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From: Tiffany P.-KU Grad Student
Date: 14 Oct 2006
Time: 20:31:50 -0500
Remote Name: 70.21.195.134
Hi Mr. Badmington. First I must say congratulations on your path to empowerment as a PWS. In reading the title of your essay my gut instinct was that technology=foe because of the crutch and avoidance it can enable, but your story helped me put things into perspective. As a product of "the technological age," I know more people who use e-mail to send cards, resumes, and thank-you letters than I care to admit. This technology while great has led to an enormous deficiency in the ability of many to actually practice penmanship and proper letter writing. Although I wouldn't want to give-up e-mail, text messaging, etc., I think the hole that it leaves in developing appropriate communication skills is analagous to your point. Your realization that the assistive technology should be used in conjunction with therapy is right on because it allows users to function immediately while developing their communicative skills in a way that is more long term.