News and Events
Funding for Individuals
Several Centres have asked for information on funding for computer systems for individuals.
You can download the “Funding for an adapted computer" factsheet from the factsheet section on the AbilityNet website and print this for individuals
Funding for Individuals
Case Studies with RAPS
Jan
Jan came to do some computer training with Forth Community Resource Centre after she had retired from her job in insurance. Her eyesight had been failing for several years and she had recently been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration.
When she began with us we did know about her problem and thought she just needed thick glasses. However, as luck would have it, we were in the process of becoming a RAPS centre and various bits of kit were being installed in our computing suite.
When we started using stickers on the keyboard, Jan’s life turned around! She was so impressed with the difference the high visibility stickers made to her ability to read the keys that she had to order a set for her own computer.
She still attends courses here from time to time, depending on the topics we have on offer, but she is now able to explore the world of computing from the comfort of her own living room at anytime of day or night without having to turn on all the lights so she can see read the keys!
Beth
Beth suffers from a condition which causes her hands to continually tremor and shake. Her computing experience was very limited because she could not easily operate a traditional mouse.
She came along to a digital photography class with us after her friend told her we had a tracker ball attached to one of our PCs.
Within minutes of sitting down at the computer, Beth found that the stable platform offered by the Kensington Mouse helped her control the screen cursor more accurately than she had ever managed before.
The following week she brought her husband along to the class to see the tracker ball. He was very sceptical at first, especially when it could potentially cost him money! However, after using the tracker ball for a few minutes himself he was won over and wanted to know where he could purchase the equipment.
A few days later Beth phoned to tell us about her Kensington Mouse and thanked Forth Community Resource Centre and the RAPS project profusely for the difference it was making to her personal confidence and computing skills.