A realization and a memory

While researching some subject directories suggested by my Professor, I came upon a sudden realization. I was viewing a website that was dedicated to disabled people in order to keep them socially active and informed and realized that this is a wonderful use of social networking and the Internet in general. The website is now located on this blog page under The International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet,

I remember watching a 20/20 episode, or a similar show, which was about a young boy who could not leave his home due to illness. Instead, the local school district and the boy’s family set up his room like a digital classroom. He had visual accessibility to his actual classroom and had the capability of vocally and visually interacting with his classmates. The boy was able to send in his work via e-mail and had all the resources the other children had in class.

I am surprised that I forgot about this wonderful use of technology. People who are disabled or chronically ill may not have the ability to physically enter a classroom or communicate properly with other students or faculty. Entering a computer into the equation makes the problem much easier to solve. No, the child is not physically experiencing everything in a first-hand manner, but he may not be capable of doing so. This new technology grants the child the ability and provides him with irreplacable experiences.