WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:04.490 --> 00:00:06.670 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 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 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 Why would you change your natural ability? 00:00:35.720 --> 00:00:45.780 [music] 00:00:55.760 --> 00:00:57.440 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.