, which looks at the increasing enrollment in the federal Social Security disability program. Disability advocates accuse NPR of generalizing about beneficiaries based on anecdotal stories of individuals who happen to live in economically depressed areas and have little education. They also point out that disability programs provide vital support to millions of people who would otherwise be forced to live in abject poverty.

These are fair criticisms, but both NPR and advocates fail to address some key points about disability benefits:

  • The Health Care Angle: Disability benefits provide cash assistance, but they also provide much-needed access to Medicare and Medicaid. For people struggling with physical and mental health issues and no access to health insurance, this is a lifeline. They can receive treatment for their conditions and, in many cases, their health stabilizes or even improves. While Obamacare will improve access to health insurance, it does not require private plans to cover many of the specialized services that people with disabilities need. And those medical benefits disappear if disability benefits end. Which brings me to my next point…
  • It’s A Trap!: Disability benefits are not designed to end. If an individual earns more than a few hundred dollars per month, they lose eligibility for both cash and health care benefits. This leaves beneficiaries in quandary. They can abstain from working and receive sufficient benefits to address their basic needs. Or they can attempt to work and risk losing the supports that have provided some semblance of stability in their lives. For most people, it’s not much of a choice
  • Some Things Never Change: Disability and employment are still viewed as mutually exclusive concepts by policymakers, bureaucrats, and ordinary people. Rather than regarding disability as a continuum where individuals might require varying levels of support, our laws treat disability in binary terms. Either you are disabled and you can look forward to a lifetime of subsidized poverty. Or you aren’t disabled and you’re on your own when it comes to finding health care and any other supports you might need. Advocates become understandably defensive when disability benefits are questioned, but we shouldn’t be hesitant to question the assumptions and prejudices that inform our policies. The world is changing. Disability benefits were designed at a time when we were still an industrial nation, but that isn’t true anymore. We can still provide economic security for people with disabilities while giving them the opportunity to explore the possibilities of work.

 

 Older Entries  Newer Entries