Podcast! Changing Perspectives, Changing the World . . . Product Review: Samsung Netbook
Show Notes
Welcome to Episode 3! I had a thought this week. If we can change perspectives, we can change the world. Attitude is so important. And if we can empower ourselves to speak our needs and redefine what it means to have a disability, well . . . the sky’s the limit.
For me, this was a tough week physically. We had damp, chilly weather that my feet didn’t like. Lot of fatigue and pain. And I realized that it’s easy to talk about philosophy when things are going well, but when the going gets tough, I want to hunker down and withdraw. I want to ignore everything. It’s my coping mechanism, I guess. It’s easy to say everything’s great. It’s a lot harder to say, well, not so good. No, nothing anyone can do to help. I’ll ride out the storm.
Every life has storms. So getting through them is a lifeskill no matter what challenges are on a given day. I am so not alone. Which is interesting, because when things get tough, it’s harder and harder for me to reach out. It feels like a failing, to admit when I’m struggling. And that is completely backwards. Something I need to work on 
Good news for the show this week. I talked to Leo Laporte this week, also known as the Tech Guy at twit.tv about how to support our efforts here. He had some great advice and wonderful ideas, so thanks Leo.
Exciting news! We are getting our first syndication. We’ll be heard on live365 on San Juan Ridge Radio. So welcome to our new listeners!
Thank you to everyone for listening, and for your notes and comments at our website, mydisabilitycommunity.com. I really appreciate hearing from you and hearing your stories. If it takes me a day or two to write back, I apologize now. On tired days, or when my kiddos are active, computer time can be difficult, so thanks for being patient.
Today I have musings about a Disability Continuum as well as a review of the Samsung Netbook. I did have a question this week about the connections between tech and accessibility. The question was about cell phones in particular. So I wondered, as I do, why I find tech so important to our growing community?
When I was diagnosed in the early 1980s, one of my biggest challenges was isolation. I didn’t know anyone with CMT. In fact, I didn’t meet another person with CMT until I was 33 years old, but that’s another story. I was alone on my journey. And one of the biggest changes between then and now is technology. Now I belong to three online forums. I know of multiple online support organizations. I can communicate instantly without leaving home. It’s a huge connected world now. And I see the potential for helpful technology only growing. If I can turn people on to one tool that can make their life easier, or inspire a trip that may have been intimidating before, or improve their health, I want to share it with you. So the product reviews, or spotlights, are here to bring relevant ideas to our community. I am working with companies to bring the latest and greatest advancements our way. I’ll also spotlight other areas, like shoes (I actually found a new pair last week!) or jar openers, or assisted bikes. I’m open to whatever can inspire us to try new things or inspire adventures. Send your ideas my way! I’d love to hear what works in your life.
Other exciting developments are that we are working on posting live video reviews on youtube. That way we can share the products and really show you the tips and tricks instead of having to describe them over the air. We’ll have a link for you soon.
As for my conversations about phones last week, I hoped to share how the new cell phones, the smart phones, are a lot more than phones. They are little computers. The apps and the uses for those apps can make our lives a lot richer. From finding parking to tracking symptoms, they are powerful tools you may want to check into if you are upgrading your phone soon. At the end of the show, I’ll share my Android App of the Week. I would have an Apple App, but I don’t have an iPhone or iTouch so I don’t have access to their app store. Our budget around here is tight, so I’m trying to be creative about getting an iTouch to share the technology with you. Any ideas? Email me or comment at the website.
Is disability a category? Is it a group with membership? An island where you belong or never understand?
I say no. In a way, everyone has disabilities. We all have limits. Some people cannot tolerate spicy foods. Others cannot sing, or dance, or win an Olympic gold medal. Doesn’t this mean we have dis-abilities, areas of weakness? Sure. We all have challenges. And limits. And how we handle them tells a lot about us.
In that way, disability becomes a spectrum and we all fall along the spectrum. The same idea holds true on the Autism Spectrum. We all fiddle, and have obsessions and miss social cues now and again. But it reaches a certain point where the balance tips. Where the spectrum changes.
I was born with Charcot Marie Tooth. But if you had asked me in my twenties, or even five years ago, if I had a disability, I would have answered no. Quite strongly, too, because disability was an emotionally charged, undesirable place to be. Was I making accommodations in my life in those days? Yes, plenty. But I did not perceive them as life-altering or important.
Only when I had a sharp progression and degenerative symptoms did I even think of the word disability. After all, we should fight not to be have disabilities, right? We should overcome disability, right?
For me, that is when the balance tipped. Instead of living with accommodations, I had to figure out how to accommodate everything. Limitations became a prism through which I had to cast my every decision. Exhausting.
The definition of disability set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), states that “The term ‘disability’ means, with respect to an individual –
| (a) | a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; | |
| (b) | a record of such impairment; or | |
| (c) | being regarded as having such an impairment.” (P.L. 101-336, Sec. ) |
The words substantial and impairment stand out as defining words. So when the impairment becomes substantial, then it becomes disability?
Perhaps. I believe that we all have our own definitions for disability. We all land on the spectrum somewhere. And perhaps owning the word, disability, perhaps instead of making it a dismal place to be, perhaps we could see ourselves as moving along the spectrum, and there is a place where you can expect yourself to meet and overcome the challenges. And a place where the world could meet you and make your challenges easier.
It all returns to balance. And when life is tipped towards physical and mental challenges, your abilities become defining factors in everyday decisions. To me, that’s when disability becomes part of your story. When your limits color your day.
The choice is how to use those colors. Do you go towards the gray, dark, troubled day or the bright, capable, potential of the day? Is the glass half empty, or half full?
There is also a place on the disability spectrum where the burden of limits become overwhelming. For these people, disability is huge. When pain enters the picture, the whole meaning of CMT changes for me. On days that I am relatively pain-free, my limits are entirely manageable.
But when pain happens to a person, or relationships are troubled because of major needs, or finances go bankrupt, then the positive spin on disability feels contrived. Disability can be a hard, unending journey. And I have no intention of minimizing those very real challenges.
At the same time, I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me. I found an amazing study years ago that asked people with disabilities if they would rather have been born ‘normal’. Many answered no. Why? Because the disability was a major part of themselves. The problem wasn’t with them, it was how other people perceived them. They didn’t feel less, or broken, or damaged. Separating the disability from their life experience was a stretch of the imagination.
And again, I’m not talking about painful or severe disabilities. I’m talking about lifelong limitations and/or accommodations. For myself, I wouldn’t change a thing about my life (except the pain, and don’t ask me on the rough days ). Even then, having CMT has shaped my life. And if not having CMT meant that I wouldn’t have this amazing life with my husband and incredible children, then no way . . . I wouldn’t change a thing.
Adding to that perspective, we can all feel sorry for one another in some way. An Olympic ice skater can feel sorry for all of us that we don’t know the rush of a triple axel. An artist can feel sorry for everyone who cannot paint the images she creates. A chef can feel sorry for everyone who cannot cook his masterpieces. Technically, everyone wearing glasses has a dis-ability.
We all have gifts. And challenges. And that is the spectrum. Let’s hope we can bring out the best in each other. And support each other. And be a society and civilization that changes the world and how we see ourselves in that world. Onward!
The Samsung NC10 is a lightweight, smaller laptop computer. It was created to do what people use laptops for the most- typing and web-surfing. It does a great job with these tasks. The netbook is very light- only 2.8 pounds. It is ideal for travel or even using around the house. I chose the Samsung after trying other netbooks, which I encourage anyone to do who is considering purchasing one. What I find appealing about the Samsung is the keyboard, which is 93% of a typical keyboard. I appreciated the larger kes.
On the cautionary side, the netbook is not made for watching movies or gaming. There is no DVD drive. The processor is less powerful than larger machines, so it doesn’t do things like video-editing or games very well.
For word processing and surfing, though, the Samsung netbook is amazing. I use it every day. In fact, I’m typing on it right now
App of the Week- Google Shopper. Google Shopper can recognize barcodes, take photos of products, and find products through voice recognition. It’s free through the Android Marketplace. For Apple products, it’s called RedLazer.
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