#SeasonalSonnets: 27th Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry was inspired by the hard work I've been doing on my thesis all day - and that fact that none of it would be possible for me without my trusty laptop. I feel very lucky to have grown up in the digital era (and in fact I'm almost the same age as the WorldWide Web!) because it's made things accessible for me that otherwise would not be. However, through some of the reading I've been doing recently, I've discovered that the majority of people with disabilities in the UK have little or no access to the internet, due to a combination of a lack of facilities and of education. I was really struck by this, because I know how much I have gained through technology, and it is concerning to me that others aren't able to take advantage of that.

I was particularly reminded of this concern today, as I've worked for some solid hours (with sensible breaks for health) - and none of my work would have been feasible (certainly not the speed of it) had I used more analogue methods. So, one of my goals for next year is to find a way to make something technological more accessible to others.

For now, here's my sonnet.

Jx

27^th December

Tonight I’m going to type about computers

and my thanks for all the freedom that they offer –

by ‘lowing me to dream of being a tutor

and t’undergraduates my thoughts to proffer.

For surely I would not be where I sit

without the vast resources of the ‘net

(I might, perhaps, have had wistful thoughts of it –

but never held’t something I could get).

And yet, I find, I’m a minority

(and not just in the fact that I’m a scholar) –

‘cause, for most UK citizens with disabilities,

th’internet is something unfamiliar.

This lack of access really makes me sad –

it means there’s a whole world they’ve never had.

 

Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016