Don't you dare take away my technology!

This is just a thought I had today....

Several years ago I was listening to a college lecture about disabilities.  One of the audience members shared an experience with the class.  He (I don't recall his name) went to the office of disabilities in another university when he first started his college career.  He did not disclose  his diagnosis but he is in a wheel chair and used various devices for note-taking and scheduling.  The counselor in the disabilities office was telling him about all the services they provide and that they would help him become more self reliant and not have to use technology so much.  He was so upset!  "Don't you dare take away my technology!  Its what makes it so I CAN attend college!  I like my technology....its easy and comfortable.  You wouldn't take away a persons glasses or cane if that's what they like to use."  I hadn't ever thought about that.

 In my work we teach kids how to be independent and how to use technology.  But sometimes we teach them how to do things without technology....which actually takes away some of their independence.  The goal shouldn't be to wean a person away from technology but teach them how to become more efficient with it. 

One example of this happens at the elementary level....we teach children to write with pencils.  A fine skill but at what point do we stop scoring penmanship and start focusing on the writing process?   You know, making sentences and lists and what not, to communicate with people?  Many children would probably prefer to use a word program or a device like an 'alpha smart' to get their ideas out.

Children with fine motor issues (gripping, poor muscle tone, etc) might be more successful with writing if given the proper tools and training.  And then....Let them keep their technology!  Or at least give them the choice to keep it.  What seems inconvenient to us might not be inconvenient to that person. 
Its just a thought I had today.