The internet provides opportunities for many of us, who are unable to freely circulate in society, to be a participant in the process of change. Perhaps you have a disabilty which limits your access to the typical avenues of lobbying for your political, economic, scientific or social/cultural viewpoints. Perhaps you work two jobs and raise a family leaving you with no time to pursue your citizenship ideals. The internet still provides you with the ability to be heard and to make more than your vote on election day count in the evolution of our country's policies.

OUR SHRINKING WORLD

We have the capacity to seek out information from around the world, freeing us to form educated opinions and make sound recommendations to those in a position to create change. We can inform the public of issues important to us which may be overlooked or overshadowed by "spin doctors" seeking to color the views of the public.

THE SMALL VOICE

Who could believe that many small voices can yield large scale effects? Note the ribbon awareness icon above - such icons are very popular now, created by persons coping with great hardships to attract notice to their rights for inclusion. This is just one of many but is utilized here as it represents my own disability caused by chemical injury (pesticide poisoning). Without the internet to link me to appropriate resources, I would never have known what was happening to me. Medical practicioners are poorly educated in toxicology and the public largely uninformed by laws which allow the use of dangerous and untested chemicals in our working/living spaces prior to our exposures.

Those of us with chemically induced injuries do not dare to enter many public buidings or join crowds of people due to the risk of severe adverse reactions to common, eveyday chemicals which our bodies cannot tolerate. These may present themselves in the forms of common cleaning solvents, pesticides and even perfumes. Access issues of this type are rarely addressed and accommodation plans often ignored. Despite the current flurry of laws permitting "mandated access" for the disabled, many of us remain isolated by our physical ailments. How then, do we engage with our government and our society in a productive manner? Our experiences make us uniquely qualified to understand and comment upon many aspects of public policy and private injustices. Still, one can have a say. Make yourself comfortable and...