Sustaining Switched
on communities
The three-year Sustaining Switched On Communities project aims to make a lasting and sustainable impact on the capacity of Voluntary & Community Organisations (VCOs) to support individuals with a disability through ICT technology and training.
LCIL is the East Midlands regional partner for the project, which is led by AbilityNet - a national charity helping disabled adults and children to use computers and the Internet by adapting and adjusting their technology.
LCIL’s role in this project is:
· To promote the use of assistive technology to overcome barriers and provide opportunities for disabled people.
· To work with, and assist, Voluntary & Community Organisations in the East Midlands region who wish to offer accessible IT services to members of their local community.
· To provide on-going advice and support to these VCOs and their beneficiaries regarding the use of assistive ICT technology.
· To support and undertake online and face-to-face assessments designed to improve accessibility to computers by increasing awareness.
Since LCIL became involved in the project in May 2008 the number of VCOs in the network has grown to 21, and together we have been able to support more than 2200 beneficiaries in the East Midlands with:
· Advice and guidance on the availability and use of adaptive resources such as keyboards, mice, trackballs and switches
· Advice and guidance on screen reader, magnification and text‑to‑speech programs
· Advice and guidance on the accessibility options available in MicrosoftWindows
· Assessments to establish a better way of using their computer
For the next, and final, 12 months of the project we are well on our way to adding another 11 VCOs but would be happy to discuss the project with other non-profit making organisations and VCOs.
For more information please contact:
AlanRowsell on 0116 222 5005 email alan.rowsell@lcil.org.uk
or Vihing Lee on 0800269545 email vihing.lee@abilitynet.org.uk
or visit http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/soc
