Clarissa: We are all like, different people.
We can't be the same.
We are all imperfect.
Antonio: The concept of trying to use technology
to create a utopian society is interesting, to say the least.
Stuart: One thing I am always being asked about,
the Olympics and the Paralympics.
I do believe in 10, 20 years a Paralympian will be faster
than a human, than a person without a disability.
Dewald: Why would you change your natural ability?
[music]
Sheryl: My name is Sheryl Burgstahler.
I direct Accessible Technology Services at the University of Washington.
Science and technology has progressed to a point
where we might be able to eliminate certain disabilities.
But just because we can, should we?
We talked to some students with disabilities
and we asked them to answer that question.
Nolan: I like the idea of kind of using technology to help people out,
to advance the human race,
but at the same time it creates this whole dilemma of
at what point does it become too much?
Courtney: I can personally say that technology has definitely helped me
to access things that otherwise I wouldn't be able to access
and I think progression for technology
is definitely beneficial to people with disabilities
but I think there’s definitely a line between something like
a more improved wheelchair and an exoskeleton
for someone in a wheelchair to be able to walk
and I think the difference between those two things is
one seeks to improve the life of the person with a disability
or make access easier for them.
The other one seeks to eliminate disability.
And I think that is a key difference that a lot of able-bodied people
who don't have a lot of experience with disability miss.
Shelby: I know everything probably has a little bit of a disadvantages
but if something’s going to help you be able to complete a task,
and you’re still using your brain power and understanding what needs to happen
then I think it’s great.
Courtney: I think that if that is something that you personally really want,
you want to be better, you want to be this extra human
that should be an option.
But it should not be a requirement.
Like I personally am very happy how I am.
I would not change a single thing about myself.
If I was given the option tomorrow to walk, I wouldn't.
I love my life.
Antonio: Instead of trying to use technology to create the perfect human being,
we should focus more on
just trying to deal with the issues at hand in terms of
creating a society that is equally accessible
for people who are currently not able to have
the same opportunities as others.
Niki: For some of my friends who have disabilities
that are putting, shortening their lives,
and there's technology that is
bringing out new studies, bringing out new drugs
that are going to help them get stronger and be able to live longer
I think that stuff is great.
But I also do see where it's problematic in
trying to force people to become more "normal"
and when they don't necessarily want to be.
Why do we need to fix everyone and fix everything?
So I think it's just up to the person themselves and
if they want you know certain parts of their disabilities to be not
a part of their lives they have that option
then that's great for them
but I don't think it should be forced upon anyone
and that societal pressure
shouldn't be, you know,
you have to do this because it's available.
Clarissa: We cannot be perfect
so I think like the differences between us
even though if it's like disability or not.
It's what makes us special and stands out
so we should be proud of that I think.
Courtney: If I were talking to scientists developing
the next round or the next generation of technology,
the first thing I would say to them is,
"Do you have a disabled person on your team?"
Because the best way to make things more accessible
is to include people with disabilities in the creation process.
Stuart: The goal of technology is to make people’s lives easier
and I don’t see how having somebody who has lost their legs
and trying to get them to walking is a negative thing.
I don’t know maybe 200 years from today
when robotics improves and takes over the world
that could be some other discussion.
Linsey: There is a very fine line
where we have this technology available to people
to better their ability to get around in the world but then
we also have to be sure that we're not assuming that they want this technology
because it's going to quote unquote cure them.
Or make them more able-bodied.
We should be asking the question,
"Do you want this technology because,
not because it's going to make you more, like, able-bodied
but is it actually going to improve your life as a disabled person
able to get around and accommodate you with the things you need help with?"
Instead of trying to get people to kind of merge toward this one standardized version
of what the body should be able to do.
Shelby: So maybe one of the tools is having a hand
or some type of device that can help them climb.
I think that’s awesome.
But really the key thing is that they want that for themselves.
Courtney: Being disabled and living life is completely worthwhile.
The thing that makes it challenging
is the fact that systems are not built with people with disabilities in mind
and so the change that really needs to happen
more than fixing people with disabilities
is changing our society to be accessible for people with disabilities
to be able to have access to all the things that everyone else accesses.
Dewald: Why would you not want to be yourself?
I feel like that would change who you are.
There are so many little things that make up you as a person,
why should you care if there are little flaws?
As long as you're a great person as a whole.
Courtney: Humans will never be without disability.
It's written into our physical existence
that as we age it's almost certain that we will
develop some kind of disability.
Having a disability is completely natural.
It just happens earlier for some people.