Abstract
What are the fundamental values that should guide the practice of assistive technologists? This essay examines two sources that appear to inform current understandings of the ethics of assistive technology: medical ethics and engineering ethics. From medical ethics comes the notion that assistive technology should aim to restore its users to normal functioning, making them like new. Engineering ethics, on the other hand, recommends enhancing users’ functionality, even if functioning is not achieved in a species typical way. From this engineering perspective, it is permissible and even desirable for assistive technology to make its users function even better than new. Thus enhancing functionality is a central value in assistive technology. Professionals in the field have the ability, and the responsibility as well, to address and counter societal suspicion of artificially enhanced functioning achieved through technology. Consequently, assistive technology professionals should fight against discrimination that excludes people with disabilities, whose functioning depends on prostheses and other products of technology, from the mainstream of social life.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Beauchamp T, Childress J (2008) Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press, New York
Cooper R (2006) Wheelchair standards: It’s all about quality assurance and evidence-based practice. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine 29(2): 93–94, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1929010
Microsoft Accessibility (2010) History of Microsoft’s commitment to accessibility, http://www.microsoft.com/enable/microsoft/history.aspx
National Academy of Engineering (2003) Online ethics center for engineering and research, http://www.onlineethics.org/
Rauhala M, Topo P (2003) Independent living, technology, and ethics. Technology and Disability 15(3):205–214
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (2010) Code of ethics, http://resna.org/certifications/certification-professional-st%andards-board
Rhodes R, Francis L, Silvers A (eds) (2007) The Blackwell Guide to Medical Ethics. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford
Schroeder P (2000) A brief history of Microsoft and accessibility. AccessWorld 1(4), http://www.afb.org/AFBPress/pub.asp?DocID=aw010402
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008) Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, http://www.un.org/disabilities
Silvers A (2001a) No basis for justice: Equal opportunity, normal functioning, and the distribution of healthcare. American Journal of Bioethics 1(2):35–36
Silvers A (2001b) Prescribing multi-functionalism to achieve equality in a world of difference. Health Ethics Today 12(1), http://www.phen.ab.ca/materials/het/het12-01a.asp
Silvers A (2003) On the possibility and desirability of constructing a neutral conception of disability. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 24(6):471–487
Silvers A (2008) The right not to be normal is the essence of freedom. Journal of Evolution and Technology 18(1):79–85, http://jetpress.org/v18/silvers.htm
Steinbock B, London AJ, Arras J (eds) (2008) Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine: Contemporary Readings in Bioethics. McGraw-Hill, New York
Vaughn, Chairperson J (2006) Over the horizon: Potential impact of emerging trends in information and communication technology on disability policy and practice. Washington, DC, http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/emerging_trends.htm
Williams CJ (2010) Blind UCLA graduate can use computer-assisted reading tools during state bar exam. Los Angeles Times, http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/05/local/la-me-blind-bar6-2010feb06
Woolston C (2010) The healthy skeptic: Be wary of products touting FDA certification. Los Angeles Times p 1, http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/01/health/la-he-0301-skeptic-20100301, Health section, Features desk, Part E
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Silvers, A. (2011). Better Than New! Ethics for Assistive Technologists. In: Oishi, M., Mitchell, I., Van der Loos, H. (eds) Design and Use of Assistive Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7031-2_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7031-2_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-7030-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-7031-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)