1 of 10

Technology as a Freedom Tool in a Disabling Society: The Ambiguous Relationship between Disabled Users and Technology in Accessing Autonomy

Amanda Leckner, Hannah Jane Upson, and Daniela Pereira

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 1750260. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This presentation will be drawing from the work that we have done under DETI granDisability, Experience, and Technological Imagination

t. Under the grant our team of researchers has work on creating materials for a textbook to be used in collegethat address commons tropes surrounding disability as pitiful and burdensome and in need of saving. In our work we present an alternative perspectives to counter these kind of tropes one in which centers the lived experience of disabled people and their perspectives of their relationship with technology. We have done this by interviewing disabled people about their experiences with technology from space to music. We also acknowledge that disabled people have and continue to not always had the right to the freedom to utilize the kinds of technologies we will be discussing. That we owe to the di

2 of 10

Overview

How is technology a freedom tool and an ambiguous concept for disabled users?

Counter Narratives and Emerging Themes

Technology as a Freedom Tool
Technological Ambiguity
Culturally Situated Technology
Crip Technicians

Current Stereotypes

Technology as a Savior
Technology as a Cure
Disabled people are passive users

Hello to begin our presentation we would like to first start off with a brief overview of central concepts and themes for our work. As we mention previous our work counters common stereotypes or tropes about disability and technology. This can look seeing technology as a savior that is will cure all disabled people who are painted as burdensome or pitiful. In these kinds of framework disabled people are often seen as passsive users or consumers of technology not playing an active one in its adaptation and creation. Our presentation is centered around the question of how is technology a freedom tool and ambiguous concept for disabled users? To expand upon this concept we will look at how technology can be a freedom tool for disabled people and what technolocgical ambiuguit means. We will also discuss cultrualatletly situated technology and the hope that crip technicians bring to our future.

To use or not use technology

Crip

3 of 10

Technology as a Freedom Tool

Freedom Tool: Technology that has been “cripped” by disabled people to access, demand, and create freedom in their built environment

Examples:

Twitter

#CripTheVote

My Space

Krip Hop Nation

Technology can be used by disabled users as freedom tool to access, demand, and create freedom in their built environment. One example of this is how disabled people have utilized twitter as a platform for social movements and to spread awareness on important subjects. For instance, CVS recently attempted to take a case to the supreme court where the case would have dismantle Section 504 legislation that protects disabled people from being discriminated against when accessing the same services as non disabled people. The twitter thread ultimately gained enough traction to where the ACLU picked up the case and eventually through the work of disabled people along with the ACLU CVS withdrew its petition. Another example of technology as a freedom tool would be Krip Hop. Unfortunately the music industry often times dismisses disabled people and prevents them from being able to release their music to larger audiences. Leory Moore saw this problem and used my space as a place to recruit disabled artist who do hip hop to come together and create a virtual space where they could support and promote one another's work. Krip Hop is now international and is help spread the work of disabled artist globally.

4 of 10

Ambiguous Relationship

Technological Ambiguity: When the relationship between the user and their technology becomes unclear

Non-passivity in use

Freedom of choice

Breakdown of Technology

Access to Technology

5 of 10

Understanding Technology as Culturally Situated

What does understanding technology as culturally situated look like?

Technology is both a product of environment and culture as well as a creator of cultural expectations and norms

What does culturally situated manufacturing of technology and use of technology look like?

Jaipur Foot
Etsuo Miyoshi’s Swany Walkin’ Bag

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur_foot#/media/File:Japur_foot_production.jpg

Peek, N. (n.d.). A Jaipur foot in production . Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/nadya/4809954143/.

Technology is both a product of environment and cultural expectations as well as a creator of cultural expectations, environment, and norms. They simultaneously reproduce each other. Technology is not an object absent from influence. The way we communicate, eat, sit, move is equally dependent on both the technologies available to a person and on the cultural practices accepted in various communities. In order to create a more accessible future for disabled people, cultural context must be taken into account when making technologies for disabled people. For example the Jaipur Foot: The prosthetic device was developed in India by Ram Chander Sharma a master craftsman and P.K Sethi, and orthopedic surgeon, The device is made out of vulcanized rubber and wood in order to maintain flexibility in movement. This flexibility in movement allows for amputees in India the ability to continue to participate in activities closely tied and impacted by to the indian culture and infrastructure, like squatting or sitting cross legged. Another Example would be Etsuo Miyoshi’s Swany Walkin Bag which helps stabilize balance as well as provides the user with easy access to seating. The ability to make oneself appear homogeneous with others is a cultural expectation in japanese culture more broadly and while the bag was constructed to be an assistive technology it also looks like a standard piece of luggage, allowing the user to camouflage their disability if desired by the user. As a disabled person himself, Miyoshi was able to make a technology with first-hand experience in mind. The Swany bag serves as an example of the concept of criptechnicians which Daniela will speak more on next.

6 of 10

Crip Technicians

Who are they?

Disabled people that modify or create, a.k.a crip, technology and/or its meaning to meet their needs and wants.

What does cripping technology look like?

Cripping general-purpose versus adaptive technology
Cripping for personal or professional purpose

Not necessarily mutually exclusive!

Etsuo Miyoshi, developer of the Swany Walking bag

Guffey, E. Designing the Japanese Walking Bag. http://elizabethguffey.com/portfolio/designing-the-japanese-walking-bag/

7 of 10

Universal Design

Universal Design: Concept describing the design of technology and infrastructure so that they are accessible to as many communities as possible, regardless of disability, linguistic differences, age, gender identity, etc.

7 Principles of Universal Design:

Equitable Use
Flexibility in Use
Simple and Intuitive Use
Perceptible Information

Tolerance for Error
Low Physical Effort
Size and Space for Approach and Use

National Disability Authority. The 7 Principles. https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/the-7-principles/

8 of 10

How do Crip Technicians Support Universal Design?

Personal Experience: Combatting dominant narratives
Activism

Disability Visibility Project, founded by Alice Wong
Cripple Media, founded by Emily Flores

As Professional Crip Technicians

Victor Pineda, founder of the World Enabled Foundation

Technology is not a “savior” - The relationship between technology and disability is complex. Even though we are overwhelmed by narratives glorifying the future of technology, painting a picture of how it can “fix” everything, including disabilities. Assistive technology breaks down all the time, even the most sophisticated devices.

Technology is not a “cure”

Crip technicians are not passive users - give examples talking about Chieko Asakawa and Elise Roy

Disability does not equal inability - disability can often viewed under strictly under the medical model and solely defined in medical terms, but disability is much more than that. Crip technicians understand that disability does not need to be “fixed” and technology does not need to be made to “fix.” Use exoskeletons as an example and the general notion of forcing one form of mobility rather than transmobility.

Disability Visibility Project - point out the perpetuation of disabled voices in media. Example, Lateef McLeod on AAC devices

To be clear, one or all of these roles can be taken on by any Crip Technician and many work as both activists and professional crip technicians.

9 of 10

Conclusion

Technology is not stagnant or perfect
Disabled people play an active role in shaping their relationships with technology
Crip Technicians are the future

10 of 10

Thank You

Amanda Leckner, Email: amandaleckner@vt.edu

Hannah Jane Upson, Email: hannahu@vt.edu

Daniela Pereira, Email: danielap20@vt.edu

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Ashley Shew & Hanna Herdegen

Website to find more information:

https://techanddisability.com/