Awards give new hope to people with learning difficulties

Awards totalling £75,000 have been handed out by Microsoft to help people with learning disabilities use computers and improve their IT skills.

Thirty charities and community groups across the UK have each received grants of £2,500 and Microsoft’s Office software to help those affected by physical and mental disabilities through Microsoft’s annual Community Learning Awards.

The awards scheme, which is supported by Citizens Online – a charity committed to closing the digital divide - hopes to provide IT training through supporting informal training projects that introduce ICT to disadvantaged young people and adults. It also gives organisations the chance to pilot schemes before they commit to a full implementation.

“There has been a big push around disability legislation in the past few years and these awards are something we help will push things further,” said Emily Turberville-Tully Communications manager for Citizens Online.

“Charities use the awards for a range of different implementations, for example, a charity that helps the elderly or those with visual impairment may implement a screen reader [software that reads out text from top to bottom] and another charity who helps those with physical disabilities may invest in hardware that is bigger and easier to grip."

However, despite the recent legislations surrounding website access, a lot more is needed to be done.

“Although, many websites are becoming disabled friendly, there are still some sites that need to recognise that putting simple procedures in place will go along way to helping people.

"Making their site compatible with the screen reader software or giving people the option to change text and background colour which helps those with visual impairments will help make IT easier for those with difficulties.”

The Awards scheme, which is in its third year, is part of Microsoft’s global giving initiative, a scheme aimed at helping eliminate technology illiteracy supported by a long term investment of cash and software.

The awards have gone to a range of charities, including a project in Northamptonshire which helps people with autism learn the necessary IT skills to enter the workplace and Sense Scotland who have used the award to buy new equipment.

“The grant of £2,500 meant we could buy new computer equipment for our computer room at TouchBase - a purpose built resource base in Glasgow aimed specifically at working with people who have a range of communication support needs, said Joyce Wilson, Spokeswoman at Sense Scotland.

“The grant was spent mostly on the basic computer hardware and some peripherals to make it easier for people to use, for example Big Keys Plus which provides a simplified keyboard layout and large keys, a real help to someone with visual impairment or someone who has difficulties with manual dexterity.”