How People with Disabilities Can Use Technology to Overcome Barriers
As disability awareness spreads, so do adaptive technologies that can make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone, not to mention help people from all walks of life overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. People with disabilities, in particular, have a lot to gain by adopting the latest tech tools and contributing their experiences towards accessibility advancements. Today, The Dear Felicia Blog explores some ways you can leverage technology to overcome obstacles in your daily life.
Options for Online Education
Pursuing an education can open the door to new career paths and higher-paying jobs, but traditional school isn’t always accessible for people with disabilities. Thankfully, online schooling is a great alternative. Through online programs, you can earn a degree at your own pace – meaning you don’t have to take time off work or worry about a lack of adequate on-site accommodations.
Accessible Work Opportunities
Just as you can earn your post-secondary credentials online, you can also find a fulfilling job on the internet. Remote jobs are famously flexible. Working remotely will enable you to complete projects how and when it works best for you. As SkipTheDrive explains, this makes it a lot easier to take time off when you need to attend doctor’s appointments or just recover from a difficult week. Plus, you get to design your work environment so that it’s optimized for your individual needs.
Some remote jobs are more flexible than others, so look for work that aligns best with your schedule. You could even launch a business as a freelancer and set your own hours! As long as you have the motivation and self-discipline to work for yourself, freelancing is an excellent path for people looking for flexibility and autonomy.
Adaptive Technology for the Internet
The internet makes it possible for people with disabilities to do nearly anything without leaving the house. However, using the internet isn’t always easy for those with mobility limitations, vision impairments, hearing loss, or cognitive difficulties. The good news is that adaptive equipment and accessibility software exist to help you overcome almost any barriers you may face while navigating the internet, studying online, or working remotely.
Many computers come with built-in tools that enable you to change the size of text or have a voice read the words on the screen. When it comes to computer accessories, look for tools designed with your specific disability in mind. For example, high visibility keyboards include letters and numbers printed in large font while chording keyboards allow you to enter characters and commands by pressing several keys at the same time. You can even get tools that use eye-tracking and voice control technology to navigate the internet.
Access to Entertainment
Beyond serving as a tool for work, education, paying bills, scheduling appointments, and shopping, the internet also exists as a valuable form of entertainment. Online streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Video include accessibility features such as closed captions and audio descriptions for people with vision impairments or hearing loss. Video game companies like Xbox have also started putting effort into accessibility, offering special controllers for people with mobility limitations. You can also get third-party devices that are compatible with mainstream gaming consoles and may work with a wider range of disabilities.
If you have a disability, technology can offer endless opportunities to help you overcome challenges in your everyday life. Whether you’re looking for a job, pursuing an education, or just trying to unwind with a good movie after a long day, technology will help you do the things you want to do. Take advantage of all the tech tools available to you so you can live the life you want!
The Dear Felicia Blog helps people from all walks of life overcome life’s obstacles and invisible challenges. We’d love to hear from you, too!
This post was submitted by Emma Grace Brown of emmagracebrown.com
Photo via Pexels
