As I watched the Apple commercial “Powerful” one night I got an idea: what if there were a series of commercials with the same theme but focusing on how Apple technology has empowered me and many others who have disabilities to pursue their dreams and “be powerful” in our own way.
I initially threw this idea out on Facebook and a few weeks later, Christopher Hills posted a great video of iOS 8 Switch Control that featured this theme in the intro. I loved the way Christopher presented the idea and this inspired me to create my own video.
I went down to the waterfront in St. Petersburg, Florida (where I live) to watch the sunrise on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, it had been raining most of the weekend and the view of the sunrise was not that great. That gave me an idea: let’s not waste the trip, let’s make a quick video. Armed with my iPhone, I recorded a series of 4-5 clips while the light was still good. I then used iMovie right on the phone to edit the clips into a short video that is about the length of a typical commercial. Here is the result:
Do you know anyone else whose story demonstrates how they are “more powerful” with technology? Post it online and then use the hashtag Christopher created: #iAmMorePowerfulThanYouThink
Luis Pérez is an inclusive learning consultant based in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has more than a decade of experience working with educators to help them integrate technology in ways that empower all learners. Luis holds a doctorate in special education and a master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of South Florida, and he is the author of Mobile Learning for All: Supporting Accessibility with the iPad, from Corwin Press. Luis has been honored as an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) in 2009, and as Google in Education Certified Innovator in 2014. He is also a TouchCast and Book Creator Ambassador. Luis currently serves as the Professional Learning Chair of the Inclusive Learning Network of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which recognized him as its 2016 Outstanding Inclusive Educator. His work has appeared in publications such Teaching Exceptional Children, Closing the Gap Solutions, THE Journal, and The Loop Magazine. In addition to his work in educational technology, Luis is an avid photographer whose work has been featured in Better Photography magazine, Business Insider, the New York Times Bits Blog and the Sydney Morning Herald. Luis has presented at national and international conferences such as South by Southwest EDU, ISTE, CSUN, ATIA and Closing the Gap.
View all posts by Luis Pérez, Ph. D.
2 thoughts on “You’re More Powerful Than You Think”
You are simply amazing!!! You never cease to stop challenging my thinking and make me want to work harder to expand how I think about technology and stretch the ways It can be used! I just love yours and Chris’s videos so much! I also can not wait to follow the hashtag and make sure so many others see yours and Chris’s videos!!! So very very powerful!!! Well done!!!
The Website of Luis Perez 
You are simply amazing!!! You never cease to stop challenging my thinking and make me want to work harder to expand how I think about technology and stretch the ways It can be used! I just love yours and Chris’s videos so much! I also can not wait to follow the hashtag and make sure so many others see yours and Chris’s videos!!! So very very powerful!!! Well done!!!
Thank you! You are very kind.