About the Centre
Elizabeth FitzRoy Support is the latest charity to join the Karten Network of IT Centres across the country.
The Centres were first established by the Ian Karten Charitable Trust in 1996 and there are now 64 across the UK. Ian Karten was a key player in the electronics industry and is passionate about promoting the use of information technology to disabled people. After selling his Company, he established a charitable trust and this now provides major funding for the Centres under the umbrella of the Karten Network.
The Trust identifies charities which have the enthusiasm to establish Centres using “assistive computer technology to improve the quality of life and the independence of people with disabilities”. The Centres are all very different, with some helping those with a specific disability, and others specialising in vocational training or just communications and life skills.
Our Centre is based at the Malvern Services (three registered care homes for adults with learning disabilities on one site), and provides IT training and communication practice to both our own service users and others from local Day Centres and services. There is no other IT facility for people with learning disabilities in the community, and we anticipate the Centre becoming a popular day base for other groups or homes looking to book sessions on the computers.
The Centre will promote use of our free inter-active website for people with learning disabilities, found at www.sensoryworld.org The site is based around a house, with rooms and activities focussing on health and safety issues, budgeting and developing your own sensory room.
Who is the Centre For?
- Do you support people with learning disabilities?
- Are they interested in accessing computers and learning about IT?
- Do they need assistive computer technology devices?
- Would you welcome regular access to the internet?
- Are you looking for somewhere local?
The specialised IT room can be booked by individuals or groups, and IT support can be arranged on-site as appropriate. There will be a small fee to cover the replacement of equipment, insurance and running costs. One-to-one or group support is also available when booked in advance.
To suit all disabilities, there are customised rise-and-fall desks, touch screens on moveable arms, and specialist technology aids such as roller trackerball mice, interactive switches and large keyboards. Three fully-equipped workstations are available, as well as two laptop computers.
There is full internet access, as well as webcams and handheld camcorders. Appropriate software is available, including cause and effect packages, Microsoft Office and Widgit.
How to Book or Find Out More
Sessions can be booked from 9 am to 5 pm, either on an individual or group basis.
If you are interested, or would like to attend a taster session, please contact us:
- By email ctec.malvern@efitzroy.org.uk
- Leave a message on 01886 832981
- Or telephone the Service Manager, Sandra Hibbert, on 01886 833424