[Athen] Alternate and Assistive

[Cyrus Hamilton]

Thanks for all the great feedback!

Ron- Thanks for the AIM reference. I'm looking at it now!

John- I agree that disability is nothing to be ashamed of, and greatly value your feedback. However, I do not think that finding a more thoughtful way to identify alternate formats embraces a negative model of disability. The "dis" in disability does that just fine. The prefix- "dis" literally means that something is less than, set apart, or sub-standard.

I also agree that calling things by different names can be confusing, which is why I wonder if there is a general consensus on the topic. I liken the evolution of using "alternate" and "assistive" to that of the term, "handicapped", to "disabled person", to "Person with a Disability".

-Cyrus


Cyrus Hamilton
Cornell University
Student Disability Services
www.sds.cornell.edu<http://www.sds.cornell.edu/>

Tel. 607 254-4545
Fax 607 255-1562

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From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of John Elmer
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 2:11 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Alternate and Assistive

I am not sure I agree with your premise.  Is that based on feedback to that effect from students?

To me, it embraces the model that a disability means something is wrong/bad, that there is something to be ashamed of. It is a stigma.

Not the way I see it.

The terms are "industry" standards.  To arbitrarily rename them can also create confusion.  Example:  Someone decided that our department name should have no reference to disability.  We were renamed the Educational Assistance Center.  People now thing we are the campus "help desk".  Further, if someone is looking for services for students with disabilities in a directory or on a campus map, it's not there.

My 2 cents.

John

From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Cyrus Hamilton
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 11:01 AM
To: ATHEN List
Subject: [Athen] Alternate and Assistive

Good Afternoon:
I am researching alternate phrases for, "assistive technology", and "alternate formats", and thought this would be an excellent forum for the discussion. There's a lot of meaning in words, and I feel that "assistive" and "alternate" are words that can have the unintended consequence of further stigmatizing individuals. I understand that technically, all technology is assistive, but I think there has to be a better way to identify technologies like VoiceDream, Kurzweil 3000, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.  Am I over thinking this, or do others share my concern? Thanks!

-Cyrus


Cyrus Hamilton
Cornell University
Student Disability Services
www.sds.cornell.edu<http://www.sds.cornell.edu/>

Tel. 607 254-4545
Fax 607 255-1562

[twitter]<https://twitter.com/cornellamrc>Follow us on Twitter<https://twitter.com/cornellamrc>

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Friday 8:00AM-4:00PM

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