Technology Center opens for disabled

A technology center is now open for the adults with disabilities served at KETCH. The newly constructed Tech Zone, a teaching and learning center, accommodates near any need of our consumers.

“Individuals served in our Work Services program are finding it more difficult to be hired in the community because they lack the technology skills used in many entry-level positions,” explains Jenny Foster-Farquhar, director of employment services. “With the proper training from staff supports, consumers will be able to operate cash registers and perform tasks on the computers in an office.”

The technology center also meets the physical needs of our consumers. Height adjustable desktops, adaptive keyboards (including one-handed typing and oversized keys), and computer programs that read text to vision impaired consumers are just a few of the ways the Tech Zone meets those physical needs.

The Tech Zone includes four student computer workstations, one instructor computer workstation, an ATM, a cash register equipped with a touch screen and barcode scanner, and a library of computer programs, which will train consumers with a wide range of disabilities.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held Friday, December 10, 2004, officially launched the Tech Zone. The Tech Zone is located in the 1006 E. Waterman building of the KETCH campus.