Technology

“Teaching yoga, hosting yoga brunch events and doing a full-time finance contract is pretty tiring,” says Jemma Ralston, “but it is so exciting because I am in control. All these things I am choosing to do. Yoga is my passion.” Ralston has a condition called Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) that leads to problems with blood clotting, causing easy bruising and prolonged bleeding. It also involves nystagmus – uncontrolled eye movements, leading to reduced vision and depth perception.

Assistive technology is transforming the lives of people with disabilities. But what’s perhaps more remarkable is the fact that you probably haven’t noticed. The unobtrusive nature of the technology demonstrates the sharp evolutionary curve seen in assistive tech.

Sarah Ezekiel loves colour. Her living room is filled with bright and joyful prints created by herself and others. “I like so many artists and they have influenced my work. I particularly like Modigliani, Kandinsky and Picasso,” she says. Ezekiel lives with motor neurone disease (MND), and is unable to move from the neck down. Her own art – which can take months to make – is created using eye-gaze technology.

We could all need assistive technology at any time – something Rachael Glazier knows only too well. She was fixing her son’s drone at Christmas when it took off unexpectedly. She jumped on a table to grab it, the table tipped, and she fell head-first on to a solid oak floor.

Accessibility is getting a major upgrade in iOS 13 and macOS Catalina — adding not just the ability to use a mouse with iOS, but also granting users the ability to control their devices using only their voice.

As part of its macOS Catalina and iOS 13 unveiling today at WWDC, Apple announced a new accessibility feature called Voice Control, allowing users to control their Mac and iOS devices entirely using vocal commands.

In the Ramadan spirit of giving back to those in need, the management of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur held a special buka puasa event for 50 special children.

The dinner was graced by Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.

Disability is not just about the Paralympics, thrilling as the excitement of watching elite athletes in action is. The reality is that there are still reams of misconceptions about disability and what it actually means; particularly when it comes to the overwhelming majority of people with disabilities who aren’t world-class sprinters or shot putters.