SINGAPORE – 19 November, 2018: Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will now have greater access to Infocomm and Assistive Technology (IT/AT) tools with the launch of three satellite loan libraries in Singapore, as announced by Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information, at this year’s E2Connect Forum1.
A partnership between the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and SPD, a voluntary welfare organisation, these loan libraries will help PWDs and Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) identify and trial IT/AT devices and software before purchasing them. This gives them the opportunity to determine which IT/AT tools will be most useful and suitable for their needs.
The three satellite loan libraries will be located at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, and Temasek Polytechnic, in addition to the IT/AT Loan Library at SPD.
Grant Support to Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs)
To drive further adoption of IT/AT by PWDs, IMDA enhanced the IT/AT VWO Grant in 2017 to help PWDs engage meaningfully in the programmes organised by the VWOs. Since then, IMDA has awarded six grants to the following organisations:
- AWWA
- Down Syndrome Association Singapore
- Fei Yue Community Services
- Metta Welfare Association
- SG Enable
- SUN-DAC
These organisations have embarked on projects to drive the adoption of IT/AT in their centres. For example, Fei Yue Community Services incorporated the use of Edamas Systems (Prosense, V-Step and Smart Wipe) and Timocco, into their Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children. These are interactive solutions with customisations designed to engage and enhance the learning needs for children with special needs. The introduction of motion-based interactive provides educational and therapeutic gaming environments that respond to the child’s movements. With the incorporation of both solutions through the grant support from IMDA, Fei Yue has, to date, reached out to over 150 beneficiaries to enhance the learning needs of the children, and will continue to engage and support more families as part of the child’s learning journey.
“The loan libraries and VWO grants are some of our efforts to support PWDs to participate meaningfully in a digital society. Together with our partners, IMDA’s digital readiness programmes support all segments of society to use technology safely and confidently in their daily lives,” Ms Koh Li-Na, Assistant Chief Executive, Planning Group and Digital Readiness Cluster, IMDA.
The E2Connect Forum 2018 will see over 500 participants including PWDs and their caregivers, disability professionals and practitioners, current and prospective employers of PWDs and organisations with IT/AT solutions.
ISSUED BY THE INFOCOMM MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore’s digital transformation with infocomm media. To do this, IMDA will develop a dynamic digital economy and a cohesive digital society, driven by an exceptional infocomm media (ICM) ecosystem – by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICM infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment, and enhances Singapore’s data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission.
For more news and information, visit www.imda.gov.sg or follow IMDA on Facebook IMDAsg and Twitter @IMDAsg.
For media clarifications, please contact:
Jasmine XU (Ms)
Senior Executive, Communications & Marketing, IMDA
DID: 6202 4425
Email: Jasmine_Xu@imda.gov.sg
Rozlin VANZANDT (Ms)
Assistant Director, Communications & Marketing, IMDA
DID: 6202 4940
Email: Rozlin_Vanzandt@imda.gov.sg
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