Here’s Yet Another Label For The Disabled

by Kevin Burton

In at least one part of the world, people with disabilities are called “people of determination.” Have you ever heard of that?

   I had not. But I found a story about an expo where devices for the disabled were on display. (I include part of that story below).That story referred to people of determination, which sent me searching for the term.  I then found this on the website u.ae, the government portal for the United Arab Emirates:

   “Under the National Policy for Empowering People with Special Needs, people with special needs or disabilities will be referred to as ‘people of determination’ to recognize their achievements in different fields. As explained on the Abu Dhabi portal, the law defines a person with special needs as someone suffering from a temporary or permanent, full or partial deficiency or infirmity in his physical, sensory, mental, communication, educational or psychological abilities to an extent that limits his possibility of performing the ordinary requirements as people without special needs.”

   Wow, another label.

    Every group has to go by some name just for the sake of clarity. But what that term or name should be is not universally agreed upon, even within the in-group. This makes it nearly impossible for outsiders – writers for instance – to avoid offending people.

   For instance, this new one, people of determination, can that be expressed as “the determined”?

   Somebody, somewhere,(a committee perhaps?)  thought ‘people of determination’ was a useful term, better than the ones it replaced, more respectful, whatever. I just find it clunky. Three words, eight syllables.

   Determination is essential for anyone who hopes to live and succeed in this world, especially people with disabilities. But so are inventiveness, patience, humor, focus and any number of other traits.

   So, I don’t know about ‘people of determination.’ I would be quite interested to hear what you think. Also, I wonder if people in the UAE or elsewhere actually use the term ‘people of determination’ or if that is just government speak.

   Anyway, let’s get to those devices for the disabled.  The story is by the English-language  Khaleej Times from Dubai, published Oct. 9:

   “A laptop for blind, a talking microwave and pods for autistic kids are just some of the innovations on display at the fifth edition of the AccessAbilities Expo that kicked off in Dubai today. The event showcases the best initiatives, plans, and new technologies to improve the quality of life of more than 50 million people of determination in the region.”

   “Held over three days, the exhibition brings together over 250 exhibitors under one roof. Here are the top 8 innovations at the expo that stood out:”

1. Sensory pods: Equipped with a TV, mirror and moving lights, these pods are intended for children with autism to relax in when they experience a sensory overload. The moving lights and mirror are meant to calm the child down while the TV distracts them.

2. All terrain wheelchair: The Action Trackchair is designed for those with physical disabilities to have complete freedom outdoors. With powerful motors that give the rider mobility over sand and snow, the wheelchair also allows for the sitting and standing positions. It can be used for fishing, BBQ and outdoor activities.

3. eBrelle Laptop: Designed to help those with visual disabilities, the eBrelle laptop transcribes any digital text files into Braille characters. It can also be used to take notes and store them like a regular laptop.

4. Talking microwave: The talking microwave comes equipped with tactile buttons to help blind people use the home appliance independently. It reads out the functionalities of each button making it easier for people of determination to use it.

5. Dream phone: The dream phone helps hearing, and speech impaired people use speech-to-text to make and answer phone calls. The portable device, which can be attached to any phone allows the user to interact with a caller seamlessly.

6. Tactile graphic printers: This device turns any graphic or photo into Braille format to allow those with visual disabilities to “read” any picture.

7. Accessible kiosk: This kiosk, meant to be installed in public locations, will direct people of determination in a way that is most suitable for them. Maps will be converted into Braille, there will be audio messages as well as sign language for those who require it. The height of the screen will be adjusted automatically as people approach it.

8. Tactile Chess Set: The tactile chess set aims to make games more accessible to those with visual impairments. The chess pieces and the board are also magnetic to allow for a good gaming experience.