Training for the disabled

As you guys are considering an outreach program, i am currently trying to work with a group of disabled people, creating an IT training program for them.  These people are all hearing impaired, but they feel disadvantaged, as their plight are not often looked at.

What I am considering is a module/program where they will be introduced to computer programming, and of course, I am leaning on the .NET and Visual Basic/C# side.

Anyone interested to pick this up with me?  If anyone wants to join me on this crusade, drop me a line, and we'll see how we can work to better our fellow human beings!

(Hope this is the right place to be asking for this. )

While I think this is a noble and worthy cause to bring value to these folk, the realistic problem i see is the language barrier - how many of us know sign language to communicate, and thus train, effectively?

How have you planned to conduct these trainings should they be in a physical classroom? Would there be a team of translators employed? These forums can be an ideal ground for communications since there's essentially no sound involved, but certainly not suitable for conducting training classes, as far as web forums boards are structured.

Please do elaborate on some ideas you have. Thanks.

Well, i guess everyone understands the universal sign language ... but i usually use the 'Hi' by waving my head from my forehead.

icelava, as for the worry about communicating our ideas, let alone the training package across to the class, i am willing to contribute my time by helping to translate for the class.  As such, the training would normally communicate/teach the class as per normal hearing people, and i'll stand by the side translating for the trainer, and interpreting their questions for him/her.  At the same time, the trainer could also pick up a new language, which doesn't require any voice, particularly when you have a very bad sore throat!

I am trying to establish a physical computer room at maybe a community centre.  The group i am working with currently have computer facilities, but they are far too outdated, pentium 2s mostly.  But i am trying to find sponsors who can donate p3 or even p4 machines to this federation.  (The group is not the Singapore Association for the Deaf which is mostly run by hearing people for deaf people.  The group/federation i am helping out is by the deaf, for the deaf.)  This is something that will on a volutary basis, but of course, there will be a small honorarium paid to the trainer for the time he/she puts in.  The participants will not be paying thousands of dollars like what some centres are charging for the MCSD/MCSA programs.  What i intend is just an introduction to get them thinking, and start exploring, and maybe, get pointers from you gurus as they continue along their path to seek and widen their (.NET) knowledge.

If i can get confirmation of the location for the training, it will start in 1 to 1.5 months' time!  But all i can say, it is voluntary work.  In my case, i get the satisfaction to help other people.

Hope this helps to clear some doubts you gurus (or even enthusiastic novices) out there might have.

Cheers all!

Hmmm, no takers?

It depends on how frequent and the duration of each session. Hopefully, we do not have to worry about the setup of both hardware and software. Let me know when everything is confirmed, and we can take it from there.

This is a very poor organisation, that their PCs are not even able to run XP!

So would need to find donors for computers that are capable of running at least the Express editions of Visual Studio.  Any one willing to donate, or know of any company about to junk out their old but usable PCs?

As for the actual training, trying to formalize a training program so we can at least propose to them.  Anyway, bronkman, if you are interested to help, you can contact me.

ding

I would like to be part of the team. Please keep me posted of any activities. Probably we can start by sourcing for the hardware before we can go ahead with any other tasks.

Maybe we can organize some meetings to discuss how do we go about it.

Melvin  

Just to get a better idea, how many participants are expected?