Thread Subject: Ageing as disability

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From: William Loughborough
Date: Mon, Mar 12 2007 11:55 AM
Subject: Ageing as disability

http://www.webeweb.org/luvstuff/Ageing.htm argues that ageing IS a
disability and although specifically precluded from that status within
Section 902 Definition of the Term Disability - this ban is arbitrary
and semantically incorrect.

Many of the problems faced by PWD (Persons With Disabilities) are
engendered by these "designatory effects", i.e. by calling someone a
"retard" you not only stigmatize her but create the presumption that
there is such a thing. Ageing is as evident as Negritude or gender and
bigotry in connection with such labeling should be addressed by
recognizing that the mere ability to define people as members of a
sanctioned group constitutes a disabling condition.

The Access Board has largely chosen to address physical barriers, but
Section 508 typifies the fact that many (most?) current societal
barriers are "functional barriers" which are less attended to. That
sensory deprivation levels can be somewhat measured/evaluated need not
stop us from dealing with the general area of "cognitive difficulties"
even though they can barely be defined and hardly properly measured at all.

Love.

From: Tom Brett
Date: Mon, Mar 12 2007 12:20 PM
Subject: Re: Ageing as disability

While not to argue with your analysis I would like to point out that many of
the impairments associated with aging are not limited to those who are aged.
Cognitive, visual, hearing and mobility impairments can occur at any age.


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of William
Loughborough
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 2:19 PM
To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-general] Ageing as disability

http://www.webeweb.org/luvstuff/Ageing.htm argues that ageing IS a
disability and although specifically precluded from that status within
Section 902 Definition of the Term Disability - this ban is arbitrary
and semantically incorrect.

Many of the problems faced by PWD (Persons With Disabilities) are
engendered by these "designatory effects", i.e. by calling someone a
"retard" you not only stigmatize her but create the presumption that
there is such a thing. Ageing is as evident as Negritude or gender and
bigotry in connection with such labeling should be addressed by
recognizing that the mere ability to define people as members of a
sanctioned group constitutes a disabling condition.

The Access Board has largely chosen to address physical barriers, but
Section 508 typifies the fact that many (most?) current societal
barriers are "functional barriers" which are less attended to. That
sensory deprivation levels can be somewhat measured/evaluated need not
stop us from dealing with the general area of "cognitive difficulties"
even though they can barely be defined and hardly properly measured at all.

Love.

From: Yamada@TOYO-UNIV
Date: Mon, Mar 12 2007 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: Ageing as disability

William,

In Japan, we developed ICT accessibility standards not only for persons with
disabilities but also for "older persons." Therefore, Japanese standards
include various recommendations that are useful by older persons.

The reason that Japan includes older persons is very simple. The number and
the ratio of older persons are increasing year by year in Japan. Now, people
over age 65 consist of 20% or more of population. Japan cannot develop
Information Society, if we ignore older persons.

Whether or not to include older persons in your 508 specifications is a kind
of political decisions. The main target of 508 is federal government
employees. If the employees do not include older persons, it is difficult to
consider about older persons in 508 specifications. But I do not know the
political decision in US.

Hajime Yamada

From: William Loughborough
Date: Mon, Mar 12 2007 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: Ageing as disability

Yamada@TOYO-UNIV wrote:
> In Japan, we developed ICT accessibility standards not only for persons with
> disabilities but also for "older persons." Therefore, Japanese standards
> include various recommendations that are useful by older persons.
>
> The reason that Japan includes older persons is very simple. The number and
> the ratio of older persons are increasing year by year in Japan. Now, people
> over age 65 consist of 20% or more of population. Japan cannot develop
> Information Society, if we ignore older persons.
>
This whole issue has very far-reaching consequences because in U.S. (and
almost everywhere) there are concepts of "retirement" and "employment"
that are based on various societal/religious considerations that are
rapidly disappearing. For example here the idea of "health insurance" is
bound up with the idea of "employment"! The concept of "retirement" is
based on similar unrealistic concepts as most people my age will tell
you: we often are more "employed" after "retirement age" than ever
before, but we still get the exclusions of any disability group.

The point is that "disability" is not decided by a think tank (though it
is usually defined thereby!) but by societal behaviors. We had a
president for a long time who was considered "disabled" (or would have
been if he hadn't hidden his wheelchair!) and he got quite a bit
accomplished.

Love.

From: Debbie Cook
Date: Mon, Mar 12 2007 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Ageing as disability

I don't think anyone in our circle would disagree with these points. But
redefining disability is beyond the scope of the TEITAC. Discussing aging in
addiiton to traditional disability within the any commentary for
justificiation is incredibly appropriate.
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Loughborough" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: [teitac-general] Ageing as disability


Yamada@TOYO-UNIV wrote:
> In Japan, we developed ICT accessibility standards not only for persons
> with
> disabilities but also for "older persons." Therefore, Japanese standards
> include various recommendations that are useful by older persons.
>
> The reason that Japan includes older persons is very simple. The number
> and
> the ratio of older persons are increasing year by year in Japan. Now,
> people
> over age 65 consist of 20% or more of population. Japan cannot develop
> Information Society, if we ignore older persons.
>
This whole issue has very far-reaching consequences because in U.S. (and
almost everywhere) there are concepts of "retirement" and "employment"
that are based on various societal/religious considerations that are
rapidly disappearing. For example here the idea of "health insurance" is
bound up with the idea of "employment"! The concept of "retirement" is
based on similar unrealistic concepts as most people my age will tell
you: we often are more "employed" after "retirement age" than ever
before, but we still get the exclusions of any disability group.

The point is that "disability" is not decided by a think tank (though it
is usually defined thereby!) but by societal behaviors. We had a
president for a long time who was considered "disabled" (or would have
been if he hadn't hidden his wheelchair!) and he got quite a bit
accomplished.

Love.