 |
December 1995 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
December 1995 |
| |
|
|
|
|
TO: TAPPING TECHNOLOGY READERS FROM: Mary Brady, Executive Director, MD TAP DATE: September 30, 1999 SUBJECT: What's Next?
In Maryland it's getting increasingly hard to say what the future of assistive technology may hold for those of us with disabilities. Why? Because in this state, tomorrow has arrived early! We're so in front of the curve that it may be hard to see the forest. In Maryland, video telephones, PCS technology (digital cellular phones), a national Newsline service bringing all of today's news to the blind today are here, today, at least in pilot form. Major Riddick, the Maryland Relay Service, the Maryland Association of the Deaf, the National Foundation of the Blind, United States Guaranty and Fidelity Corp. (USF&G), Sprint, Kinko's and other corporate sponsors are responsible for this exciting state of affairs. Would but it were so elsewhere on the planet...
Today I am in Chicago discussing the future we first nine Tech Act states want to envision for life after the "final" extension of federal funding for our programs in Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kentucky, Utah, Maine, Arkansas, Illinois and Colorado. Over the course of two days and many lively discussions we have attempted to arrive at consensus regarding our mutual findings with regard to the state-of-the-art of assistive technology devices and services. The room is papered with our thoughts on easel paper, one column of notes titled "National Leadership", another: "Frustrated as Hell".
Meanwhile, back at the ranch in Baltimore, the dedicated MD TAP staff is participating in showing off our accessible home page (http://www.clark.net/pub/mdtap) at the Governor's Technology College. This weekend's Wisconsin State Journal headlined a story about federal funding cutbacks. It seems that the Dictionary of Regional English being developed under federal funding has enough money to continue culling the semantics of the country's regions through August. However, they are only up to the letter O, and estimate that it will be another decade to get through the remainder of the alphabet. Snickerdoodles will never make it in at this rate...
What do YOU think about the state of the art of assistive technology services and devices in Maryland? Nationally? Is it better or worse now than yesterday?
Do you want the Tech Act to be extended? What will be different if it ends?
Are we creating information haves and have-nots? Is it the best of times and the worst of times, or what?
Does assistive technology deserve a place on the Disability Forum agenda? Are technology issues important to you?
Send your thoughts to us via fax, phone, TDD, the U.S. Postal Service, the Internet (techtap@clark.net) or pony express. We'd like to know what you think.
Some of the priority areas for technology issues identified at the meeting of the first nine Tech Act states included:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|