ICT to the assistance of people with disability

The Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) and the Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund (PHRF) have entered into a collaboration agreement intended to support disabled persons in overcoming and removing barriers to education and employment through ICT.

Although not all disabled persons applying for ICT equipment would necessarily make the best possible use of it in the short to medium term, such individuals would never have the opportunity to use ICT unless they gained access to computers and technology. FITA contacted a number of local organisations, including Enemalta and HSBC, to donate old computer equipment so that this could be refurbished and distributed to disabled persons who could still make effective use of it.

FITA, together with the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology, runs courses for persons with intellectual disability, or who have communication problems.

The programme includes basic courses in computer office skills and has since led to other more challenging courses.