By Steve Stock | Co-Director
The Davies-Gauthier Foundation has recently provided accessible hardware and software awards to two noteworthy organizations.
Oakland University's OPTIONS program provides students with cognitive disabilities who could not otherwise qualify for admission to continue their academic education in a college setting along side their peers. OPTIONS students are fully included in residential housing, classes, campus events, job opportunities, and all areas of on-campus life. The Foundation has provided three portable technology packages to help support OPTIONS students to independently navigate the complexities of campus life through accessible electronic prompting and multimedia scheduling systems. "The technology is especially useful for students with cognitive disabilities since reminders and replays are available where ever the student needs them" notes Lee VanAmberg, OPTIONS Director. "Learning this way will help these students adapt to college classes faster, which fosters success before the students reach a point of frustration."
Innovative thinkers at IMAGINE!, a Boulder, Colorado based agency serving people with developmental disabilities, are busy constructing one of the nation's first smart homes specifically for people with intellectual disabilities (also known as mental retardation). The Davies-Gauthier Foundation acknowledged this effort by awarding the organization a series of accessible desktop and portable computer systems to support increased independence for residents of the Bob and Judy Charles Smart Home in a variety of work, daily living and socialization activities. Alex Andrews, Technology Resource Manager for IMAGINE!, summed up the impact of the donation: "We are very excited and are looking forward to putting your technology to good use. We have about 300 clients that will be potentially benefiting from [the technology donation]. "
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