By Stephen Hawking 国华 树春 译注

　　当今活在世上的科学家，大概没有比本文作者斯蒂芬·霍金更知名的了。他写的《时间简史》已译成各种文字，传遍世界。这篇文章表达了他作为残疾人对新千年的期盼。

　　In the new millennium I want to see disabled people acquiring the same degree of control over their lives<注1> that other people have. To be disabled is to be no less human<注2> than anyone else, but far too often<注3> disabled people still have their lives ruled by others. No able-bodied person would put up with it.<注4>

　　Access to<注5> intellectual<注6> opportunities and jobs as well as<注7> buildings and public transport need to be regarded as rights, not gifts society is generous enough<注8> to bestow on disabled people. Institutions are generally willing to adapt their buildings, but only when a disabled person needs them—and afterwards you hear grumbles that the money was wasted because "you never see" a disabled person using the new facilities. That's simplistic:<注9> just widening a door or putting up<注10> a ramp doesn't mean a building is accessible<注11> if<注12> once you get through the door you still can't see, hear or use its services or enjoy the entertainment.

　　The record<注13> is appalling. Even the recent Disability Discrimination Act<注14> fails to cover areas like education and transport, areas that are absolutely crucial if full citizen's rights<注15> are to be extended to the disabled. Until recently people with disabilities were not legally allowed<注16> to use the London Underground. Now there are a few stops, but still not remotely enough.<注17>

　　Inequities like these can be rectified in the next century, but it's going to require political will<注18> and real investment of resources. Cambridge<注19> has made a start on making education accessible<注20> by establishing Bridget's Hostel which can take the severely disabled and ill, including quadraplegic students and students with deteriorating conditions.<注21>

　　One of the keys is obviously technology, but much of the electronic gadgetry we need to dismantle barriers to the disabled is in fact already in place.<注22> We have voice-activated lifts,<注23> emergency call units,<注24> and voice-or switch-activated environmental control systems that manipulate a person's environment.

　　All are innovations that<注25> could really make a difference to the daily lives of people with disabilities, but the technology is vastly under-utilised<注26> because most of it costs too much. Wheelchairs, lifts and computers can be prohibitively expensive:<注27> even a specially adapted sink can cost￡7,000!

　　Speech recognition technology is tremendous—we'll soon be talking to our computers, not fiddling about with<注28> a mouse and keyboard—but the expense means it's not available to most people who need it. Then, because so few people with disabilities use new technology, you get the misconception developing that it's not needed.

　　Disability rights campaigners are understandably becoming more and more vocal,<注29> and it won't be long before our current ways of thinking are transformed. Access and quality of life<注30> are fundamental aspects of civil rights,<注31> and governments everywhere are going to come increasingly under pressure to provide services guaranteeing those rights. Why should we have to go cap in hand<注32> to get a modern<注33> wheelchair or specially adapted toilet, and be treated as recipients of charity.<注34> All people with disabilities want to do is be given the chance to play a normal role in society.

　　If in a generation's time<注35> disabled people can enter every building through the front door like everyone else, rather than be heaved<注36> through a side-door up the delivery-ramp<注37> and freight-lift, I'd call that<注38> real progress. But it's not enough. Once<注39> we're through those doors, there is still a long, long way to go.-

　　(From CAM: Cambridge Alumni Magazine, No.28,1999)