AAPD Speaks on future of Computing for PWD

From the American Association of People with Disabilities (10.26.10):

AAPD Staffer Speaks on Cloud Computing for People with Cognitive Disabilities

On October 20, 2010, Jenifer Simpson, AAPD’s Senior Director of Governmental Affairs, spoke on a panel entitled "Potential Benefits, Opportunities, and Challenges of Cloud Computing for People with Disabilities, Families, Caregivers and Advocates," held at the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities  at the University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, CO and organized by Silicon Flatirons. The day long event focused on accessibility of technology and communications as "cloud computing" advances.  Cloud computing is a general term used to describe Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like electricity. Experts believe that this is the overall trend in computing, with more and more products, services and business processes shifting onto Internet platforms and technologies. The keynote address by Bill Coleman on the history and development of the Internet emphasized this movement and how by 2040 everything will be transformed.

Jenifer spoke specifically on the need for accessibility and usability of medical records as more and more health care and intellectual disability services systems shift onto the Internet as a means of service delivery. She also spoke on how assistive technologies could work better for some people with disabilities, such as users of alternative and augmentative communication devices, where Internet resources could provide back-up and greater computing power through the distributive nature of the Internet.  Other speakers addressed similar topics, including the connection with the National Broadband Plan, the federal commitment to deploy further the Internet across the nation.

Some highlights from the conversations at the event:
Bill Coleman, benefactor of the Coleman Institute and the event’s keynote speaker said that "the next 10 years are critical for people with intellectual disabilities in regard to how the web and internet develops as we are at an inflection or critical stage in development."   Ann Caldwell of The ARC, a co-panelist with Jenifer Simpson, noted that "when the lights go off and electricity is down, it's neighbors, friends and family who are most important, not the technology."  She also added that "making technology usable for people with intellectual disabilities is not the same as making it usable for people who are aging."   Peter Blanck of the Burton Blatt Institute, stated that "the recently enacted 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act is a most important and disruptive technology law for people with disabilities."  David Braddock, Executive Director of the Coleman Institute, remarked that "if more computer science students attended Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)'s annual conference, and similar such events held by people with intellectual disabilities, technology would be better designed for people with intellectual disabilities." 

>>More on the Coleman Institute
>>More on Silicon Flatirons
>>Podcast of the event

Comments

[Advocacy for the Disabled]

Before we all jump for joy on the uploading of medical records, read your own hospitalization records, first. Every instance we have reviewed contained serious, VERY SERIOUS, errors. The worst were in a medical school's hospital. Getting them changed is impossible, in fact, the administrator of that last hospital refused to communicate with the patients who reported the errors, and they included a statement of long-term hypertension, yet a following statement that it "will be addressed after discharge" but - the patient had low blood pressure; however, throughout his hospital stay they kept giving him medication to lower his blood pressure, and his protests were of no importance.