Vision Of The Future

My vision of the future involving information technology for visually impaired, blind and deaf people, is one allowing freedom of access to information already available for consumption by sighted individuals. It is one of increased independence as a result of advances in information technology, and increased availability of employment for people with vision and hearing disabilities. While this vision may be somewhat idealistic, I believe and can demonstrate through my own experience, that we are on the way to achieving such a vision.

As we move into the twenty-first century, we are moving into a new age: The information age. A revolution has taken us from the constraints of the industrialised 20C world, to a new world in which information means power in an increasingly globalised community. With developments in information technology, I see a future where people with a vision or hearing impairment will have unimpeded access to the flow of information around the globe thereby allowing equality in access to power. With the increased influence of the internet and with the focus shifting to technological change, people with a vision or hearing impairment now have the opportunity to embrace new developments and take advantage of career options previously inaccessible or not yet conceived of.

Previously, people with vision or hearing impairments were limited in their career options by constraints placed upon them by the industrial nature of society. Now with the advances in screen reading capabilities and with access to almost all forms of leading edge technology there are amazing job opportunities. In the future these may range from positions in small business to major company management, from e-commerce to space industry. These opportunities will only present themselves to individuals who are willing to undertake higher education and become experts in technology applications.

As a result of new found opportunities, I believe that people with a vision or hearing impairment will not only be involved in the technological revolution, but will become the creators of technology. It will, at last, be possible for visually impaired and hearing impaired people to shape the world around them. It will allow a reduction of the gap between those who can see and those who can not. Where we previously had visually impaired people we admired as masseurs or radio presenters because they were able to achieve despite adversity, in the future we will see visually impaired people as company executives and prominent leaders. Implications of this include reduction of the stereotyped image of the poor, little blind person who needs help now and then to get along in life. Blindness and deafness as the vaguely respectable disabilities will undergo further reappraisal in terms of their place as labels in society.

It is up to visually and hearing impaired people to take hold of all opportunities which present themselves in this rapidly changing world and educate others about the degree of independence achievable. It will be possible to stand up and make a statement about who they are and form ideas about where they stand in, and what they can contribute, to society. No longer will they have to assume the position of people who must adapt to society. In the future visually and hearing impaired people will adapt society to suit themselves and take an active role in shaping all of our futures.

Please forward any comments or questions to me at chrisba@tpgi.com.au

URL: http://www4.tpg.com.au/users/chrisba/vision.htm