Ensuring the Rights of our Siblings to Technology

Ensuring the Rights of our Siblings to

Technology

Emily Shea Tanis, Ph.D.

15th _{Annual Ohio Adult Sibling Conference}

November 14th _{, 2015}

Arguments

 We are at a critical time in our history when people with disabilities can be naturally and meaningfully included in all of life’s domains due to shifting

societal norms and accessible mainstream technologies.

 Siblings are poised to be the greatest change agents in the fight to ensure the rights to

technology and information access

 Failure to act now will prevent people with

disabilities from achieving our national goals of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency

Global Adoption of Technology

Investment in Technology

“Worldwide IT and telecommunications

spending will grow 3.8% in 2015 to more than $3.8 trillion and 1/3 of total spending growth will be focused on new

technologies such as mobile, cloud, big data analytics and the Internet of Things” – Gil Press,

Smartphone Stats

• 68% of adults now own a smartphone • Increasing number of aging adults 65+

own smartphones 30%

• Increasing number of those in rural communities 52%

• 52% with a household income of less than $30K

More Smartphone Stats

• 65% of people sleep with or next to their smartphones

• 4 out of 5 smartphone users check their phones within the first 15 min. of waking in the morning

– 80% say it is the first thing they do in the morning

• 1/5 would rather go without shoes for a week than take a break from their smartphone REALLY!?!

• 63% of respondents check their phone for messages or calls once an hour

Nomophobia

“No-mobile-phone-phobia”

• Fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact

– Proposal to add to the DSM

• Average adolescent would rather lose a pinky-finger than a cell phone

• Cellphone vibration syndrome

• Use Screentyme or Menthal apps to track your own time

Internet of Things

Generation Z:

Connected from Birth

Evidence In Life Domains

Health and Safety Social

Support Needs

• Home and Life Activities

• Community and Neighborhood Activities • School Participation Activities

• Health and Safety Activities • Social Activities

Industry Focus on Accessibility

• CTIA Wireless Association – Global Accessibility

Reporting Initiative (GARI) database of accessible cell phones

• Google – Global Disability Impact Challenge • WC3 – Cognitive and Learning Disabilities

Accessibility Task Force

• IBM – Partnership with UMass Boston to advance research in technology and accessibility

• Teaching Accessibility – Partnership with Industry leaders (Adobe, Microsoft, Linkedin, AT&T, Yahoo, Google, etc.) and Higher Education (CU, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, University of

Federal Initiatives

• Federal Communications Commission – Summit

on Telecommunication Needs of People with Cognitive Disabilities

October 28, 2015

• U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability

Employment Policy – Partnership on Employment

& Accessible Technology (PEAT)

• Department of Justice Disability Rights Section– Accessibility cases: Peapod, edX, and H&R Block

Inclusion Paradox

• With all of these technologies readily available, and industry and federal initiatives focused in accessible

technologies why do we continue to

struggle to provide people with disabilities, particularly those with cognitive

disabilities, access to information and technology?

Technology Use By People with

Disabilities

• Technology is appreciably underutilized by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)

– The number of people with (I/DD) who need a device outnumber those identified as already using a device/technology in 4/5 life domains

– Contributing factors to underutilization:

• Cost of device

• Lack of information about a device/technology • Inadequate training to use the device

• Technological Divide • Mobile Devices

– Popularity of smart phones and tablets

– Physical, sensory, and cognitive accessibility issues

– Need for personalization and compatibility across platforms

Cognitive Disability

• In addition to sensory and physical

challenges, many people with cognitive

disabilities also have difficulty with memory and learning; reasoning and idea production; language ability and auditory reception;

visual comprehension; processing speed;

reading and writing and acquired knowledge and achievement.

• Every device/technology poses

unique accessibility challenges

Barriers remain

Siblings are the Missing Piece

of the Puzzle

Nature of the Sibling

Relationship

• Siblings are our

“collaborators, and co-conspirators, our role models and cautionary

tales. They are our scolds, protectors, goads,

tormentors, playmates,

counselors, sources of envy and objects of pride.”

Power of Siblings as Advocates

• Passionate about the Issues • Experiential Knowledge

• Next Generation of Disability Advocates • Advocate with and Alongside our Brothers

and Sisters

History of the Movements

1950s Family (ie Parent)

2007s Sibling

1970s Self-Advocacy

We are all in

Take Action

• Think About Applications of Mainstream Technologies

• Provide Opportunities

• Engage with Professionals and Encourage the Meaningful Use of Technology

• Discuss Obstacles and Innovative Solutions • Share Your Story

• Network with Likeminded Individuals • Drive Change Through Advocacy

EXAMPLES OF THE 467 ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE U.S.

March 3, 2014

The Colorado House and Senate unanimously passed a Joint

Resolution on The Rights of People

with Cognitive Disabilities to

Technology and Information Access.

May 20, 2015

The Maine Legislature

adopts Rights of People with

Cognitive Disabilities to

Technology and Information Access.

State Legislatures Adopt the

Declaration

PCPID 2015 Report to the President

Leveling the Playing Field: Improving Technology Access and Design for People with Intellectual Disabilities

1) To increase the cognitive

accessibility of technology that is part of the fabric of everyday lives and strengthen federal policies to ensure that people with ID have equal access to everyday technology

2) To increase the availability, quality, and affordability of

cognitive support technologies through policies, practices, development, and research

1) Elementary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary Education 2) Community Living

3) Employment and Economic Well-Being

4) Health and Wellness

Focus Areas Goals of the Report

Overarching Technology Recommendations to the President of the United States

#1 Recognize and affirm the equal rights of

people with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access by embracing the Declaration on The Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access among

other things.

Championing the Rights of People

with Cognitive Disabilities

http://www.colemaninstitute.org/ declaration-endorse

Contact Information Shea Tanis, Ph.D.

Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities 3825 Iris Avenue, Suite 200

Boulder, CO 80301 303-492-0639