Educational Media Reviews Online

Many people with disabilities rely on specialized equipment such as wheelchairs, voice input programs, screen reading programs, TTY units, large key keyboards and print scanners to go about their daily lives. Utilizing interviews and home movies, this program focuses on several people with disabilities as they raise their families, go to school, college and work. They discuss and demonstrate the abilities of some of the adaptive equipment they use. They also discuss the difference that adaptive equipment has made in their lives and their struggles to get it. The problems with obtaining these valuable “freedom machines,” including funding sources, public education on the fundamental need for this type of equipment and the technological advances still needed with some of the equipment are discussed. These interviews also reveal the prejudices that people with disabilities still face and the fears and indifference that make it difficult for them to get the jobs they want and sometimes the adaptive equipment itself.

The DVD version contains both the same documentary and some unique and valuable added features. In an effort to make this DVD accessible, there are optional English and Spanish language tracks available as well as closed captioning and video descriptions. Automatic audio description of menu options, text and use directions are on each menu page. This DVD also has four additional segments: Technology and You; Get the Technology You Need; You Have Legal Rights and Designing for Everyone; that discuss additional equipment, resources and legal rights for people with disabilities. Optional print resources are available for downloading from the disk as well.

Freedom Machines would be a good addition to any public or academic library collection. Highly recommended.

The original Freedom Machines review is also included in EMRO.