Adaptive

In this episode, we explore the blurry lines between ability, bodies and technology as told by two people. Danielle Peers and Lindsay Eales are artists, scholars and partners in Montreal who study disability through their own embodied experiences.

Can reading only be done by people who can see? This episode explores the history of Talking Books and alternative reading formats. We speak with Mara Mills, a professor at NYU about her research on reading and Talking Books, and Shefeka Hashash who grew up using Talking Books.

What is technology delves into the things we consider to be technology - and the things we don't. In this episode, Michelle speaks with Owen Chapman, a Professor in Communications about his understanding of technology through his recent research on disability and mobility studies. We also take a trip to the Adaptive Design Association in New York to speak about their work making custom, functional and unique adaptations for disabled children - like chairs, stools and desks, mainly out cardboard!

Episode 1 of ADAPTIVE is an investigation into how we define ability and disability, often based on the technologies people use. We talk to Sara Hendren, Graham Pullin and Aimee Louw about their research and stories about how cultural perceptions frame how disability is understood.

ADAPTIVE is a 6 part podcast series about the interaction between human ability and technology. We talk to researchers, designers and users of technologies that are often associated with disability and how our perceptions of disability are shaped by the technologies people use. The show officially launches on March 22.