GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation
and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

TECHNOLOGY:
"Information Technology for Special Recreation in the 21st Century: A Means of Achieving the Highest Recreation Potential of Many People with Disabilities"

by Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, Pres./CEO
Special Recreation for disABLED International

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The writer sought information from basic reference materials and from information technology experts. The writer expresses appreciation to:

Dr. Jeffrey B. BISHOP, Senior Computing Consultant, University of Iowa;
Mr. John L. GERMAN, Director, Non-Profit Computing and Representative of the People to People Committee on Disability to the United Nations, NY, NY.
Ms. Diana PAULINA, Vice President, AVALON NETWORKS, Inc., Iowa City, IA; and,
Mr. James QUIGLEY, Senior Programmer Analyst, University of Iowa.

INTRODUCTION. At the start of the 21st Century: 50,000,000 WEBSITES in use.

In the 21st Century information technology will release people with disabilities from a long history of constraint behind barriers of physical imprisonment. People with disabilities will be able to move over, under and around the walls that have barred them from community, culture, education, employment, family and friends, health, recreation, security and social life.

ACCESS. Any building built today that is not fully accessible to all people with disabilities means "ADP: Access Denied Permanently" -- for 25 to 50 or more years when the building is replaced. The same is true of the information technology, that is the computer, electronic communications, the Internet and the World Wide Web. Without Information Technology the person with disability/ies is destined to "AD21C: Access Denied to the 21st Century."

Information technology must not become the newest barrier after centuries of barriers. These barriers have caused exclusion, denial, rejection, and suppression of people with disabilities. Information technology is the miracle for people who are disabled that creates the highest level of equality, opportunity, and happiness in history in play and recreation for people with disabilities.

RECREATION AS MEANS AND END.
Information technology provides the MEANS of accessing recreation and provides recreation as an END.
MEANS: People with disabilities will use the internet to access recreation ideas, information, resources, services, and products.
END: And, they will use the internet to participate in a myriad of real fully satisfying, fulfilling, and uplifting recreation activities.

RECREATION IN TEACHING. Recreation is also an excellent means of teaching information technology versus the pain of "The Rote System of Learning." Recreation is the teacher's ally in teaching any content or subject. Education that lacks recreation is diminished; recreation that lack education is diminished. Recreation provides those positive "doses" of pleasure (satisfaction and fun) that keeps the learner wanting more. Recreation provides pleasure in learning.

In the 21st Century, information technology hold out the potential for people with disabilities to achieve their highest recreation potentials in a wide range of recreation pursuits.

Assuring accessibility to information technology for people with disabilities must be a major focus of every rehabilitation and recreation advocate -- consumer, parent, professional and volunteer. This process starts with an assessment which directs us to: The education of users in information technology; and, 2. The creation of infrastructure (hardware, software, equipment) that must exist to support the users. (1)

"Internet Skills Rating Scale"

ATTENTION Consumer, Parent, Professional, or Volunteer.
Individually, score your client (that is, family member, patient, client, participant, member, pupil or student) on assistive hardware such as: Adaptive Keyboard, Alternative Mouse, Blowtube, Braille Refresher, Headband, Screen Magnifier, Screen Reader, and Voice Browser. Score your "client" on their software. Score them on the level at which they are able to use information technology (electronic communications, the internet, the world wide web, etc.) in pursuing play and recreation needs, rights, interests, and aspirations. (1)(2)

A = Has hardware/software, advanced skills, and is functioning optimally.
B = Has hardware/software, mid-level skills, and is functioning moderately.
C = Has hardware/software, basic skills, and functioning is limited.
D = Has SOME hardware and software, very low skills, and is barely functioning.
F = Has NO hardware and software, NO skills, and is achieving NO benefits.

__E-BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM (BBS). A meeting and announcement system that people use to post messages, communicate with one another, upload files, download files, and leave announcements that remain on the Bulletin Board. The Bulletin Board also functions as a discussion group and forum but without the interaction provided by the Chat Room.

N.B.: "E" means "electronic."

__E-BUSINESS/RETAILING. Using the internet and world wide web to operate businesses, for example, operating an on-line store, consultation, and other services.

__E-CHAT: FOR TWO, CLUBS, ROOMS, SUPPORT GROUPS. "Chat" is live, real time, talk over the Internet by two or more people who write/type comments back and forth in a conversational manner. Many people use Internet Relay Chat (IRC), a multi-user live chat facility organized by subject or interest. Generally, Chat on open channels are seen by everyone in the channel. However, private channels are also possible. The E-Chat Support Groups provide special needs people with an extraordinary opportunity to offer and receive personal support in dealing with problems.

__E-COMMERCE. Using the world wide web (WWW) to search, shop, select, and buy merchandize and services usually bought in a store or by mail order (food, clothing, equipments, supplies, travel); the "buy" may be an outright purchase or a bid at online auctions.

__E-EDUCATION. Using the internet to receive and use course outlines, lectures, syllabi, course notes, and reading lists; to undertake distance learning; and, to obtain degrees from VIRTUAL UNIVERSITIES.

__E-GAMES. Using the world wide web for solitary and interactive game playing.

__E-HOBBIES. Using bulletin boards, chat rooms and web sites, to receive information or instruction, to barter or purchase, and to exchange of information about hobbies.

__E-MAIL LETTER WRITING, 'MESSAGING.' The E-Mailers uses the computer and Internet for E-Mail (electronic mail) letters, messages, and notes with attached files and/or graphics. E-Mailers send their messages to family, friends, relatives, colleagues, business buyers/sellers, etc., across town or across the nation or across the world. E-Mailers write one person; one persons with copies to interested other persons; or, many people, five, ten, fifty, a hundred, and more. E-Mail communication is achieved at minimal cost in minimal time (seconds) as contrasted with "snail mail" (postal mail) which is slow (days and weeks) and expensive to very expensive.

__E-MAIL LISTS, LISTSERVS. Subscribing to, receiving and reading, and providing information to ListServs, that is, lists of people interested in a particular subject. Those who belong to a mailing list receive every message posted to that list via the Internet's electronic mail system.

__E-MEDIA. Using WWW news magazines and newspapers available in part or in toto; in some cases audio-video is also provided. E-Media provides breaking news, current weather information, and stock market reports.

__E-MOVIES. Currently, it is possible to view movies on the computer. These movies are available in stereo and/or carry subtitles/closed captioning. They are available in multiples of languages, for example, English, French, Spanish, etc. New movies may become available on the Internet within months of theater release.

__E-MULTI-MEDIA CD ROM. Multi-media CD ROMs are available for use on the computer that provide still pictures and/or moving pictures with sound and/or text.

__E-NEWS GROUPS. Subscribing to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access one's choice of thousands of providers of information about a specific subject.

__E-PUBLISHING. Using the internet and the world wide web to publish books: fiction, nonfiction, reference, etc. The non-fiction material includes guides, pamphlets, etc.

__E-READING. Using the internet and the world wide web to read books and magazines ('e-zines'): fiction, nonfiction, reference, etc.

__E-REFERENCE INFORMATION. Using dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, and reference information available on the World Wide Web.

__E-SAFETY, SECURITY, SELF-CARE. Using information technology for emergency, health, protection, safety, and security. For example, a WEB CAM/s (camera/s) can scan a home's front entry or yards and deliver the information to one's computer work room.

__E-SUBJECT RESOURCES. Using the Internet millions of WEB SITES are available focused on commerce, disability, education, entertainment, government, finance, health, medical treatment and care, rehabilitation of disABLED, recreation for disABLED, social issues, welfare, and thousands of subjects.

__E-VIRTUAL EXHIBITS, FAIRS, MUSEUMS. Using the WWW to undertake virtual visits to museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, the Smithsonian, etc., permanent collections and special exhibits.

__E-VIRTUAL REALITY/S. Virtual reality/s that combine the chat room interaction with online activities or games that have three-dimensional graphics.

__E-VIRTUAL REALITY RECREATION AND SPORTS. Using virtual reality WEBSITES OR SOFTWARE to play/perform virtual physical activity, recreation activities, or sports.

__E-VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP. Using the internet to create support groups in terms of disease and disability conditions, self-help, etc.

__WEBSITES, WEBPAGES. The writer prepares organized information which is placed on a server that is available to every Internet user through the World Wide Web.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Any website, webpage, etc., should be accessible to people with disabilities, and assistive devices should be used, e.g., a person with a visual impairment using a screen reader. Information on creating accessibility is available from Dr. Jeffrey B. Bishop on his University of Iowa "Accessibility WEB Design" WEBPAGE. The WEBSITE contains: Definition, Why Accessibility, Law, How To, Resources, Guidelines, Access-Logos, Assistive Design, and WEB Checkers. For example, "BOBBY" is a software program "web checker" that checks a website for accessibility. 
ADDRESSES: http://www.its.uiowa.edu/its/AT/at/webdesign.html
or e-mail, assistive-technology@uiowa.edu

(2) For the consumer, parent, professional, or volunteer who "advises/instructs" people with disabilities, a "self-rating" on the "Internet Skills Rating Scale" may be one measure of the extent to which the "adviser/instructor" is able to contribute to the lives of people with disabilities in the 21st Century through information technology and the Internet.

USE OF ARTICLE AND RATING SCALE. The article, "Information Technology in the 21st Century; A Means of Achieving the Highest Recreation Potential of Many People with Disabilities" and the scale, "Internet Skills Rating Scale," are not copyrighted and are published in the public domain by Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, and Special Recreation for disABLED International (SRDI).

The article and the scale may be relayed, printed-reprinted, posted, and used as written materials in classes, in part or in toto, at the discretion of the user. It would be appreciated if Prof. Nesbitt and Special Recreation for disABLED International were cited as the source and provided with copies of the use made of article and scale along with the name, organizations, address, etc., of the user/s.

WEBSITE of the:
GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: "Global Vision of Rehabilitation and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

Website Sponsors: Disability International Foundation (DIF) and Special Recreation for disABLED International (SRDI). SRDI is the Website Secretariat/Clearinghouse.

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P.O. Box 1781, Longview, Washington 98632 USA.
TELEPHONE 360/577-0243 --- FAX 360/636-1680
EMAIL dif@teleport.com --- WEBSITE http://www.teleport.com/~dif

Special Recreation for disABLED International
[Website Secretariat/Clearinghouse]
Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, Pres/CEO,
362 Koser Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52246-3038 USA.
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GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century
A Joint Project by
Disability International Foundation AND
Special Recreation for disABLED International

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