PATS Grant Puts PARC Participants in Control
PARC is happy to announce that the Community Foundation of Central Illinois has awarded $2,987.00 to the PATS (PARC Assistive Technology Services) program to purchase adaptive equipment. This equipment facilitates PATS Outreach programs, giving increased computer access to PARC classrooms and enhancing the intensive daily computer training provided in the PATS room.
Greg creates his own computer artwork by pressing a switch to apply a myriad of colors to his Paint by Number design. Bruce is learning the concept of cause/effect when he presses a switch to shoot down aliens invading his computer screen. LeeAnne is in control as she presses a switch to advance through a computer slide show of photographs of herself and her peers. Ryan can’t get enough of cool car videos that he pulls up on YouTube using an adapted trackball. Bonnie exercises her powers of visual discrimination as she clicks on matching letters on the computer screen to “dominate” the “Same Game.” Tricia presses a switch with the left side of her head to complete paid data entry work using special on-screen computer keyboards.
What do all these people have in common? They’re all participants in PARC’s Day Program, and they’re all “in control,” thanks to adaptive computer equipment provided through a grant from the Hotel Pere Marquette Charitable Fund and the Peoria Sertoma Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.
This grant opens doors to many wonderful computer leisure, learning, and work opportunities for Bruce, LeeAnne, Ryan, Greg, Bonnie, Tricia and their peers at PARC. Funds from the grant were used to purchase adaptive computer equipment that has been installed in the PATS room, and through the PATS Outreach program, in Adult Developmental Services classrooms and in Vocational Services. Among the equipment purchased through the grant were special trackballs, switches, and switch mounts that make using computers possible for individuals with disabilities.
For more information on PATS program, please contact Ellen Cantrell at (309) 689-3618.
November 12, 2008
