How New Tech Is Helping the Disabled
With technovations occurring every day, disability law may never be the same.
Take Douglas Wakefield, for example. As a blind child, he needed certain accommodations to succeed in school.
But as an adult, now he can do things he couldn't dream of as a student. He credits technology for opening a new world to him.
Smart Devices
When he wakes up, Wakefield listens to the weather on his Apple Watch. Then he gets the news from his iPhone.
When he goes out, he shops with Microsoft's Seeing AI to scan barcodes that distinguish the groceries for him. At home, Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod take care of everything from turning on the lights to ordering a pizza.
At the end of the day, Netflix and Apple TV narrate shows for him. His smart devices have changed everything.
"I often say if all these tools were around when I was going to school, God, it would be a breeze," he told USA Today.
Disability Claims
Disability law generally focuses on insurance policies for disabled individuals. Employers offer disability insurance to millions of workers, who can make claims for their needs -- including help from smart devices.
For people like Wakefield, they are making a big difference. He became a computer specialist, and now he's learning about coding.
He plans to write apps for the iPhone.
Related Resources:
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- Computer Analytics May Substantially Reduce Risk of Surgical Infections (FindLaw's Technologist)