Spastics Society ties-up with PACER Center, IBM India

BANGALORE: The Spastics Society of Karnataka (SSK), PACER Center and IBM India on Wednesday joined hands to announce a technology partnership to launch India's first comprehensive Assistive Technology Centre.
    
The new ‘Spastics Society of Karnataka Assistive Technology Centre for Education and Life Skills Training’, which is expected to open in early 2008, would enable children and adults with any disability to learn, communicate and participate more comprehensively in many work and life activities, an SSK statement said.
    
Assistive technology is specialised hardware or software that is used to help increase, maintain or assist the functional capabilities of people with disabilities.
    
Modeled after PACER Center's Simon Technology Centre, the new centre would provide assistive technology to help children and adults with disabilities.
    
The First Lady of Minnesota, US, Mary Pawlenty, who was present on the occasion, said "it is wonderful to see this global collaboration to advance the opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. I am proud of the work done in Minnesota and Karnataka, and I know that as this collaboration grows, with the support of strong corporate partners like IBM, we will see great benefits for all".
    
PACER Center is providing training for the SSK staff and has solicited corporate donors and assistive technology vendors to contribute technology, financial gifts, and volunteer time to help build and support the centre. IBM has donated the hardware and Accessibility Works software.