so the second paragraph of the US Declaration of Independence states that
Declaration of Independence states that
Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal that they are
all men are created equal that they are
all men are created equal that they are endowed by their creators with
endowed by their creators with
endowed by their creators with inalienable rights to life liberty and
inalienable rights to life liberty and
inalienable rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness early in my
the pursuit of happiness early in my
the pursuit of happiness early in my career I believe this to be true across
career I believe this to be true across
career I believe this to be true across the board that all men and all women
the board that all men and all women
the board that all men and all women have equal opportunities and were all to
have equal opportunities and were all to
have equal opportunities and were all to be treated equally and I was never
be treated equally and I was never
be treated equally and I was never really confronted with the inequities of
really confronted with the inequities of
really confronted with the inequities of our society until a tragic accident left
our society until a tragic accident left
our society until a tragic accident left me with a spinal cord injury at the age
me with a spinal cord injury at the age
me with a spinal cord injury at the age of 26
of 26
of 26 and from that point forward I was thrown
and from that point forward I was thrown
and from that point forward I was thrown into the world of paralysis and
into the world of paralysis and
into the world of paralysis and immediately became a member of the
immediately became a member of the
immediately became a member of the minority class those of us living with
minority class those of us living with
minority class those of us living with disabilities there are over 57 million
disabilities there are over 57 million
disabilities there are over 57 million people in the United States living with
people in the United States living with
people in the United States living with some form of disability many of them are
some form of disability many of them are
some form of disability many of them are not visible and many of them live on the
not visible and many of them live on the
not visible and many of them live on the fringes of society so you can imagine
fringes of society so you can imagine
fringes of society so you can imagine it’s only a few months after my injury
it’s only a few months after my injury
it’s only a few months after my injury and I’m trying to reintegrate into
and I’m trying to reintegrate into
and I’m trying to reintegrate into society in this new form in this new
society in this new form in this new
society in this new form in this new form as a wheelchair user and I’ll never
form as a wheelchair user and I’ll never
form as a wheelchair user and I’ll never forget this moment I was in downtown
forget this moment I was in downtown
forget this moment I was in downtown Concord New Hampshire with my physical
Concord New Hampshire with my physical
Concord New Hampshire with my physical therapist and we were maneuvering
therapist and we were maneuvering
therapist and we were maneuvering sidewalks and curb cuts and uneven
sidewalks and curb cuts and uneven
sidewalks and curb cuts and uneven streets and it was the first time I had
streets and it was the first time I had
streets and it was the first time I had ever been out in public and the first
ever been out in public and the first
ever been out in public and the first stranger we encountered was this man who
stranger we encountered was this man who
stranger we encountered was this man who came up to me and he put his hand on my
came up to me and he put his hand on my
came up to me and he put his hand on my head and said God allows you you are
head and said God allows you you are
head and said God allows you you are blessed and then immediately walked away
blessed and then immediately walked away
blessed and then immediately walked away I was thinking is this the way it’s
I was thinking is this the way it’s
I was thinking is this the way it’s gonna be well it’s not really like that
gonna be well it’s not really like that
gonna be well it’s not really like that really but people do treat you
really but people do treat you
really but people do treat you differently like when you roll into a
differently like when you roll into a
differently like when you roll into a room and people are staring but they
room and people are staring but they
room and people are staring but they really don’t want to get caught looking
really don’t want to get caught looking
really don’t want to get caught looking at you or the proverbial pat on the head
at you or the proverbial pat on the head
at you or the proverbial pat on the head and oh dear or I love this one hey you
and oh dear or I love this one hey you
and oh dear or I love this one hey you better slow down you’re gonna get a
better slow down you’re gonna get a
better slow down you’re gonna get a speeding ticket and I could go on about
speeding ticket and I could go on about
speeding ticket and I could go on about things that people say to you but the
things that people say to you but the
things that people say to you but the one valid look that I get is a look that
one valid look that I get is a look that
one valid look that I get is a look that I get from fellow members of minority
I get from fellow members of minority
I get from fellow members of minority classes
classes
classes it’s that look that says yeah you know
it’s that look that says yeah you know
it’s that look that says yeah you know what it’s like like what you say to be
what it’s like like what you say to be
what it’s like like what you say to be excluded you see we have laws in place
excluded you see we have laws in place
excluded you see we have laws in place that tell us that we are to be treated
that tell us that we are to be treated
that tell us that we are to be treated equally we have the Civil Rights Act of
equally we have the Civil Rights Act of
equally we have the Civil Rights Act of 1964 we have the Americans with
1964 we have the Americans with
1964 we have the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 that tell us that
Disability Act of 1990 that tell us that
Disability Act of 1990 that tell us that we are all to be included but those are
we are all to be included but those are
we are all to be included but those are only guidelines how we act is what truly
only guidelines how we act is what truly
only guidelines how we act is what truly shapes our society at one point in our
shapes our society at one point in our
shapes our society at one point in our nation’s history these images were
nation’s history these images were
nation’s history these images were common place where we blatantly excluded
common place where we blatantly excluded
common place where we blatantly excluded people in a minority class and we
people in a minority class and we
people in a minority class and we thought nothing of it and I’m grateful
thought nothing of it and I’m grateful
thought nothing of it and I’m grateful to say that today these are no longer
to say that today these are no longer
to say that today these are no longer common but these are how is it any
common but these are how is it any
common but these are how is it any different I’ve spent my fair share of
different I’ve spent my fair share of
different I’ve spent my fair share of going into buildings through the back
going into buildings through the back
going into buildings through the back cargo bays or into restaurants to the
cargo bays or into restaurants to the
cargo bays or into restaurants to the kitchen or where they deliver food and
kitchen or where they deliver food and
kitchen or where they deliver food and the funny thing is it’s a true
the funny thing is it’s a true
the funny thing is it’s a true reflection of how we treat each other
reflection of how we treat each other
reflection of how we treat each other how we treat each other as human beings
how we treat each other as human beings
how we treat each other as human beings and look around you’ll see examples of
and look around you’ll see examples of
and look around you’ll see examples of that does it say we’re separate but
that does it say we’re separate but
that does it say we’re separate but equal but there are examples in society
equal but there are examples in society
equal but there are examples in society that we can point to you to drive us in
that we can point to you to drive us in
that we can point to you to drive us in the direction of a much more inclusive
the direction of a much more inclusive
the direction of a much more inclusive society why can’t we move into something
society why can’t we move into something
society why can’t we move into something of universal design where we have images
of universal design where we have images
of universal design where we have images like this that become commonplace and a
like this that become commonplace and a
like this that become commonplace and a real great example is what gravitated me
real great example is what gravitated me
real great example is what gravitated me to the sport of sailboat racing you see
to the sport of sailboat racing you see
to the sport of sailboat racing you see this is a common image of a mark
this is a common image of a mark
this is a common image of a mark rounding at a sailboat race in one
rounding at a sailboat race in one
rounding at a sailboat race in one design sailboat racing the boats are all
design sailboat racing the boats are all
design sailboat racing the boats are all the same the equipment’s the same the
the same the equipment’s the same the
the same the equipment’s the same the rules are all the same on the water and
rules are all the same on the water and
rules are all the same on the water and we’re all treated equally we’re all
we’re all treated equally we’re all
we’re all treated equally we’re all punished and rewarded equally but if you
punished and rewarded equally but if you
punished and rewarded equally but if you look back at the docks you’ll see
look back at the docks you’ll see
look back at the docks you’ll see something like this and that’s because
something like this and that’s because
something like this and that’s because in sailboat racing we use a
in sailboat racing we use a
in sailboat racing we use a techniques and technologies to
techniques and technologies to
techniques and technologies to compensate for our disabilities on the
compensate for our disabilities on the
compensate for our disabilities on the water so we can compete on an equal
water so we can compete on an equal
water so we can compete on an equal basis alongside our able-bodied sailors
basis alongside our able-bodied sailors
basis alongside our able-bodied sailors and that’s when technology becomes the
and that’s when technology becomes the
and that’s when technology becomes the equalizer technology can also break down
equalizer technology can also break down
equalizer technology can also break down our societal barriers in 2012
our societal barriers in 2012
our societal barriers in 2012 Oscar Pistorius became the first person
Oscar Pistorius became the first person
Oscar Pistorius became the first person to blur the lines between Olympic and
to blur the lines between Olympic and
to blur the lines between Olympic and Paralympic when he it was a double leg
Paralympic when he it was a double leg
Paralympic when he it was a double leg amputee competing in both games now
amputee competing in both games now
amputee competing in both games now regardless of what you might think of
regardless of what you might think of
regardless of what you might think of him as a person
him as a person
him as a person it was the prosthetics the innovation in
it was the prosthetics the innovation in
it was the prosthetics the innovation in an prosthetics legs that helped to
an prosthetics legs that helped to
an prosthetics legs that helped to elevate him to that level and today
elevate him to that level and today
elevate him to that level and today we’re using 3d printers to create upper
we’re using 3d printers to create upper
we’re using 3d printers to create upper arm prosthetics for children where they
arm prosthetics for children where they
arm prosthetics for children where they get to choose their favorite color or
get to choose their favorite color or
get to choose their favorite color or their favorite superhero and suddenly
their favorite superhero and suddenly
their favorite superhero and suddenly they become the envy of their
they become the envy of their
they become the envy of their able-bodied friends think about how that
able-bodied friends think about how that
able-bodied friends think about how that makes those children feel included and
makes those children feel included and
makes those children feel included and we have pioneers on the front lines
we have pioneers on the front lines
we have pioneers on the front lines today in the world of neuro technology
today in the world of neuro technology
today in the world of neuro technology it’s a world where we’re we’re merging
it’s a world where we’re we’re merging
it’s a world where we’re we’re merging medical electronics with the human
medical electronics with the human
medical electronics with the human nervous system and these pioneers are
nervous system and these pioneers are
nervous system and these pioneers are blazing the trails today in this world
blazing the trails today in this world
blazing the trails today in this world now you probably think I’m gonna mention
now you probably think I’m gonna mention
now you probably think I’m gonna mention an engineer or a scientist right but I’m
an engineer or a scientist right but I’m
an engineer or a scientist right but I’m not because you see in flight
not because you see in flight
not because you see in flight Exploration we celebrate the pilots we
Exploration we celebrate the pilots we
Exploration we celebrate the pilots we celebrate people like Charles Lindbergh
celebrate people like Charles Lindbergh
celebrate people like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart and Chuck Yeager and
and Amelia Earhart and Chuck Yeager and
and Amelia Earhart and Chuck Yeager and Space Exploration we celebrate the
Space Exploration we celebrate the
Space Exploration we celebrate the astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz
astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz
astronauts like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and Sally Ride and in all of
Aldrin and Sally Ride and in all of
Aldrin and Sally Ride and in all of those cases those people put their lives
those cases those people put their lives
those cases those people put their lives on the line for the Advancement of
on the line for the Advancement of
on the line for the Advancement of Technology and science and in the world
Technology and science and in the world
Technology and science and in the world of neuro technology there are people
of neuro technology there are people
of neuro technology there are people that are doing that today there are test
that are doing that today there are test
that are doing that today there are test pilots that are putting their lives on
pilots that are putting their lives on
pilots that are putting their lives on the line there’s people like Jim Janet
the line there’s people like Jim Janet
the line there’s people like Jim Janet he dove into the shallow end of a lake
he dove into the shallow end of a lake
he dove into the shallow end of a lake on a hot
on a hot
on a hot summer day and became a quadriplegic but
summer day and became a quadriplegic but
summer day and became a quadriplegic but later he became the first person to be
later he became the first person to be
later he became the first person to be implanted with a prosthesis that allows
implanted with a prosthesis that allows
implanted with a prosthesis that allows him to use his arms and his hands and he
him to use his arms and his hands and he
him to use his arms and his hands and he was able to return to his drafting job
was able to return to his drafting job
was able to return to his drafting job there’s people like Kathy Hutchinson who
there’s people like Kathy Hutchinson who
there’s people like Kathy Hutchinson who has locked-in syndrome from a brain stem
has locked-in syndrome from a brain stem
has locked-in syndrome from a brain stem stroke at the age of 45 and it left her
stroke at the age of 45 and it left her
stroke at the age of 45 and it left her that her only conversations could be
that her only conversations could be
that her only conversations could be blinks of her eyes for yes and no but
blinks of her eyes for yes and no but
blinks of her eyes for yes and no but she became the first person to
she became the first person to
she became the first person to manipulate a robotic arm using a
manipulate a robotic arm using a
manipulate a robotic arm using a brain-computer interface and her
brain-computer interface and her
brain-computer interface and her thoughts so she can enjoy her beloved
thoughts so she can enjoy her beloved
thoughts so she can enjoy her beloved cinnamon lattes and then there’s Kim
cinnamon lattes and then there’s Kim
cinnamon lattes and then there’s Kim O’Shea who became blind from retinitis
O’Shea who became blind from retinitis
O’Shea who became blind from retinitis pigmentosa after the birth of her second
pigmentosa after the birth of her second
pigmentosa after the birth of her second child and she is one of few that has a
child and she is one of few that has a
child and she is one of few that has a retinal prosthesis that allows her to
retinal prosthesis that allows her to
retinal prosthesis that allows her to see black-and-white shades of grey
see black-and-white shades of grey
see black-and-white shades of grey movement and some color now on the
movement and some color now on the
movement and some color now on the surface you say this technology is great
surface you say this technology is great
surface you say this technology is great it gives these people function it allows
it gives these people function it allows
it gives these people function it allows Jim to use his hands it allows Kathy to
Jim to use his hands it allows Kathy to
Jim to use his hands it allows Kathy to manipulate a robotic arm it allows Kim
manipulate a robotic arm it allows Kim
manipulate a robotic arm it allows Kim to see but it’s so much more than that
to see but it’s so much more than that
to see but it’s so much more than that you see for Jim it was the ability to go
you see for Jim it was the ability to go
you see for Jim it was the ability to go into a restaurant and feed himself for
into a restaurant and feed himself for
into a restaurant and feed himself for Kathy it was to independently drink her
Kathy it was to independently drink her
Kathy it was to independently drink her cinnamon lattes and to have rich
cinnamon lattes and to have rich
cinnamon lattes and to have rich conversations using a computer and for
conversations using a computer and for
conversations using a computer and for Kim it was the joy of playing with her
Kim it was the joy of playing with her
Kim it was the joy of playing with her pets in her backyard and the ability to
pets in her backyard and the ability to
pets in her backyard and the ability to recognize her husband in a crowd that’s
recognize her husband in a crowd that’s
recognize her husband in a crowd that’s the equalization of Technology and then
the equalization of Technology and then
the equalization of Technology and then there’s this person who left her
there’s this person who left her
there’s this person who left her wheelchair behind during our entire
wheelchair behind during our entire
wheelchair behind during our entire wedding ceremony over 19 years ago I was
wedding ceremony over 19 years ago I was
wedding ceremony over 19 years ago I was implanted with a neural prosthesis that
implanted with a neural prosthesis that
implanted with a neural prosthesis that allows me to use my paralyzed legs and
allows me to use my paralyzed legs and
allows me to use my paralyzed legs and you look at me right now and you might
you look at me right now and you might
you look at me right now and you might say see nothing of that say well how can
say see nothing of that say well how can
say see nothing of that say well how can you possibly use your legs and you can’t
you possibly use your legs and you can’t
you possibly use your legs and you can’t see it and the reason you can’t see it
see it and the reason you can’t see it
see it and the reason you can’t see it is because it’s all implanted inside the
is because it’s all implanted inside the
is because it’s all implanted inside the body you see with the use of electrodes
body you see with the use of electrodes
body you see with the use of electrodes and receivers that look a lot like
and receivers that look a lot like
and receivers that look a lot like pacemakers a little battery power and
pacemakers a little battery power and
pacemakers a little battery power and the press of a button I can return to
the press of a button I can return to
the press of a button I can return to the upright world
pretty awesome huh so this is pretty
pretty awesome huh so this is pretty cool technology and you think hey that
cool technology and you think hey that
cool technology and you think hey that must help with daily function and
must help with daily function and
must help with daily function and probably help with health and you’re
probably help with health and you’re
probably help with health and you’re right it sure does but it’s more than
right it sure does but it’s more than
right it sure does but it’s more than that
that
that it’ll gives me choices in society to
it’ll gives me choices in society to
it’ll gives me choices in society to choose between standing and the
choose between standing and the
choose between standing and the wheelchair it gives me a feeling of
wheelchair it gives me a feeling of
wheelchair it gives me a feeling of inclusion that the developers have never
inclusion that the developers have never
inclusion that the developers have never imagined that this technology can do now
imagined that this technology can do now
imagined that this technology can do now just as in flight exploration and in
just as in flight exploration and in
just as in flight exploration and in space exploration there are naysayers
space exploration there are naysayers
space exploration there are naysayers there are people that reject this
there are people that reject this
there are people that reject this technology like there’s members of the
technology like there’s members of the
technology like there’s members of the disability community that say hey don’t
disability community that say hey don’t
disability community that say hey don’t fix me I’m happy with my disability
fix me I’m happy with my disability
fix me I’m happy with my disability there’s journalists that are putting
there’s journalists that are putting
there’s journalists that are putting misleading information out there saying
misleading information out there saying
misleading information out there saying that advanced technologies are loosely
that advanced technologies are loosely
that advanced technologies are loosely regulated when in fact they are
regulated when in fact they are
regulated when in fact they are vigorously regulated by the FDA and then
vigorously regulated by the FDA and then
vigorously regulated by the FDA and then there’s the case of the cochlear implant
there’s the case of the cochlear implant
there’s the case of the cochlear implant when it was first introduced it was
when it was first introduced it was
when it was first introduced it was rejected by the deaf community and today
rejected by the deaf community and today
rejected by the deaf community and today there’s over 400,000 people living with
there’s over 400,000 people living with
there’s over 400,000 people living with cochlear implants that allow them to
cochlear implants that allow them to
cochlear implants that allow them to hear there’s over a hundred that’s right
hear there’s over a hundred that’s right
hear there’s over a hundred that’s right and there’s over a hundred and fifty
and there’s over a hundred and fifty
and there’s over a hundred and fifty thousand people using deep brain
thousand people using deep brain
thousand people using deep brain stimulators to treat brain disorders
stimulators to treat brain disorders
stimulators to treat brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease an essential
like Parkinson’s disease an essential
like Parkinson’s disease an essential tremor and dystonia
tremor and dystonia
tremor and dystonia now these naysayers have the right to
now these naysayers have the right to
now these naysayers have the right to their voice but they do not have the
their voice but they do not have the
their voice but they do not have the right to obstruct our access to this
right to obstruct our access to this
right to obstruct our access to this technology because we we deserve the
technology because we we deserve the
technology because we we deserve the choice and freedom is the right to
choice and freedom is the right to
choice and freedom is the right to choose then we think about implanted
choose then we think about implanted
choose then we think about implanted technologies think about how it
technologies think about how it
technologies think about how it integrates with us so many times we
integrates with us so many times we
integrates with us so many times we think about technology is something that
think about technology is something that
think about technology is something that we wear on our wrist we put over our
we wear on our wrist we put over our
we wear on our wrist we put over our eyes we carry in our pocket but what
eyes we carry in our pocket but what
eyes we carry in our pocket but what happens when technology becomes part of
happens when technology becomes part of
happens when technology becomes part of us just as there are hidden disabilities
us just as there are hidden disabilities
us just as there are hidden disabilities like brain injury and post-traumatic
like brain injury and post-traumatic
like brain injury and post-traumatic stress and epilepsy there are hidden
stress and epilepsy there are hidden
stress and epilepsy there are hidden enabling technology
enabling technology
enabling technology jeez like implanted devices and some
jeez like implanted devices and some
jeez like implanted devices and some very savvy external ones that give
very savvy external ones that give
very savvy external ones that give people with disabled conditions the
people with disabled conditions the
people with disabled conditions the ability to partake in activities that
ability to partake in activities that
ability to partake in activities that they never were able to do before or
they never were able to do before or
they never were able to do before or that they miss so much so at the end of
that they miss so much so at the end of
that they miss so much so at the end of the day it all comes down to how we
the day it all comes down to how we
the day it all comes down to how we treat each other as people how we treat
treat each other as people how we treat
treat each other as people how we treat each other as human beings it’s not
each other as human beings it’s not
each other as human beings it’s not about the laws and the rules and the
about the laws and the rules and the
about the laws and the rules and the signage that we place in front of us
signage that we place in front of us
signage that we place in front of us it’s about how we treat each other so
it’s about how we treat each other so
it’s about how we treat each other so the next time you attend an event or
the next time you attend an event or
the next time you attend an event or create a program or write a blog or
create a program or write a blog or
create a program or write a blog or patron of business think about inclusion
patron of business think about inclusion
patron of business think about inclusion we have an opportunity today to use our
we have an opportunity today to use our
we have an opportunity today to use our technological developments to change
technological developments to change
technological developments to change inclusion across society in the ways
inclusion across society in the ways
inclusion across society in the ways that we teach our children how we look
that we teach our children how we look
that we teach our children how we look at each other and how we interact and
at each other and how we interact and
at each other and how we interact and there are Bionic pioneers on the front
there are Bionic pioneers on the front
there are Bionic pioneers on the front lines today that are blazing the trails
lines today that are blazing the trails
lines today that are blazing the trails forward for us for the future so let’s
forward for us for the future so let’s
forward for us for the future so let’s figure out how we can use the technology
figure out how we can use the technology
figure out how we can use the technology as a vehicle for inclusion thank you
”
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