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Unapologetically Blind

Tag: education

  • Transformative Role of AI in Today’s Society

    Transformative Role of AI in Today’s Society

    As I write this piece on Artificial Intelligence, the irony of using AI tools to edit and enhance my final work is not lost on me. It raises a core question: Is this not precisely what AI is intended for? In today’s environment, AI holds a very clear and powerful place. However, it also presents a danger: without careful oversight, its unrestricted use could lead to problematic outcomes. These are my raw thoughts, revised for clarity and impact.

    The Power of AI: Enhancement and AccessibilityContent Creation & Editing

    For many, this is where AI truly thrives. I utilize AI for editing, recognizing that I am not always the most proficient with language. The power of AI has allowed me to quickly draft my thoughts and use simple prompts in tools like Gemini to revise, clean up, and significantly improve my writing.

    Furthermore, AI is a champion for accessibility. For individuals envisioning amazing visual content but unable to use physical tools to create an image or video due to visual or other impairments, AI steps in. We can enter exactly what we imagine, and the technology generates the creative output rapidly, democratizing content creation.

    Democratizing Development with AI

    Do you have a revolutionary application idea but lack coding knowledge? Tools such as Google AI Studio exist to bridge this gap. You can now build a fully functional website or web app simply by describing your ideas and allowing the power of AI to generate the necessary code. This development capability has opened the world of tech creation to a much broader audience, freeing individuals from the constraints of expensive experts or complex learning curves. I have personally delved into tools like AI Studio and continue to explore their creative potential for personal projects, with aspirations of developing solutions for others.

    The Critical Challenge: Education and Ethics

    The most significant issue facing society today is the pervasive lack of education regarding the responsible use of AI. We have made these powerful tools easy to access and largely restriction-free. This has had a massive, detrimental impact on the quality of self-created academic and creative content—from essays and papers to mathematical and scientific work.

    We are seeing students at all levels harnessing AI’s power. While some use it to enhance their work positively, a concerning number are using AI to replace their own effort entirely, rather than using it to supplement and improve their foundational knowledge.

    AI as a Personal Accessibility Tool

    For me, AI is an indispensable daily tool. Whether I’m generating content for my blog, editing cover letters and resumes, or even building a utility for navigation, AI is a key part of my workflow. I consider it a tool, not a production assistant or a finalizer of my work. My process always involves writing my own blogs first, ensuring the content is authentically mine and not simply a regurgitation of ideas from another entity. I also enjoy using AI to create photos and videos, as it enables me to manifest my personal, creative vision in an accessible manner.

    Conclusion

    Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and its trajectory is one of permanent growth. As a society, our imperative is not to resist it, but to collectively learn how to use it, responsibly expand its capabilities, and establish a firm ethical framework for its deployment. We must continue to generate our own original ideas and content, leveraging AI only to enhance them. Far too many people are currently using AI to build their entire content from the ground up with a minimal self-thought-out process. We must not surrender our individual creative abilities; instead, we must harness the power of AI to make our personal creations better.

  • Letter to Edmonton

    Okay Edmonton, some of you seriously got to get back on your meds.
    To the Social Justice Worrior on the rout 901 around 3:00 today September 11, Please please please check yourself before you wreck yourself.
    Lets unpack what you said:
    You asked a service dog handler (MY PARTNER) if her service dog was a “SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG” S&R dogs, do not have public access rights, and though they are a task trained dog, they are not generally granted public access. For the record, that adorable yellow girl, the one in full harness and connected by a leash, and more behaved than your pinky finger, yeah she is a Program trained “GUIDE DOG”
    You seemed to be bothered by my staring at you like you were / are stupid. BTW, does me not blinking upset you? And yes, you are incredibly stupid.
    You telling me to go suck your rubber dick. Sorry, desperation and Gonorrhea don’t particularly taste great, so i will have to pass.
    I do have to tell you, you are right, people are claiming their pet dogs as service dogs all to often, and that is in fact illegal; however, there are a vast majority of service dog handlers who know the laws just a little better than you claim, and who in fact are actually working with task trained service dogs. As a random citizen on a bus, you do not have the lawful right to inquire about a dog being a service dog, especially if there are no causes for concern, such as bad behaviour or if the dog looks incredibly stressed by the experience. You, and your actions are actually what is wrong with the demographic of uneducated individuals on the laws around service animals, those who desire to fake their dogs as service dogs etc. Your total lack of understanding of the law around service dogs, guide dogs, and what constitutes as a service or guide dog are absolutely a larger problem than the number of people trying to pass Fluffy off as a service dog. (Sorry Fluffy, if you are a task trained service dog.)
    Oh, and your comment about me trying to get in the service dog handlers pants, well the jokes on you since she is kinda already my partner, and has been for over 6 years, soooo… I’ll just leave it at that.

    To the two women sitting near my partner and her labradorable, none of that was your fault! You’re awesome!
    To you, the crazy bitch who got off at Groat Road and 107th ave, i implore you to seek help, educate yourself on the laws, and learn to back off when you are wrong.

  • Summer Refresh: Braille, Growth, and New Beginnings for an Educational Assistant

    Summer Refresh: Braille, Growth, and New Beginnings for an Educational Assistant

    The school year has wrapped up, and what a journey it’s been! While the 2.5-month education support worker strike certainly added a unique challenge, this past year has been one of significant growth and new experiences for me as an educational assistant specializing in visual impairments.

    Embracing Braille: Sharpening Skills for Enhanced Support

    As an educational assistant working with visually impaired students, proficiency in assistive technology and braille is paramount. This year highlighted a crucial need for me to refresh my skills in the Unified English Braille (UEB) code, encompassing both literary and math braille. It’s incredible how much has evolved since I initially learned Grade 2 English Braille and Nemeth Math Braille!

    This summer, my focus will be on intensive braille study and practice. I’m genuinely excited about this undertaking. Not only will it enhance my employment opportunities within the school division, but it will also be invaluable for a new side venture my partner and I are exploring. Stay tuned for more details on that exciting project!

    Beyond Braille: Future Educational Endeavors

    My braille refresh has naturally led me to consider other educational advancements. Should I pursue a new diploma program, leveraging my prior academic experiences, or focus solely on acquiring specialized certifications? This is a question I’ll be thoroughly researching and reflecting on as I map out my professional development.

    A Summer of Creativity, Connection, and Consistent Content

    It’s only the beginning of my summer break, and my mind is already buzzing with creativity, energy, and a desire for new experiences. This summer promises to be incredibly productive. Expect more engaging posts about the real world of education, my guide dog adventures, and much more.

    I’m committed to increasing my posting frequency beyond just a few times a month. My goal is to publish a post every day throughout July and maintain a weekly schedule thereafter. Believe me, I have a wealth of ideas to share, enough to keep content flowing for months!

  • The Erosion of Disability Rights: A Personal Reflection

    The Erosion of Disability Rights: A Personal Reflection

    While once it seemed that progress was being made towards acceptance and equality for people with disabilities, recent experiences suggest a troubling reversal. This personal reflection explores this apparent decline, focusing on societal attitudes, education, and employment. These observations are based on my own experiences and may not reflect the experiences of all individuals with disabilities.

    Society

    Technological advancements, such as AI and visual interpretation software, while promising, haven’t translated into true accessibility for many, particularly those with vision loss. While access to information and some products may have improved, crucial areas like point-of-sale systems, self-checkout kiosks, and food ordering systems often remain inaccessible. Negative encounters with service dogs, including outright refusals of service, persist.

    People using mobility devices like wheelchairs and walkers face similar challenges. Accessing buildings and stores is often difficult due to a lack of ramps, automatic doors, and accessible restrooms. Accessible transportation options are becoming increasingly unaffordable and unreliable, with fewer accessible cabs and inconsistent door-to-door transit services. The increasing number of ride-sharing services refusing passengers with service dogs, despite legal protections, further restricts accessibility. Instead of genuine inclusion, society often seems to be pushing people with disabilities further into the shadows, diminishing their autonomy and independence.

    Education

    The ongoing job action by school support staff in Alberta, including administrative assistants, education assistants, and specialized learning support workers, has a devastating impact on students, especially those with disabilities. These students are being denied access to vital educational support, hindering their learning and development. The lack of urgency from the government and school boards to resolve this strike underscores a disregard for the needs of these vulnerable students. The strike also creates a ripple effect, impacting families’ access to respite care. Many students are not receiving the necessary care, education, and independent living skills development they need to thrive. The long-term consequences of this disruption are deeply concerning .

    Employment

    My personal journey in the job market highlights the significant barriers faced by people with disabilities. During my university years (2012-2018), I struggled to find any employment, despite numerous applications. Six summers passed without a single interview. While internships with the Government of Saskatchewan in 2018 and 2019 provided valuable experience, the pandemic disrupted my career. After a period of unemployment, I secured a part-time internship with a non-profit, which ended after two years. Despite working with multiple employment agencies, finding stable employment proved incredibly challenging. My resume and skills were solid, yet employers showed little interest. Over three years, I applied for approximately 2,500 jobs and received only three interviews, ultimately landing my current role. This experience raises serious questions about systemic discrimination and the lack of opportunities for qualified individuals with disabilities.

    Conclusion

    The challenges I’ve described in society, education, and employment raise serious concerns about the true state of disability rights. Are we witnessing a decline in progress, with people with disabilities facing increasing marginalization? Why are human rights legislation and charter rights not being effectively enforced? What concrete steps can be taken to address these issues and ensure genuine equality and inclusion for all? These are urgent questions that demand answers and action.