Adjust text size:

My BusinessWeek Article

December 23 2008 | by

I just wrote this article for Businessweek.com, For the Disabled, More Power for Play. I thought it was about time that someone wrote about assistive technology for leisure and fun, rather than just for more functional purposes like the workplace. Some readers have commented about the high price of some of these technologies. Fair point, though I’m hoping that as more people purchase them the price will drop, and that my article will bring to light the $200 billion disability market — giving companies more incentive to create and market their products for people with disabilities.

FILED UNDER:

  • Terry

    Thank you Suzanne for your article mentioning our DURATEQ ATV device (PDA-sized closed-captioning and descriptive audio device) we developed for Walt Disney World. Softeq Development has been active in the Assistive Technology space for over five years, focusing our AT efforts on making entertainment and educational venues accessible and immersive to individuals that are visually and/or hearing impaired. This includes Audio Description, Assistive Listening, and Closed Captioning. Our solution, the DURATEQ ATV can provide multi-cultural accessibility as well, supporting an unlimited number of languages. The DURATEQ ATV handheld solution can also be experienced in the World of Coca-Cola and the New England Patriot Museum. Interested individuals can find out more about this device by going to http://www.durateq.com.

  • Thisabled

    I loved your article in Business Week and would like to chat with you concerning http://www.thisabled.com, If you get a chance check it out. My info is under the contact us page.

  • JudiElise

    I just wanted to put this post here, so that more people may begin to have a dialogue about this. And, sorry for the typo at the end on Newsweek!

    What I wrote there was:

    Some of these items are prohibitive in cost, and put the brunt of the burden on insurance companies, who have already exploding budgets. The process of procuring these items also cause disabled people to have to fight, appeal and prove that they even need them. If we are fighting to get what is needed in the workforce, a lot of attitudes will have to change so we don’t have to fight for something to help get a hamburger or go to Disney or just read a book?

    While this article is informative, what really needs to be address after this Amendments Act is affordability.

    Also, I think companies need to market DIRECTLY to the consumer, not through overburdened insurance companies and non-profit agencies. This technology is not as expensive as it sounds. Perhaps, if the true market was tapped into (instead of a select few who make it through the process), the costs could truly come down.

    Just a thought.

    http://uniquefamilylife.blogspot.com/

Related posts:

  1. My Wall Street Journal Article
  2. Article on BettyConfidential
  3. Finding the Right Way To Disclose a Disability
  4. Response to NYT article on ADA
Go to top of page

Twitter