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We welcome the contributions and involvement of all entities and individuals
interested in providing support to individuals with disabilities, in
education and the at the work place.
Classification
FITA's projects and initiatives usually fall under the following classifications
- Policy, rights and advocacy
- Education and inclusion
- Training and employment
- Information resources
and access to ICT
- Research (Statistical
and Innovative)
- Information awareness
- Other services and initiatives
Timeframes
FITA actively seeks to identify ways and means of how ICT can best
assist disabled persons, however we also realise that, a full and complete
coverage in this area, is beyond the means of any one organisation.
This is even more so, in the case of NGOs where human resources are
limited.
Most of the proposals listed here are typically short to medium term.
Longer term collaboration agreements are usually managed via direct
formal contact. Should you feel that you or your organisation can help
contribute towards improving the quality of disabled persons through
ICT, we kindly ask you to contact FITA, so that we may discuss how the
Foundation can best assist you in such endeavours.
Proposals, projects and initiatives
.
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Low
Cost Page Turner - FITA collaborated with the University of
Malta on a project involving the development of accessible computer
workstations and page turners.
Status: Design project by University of Malta completed. Seeking
resources for actual creation of basic protoype.
- ICT
Training - FITA coordinates the running of a tuition scheme,
in conjunction with other educational/training entities. Booster
sessions and ICT awareness sessions are organised with a view to
integrate disabled and non-disabled students who can benefit from
this tuition.
Future courses will be targeted at secondary school students, who
necessitate further support in order to achieve desired formal education
levels or wish to revise topics covered within the standard scholastic
curriculum.
ICT Career Path - In 2009, FITA carried out research about
the main job roles present in the ICT industry and the availability
of courses leading to the qualifications necessary to fulfill such
roles. The data collection was done under the guidance of Mr. Stanley
M. Debono with the support of Ms Pamela Bugeja. Ms Bugeja joined
FITA for 3 months between April and May 2009 on a work experience,
sponsored by the Employment Training Corporation.
The
results of the ICT Career Paths research are being made available
here in MS Excel format.
Status: Ongoing / See news section
- Information
Awareness - FITA carries out public relations exercises on a
regular basis as part if its information resource center service
and in order to keep on raising awareness about the availability
of different assistive technology solutions. In the past, the support
of volunteer disabled persons in this regard, has proven to be very
important. Should you be able to offer assistance, please contact
us.
Status: Established University based courses, thanks to a
pool of contributors
-
ICT
Refurbishment workshop - For different reasons, not
all disabled persons may make the most effective use of a brand
new computer, like the ones the Malta
Community Chest Fund and the National Commission Persons with
Disability, assist in buying. Still, in many cases the Foundation
still considers that some disabled persons, can effectively benefit
from using older computer equipment, which better matches their
needs. To this end, we have set up a computer
pooling scheme, wherein organisations wishing to dispose of
computer equipment can donate it to FITA, which in turn will issue
it out on loan at no cost, to disabled persons who can make good
use of it.
Status: Starting May 2006, this initiative has grown to include
a new workshop at the Physically
Handicapped Rehabilitation Centre in Paola. Disabled persons
who can benefit from this scheme include persons with very severe
impairments, and children who are still to learn how to use a
computers, and use it primarily to run educational games. If
you or your organisation can assist in supplying or servicing
these reconditioned computers, we appreciate your support
.
- Maltese Speech Engine - FITA is collaborating
with a number of organisations and obtained ERDF funding necessary
for the creation of Maltese Speech Engine software.
Past achievements in this area include the integration of the speach
engine developed by Prof. Paul Micallef
with MS Word with the help of three very capable University students,
sponsored by MITA. This tool can be
downloaded here (4.5Mb zip file). Simply unzip the file to its
own folder and from within MS Word load the included MS Word template.
You will then be able to use the custom T2S options under the MS
Word tools menu.
Status:
- Project started in November 2008 following confirmation of ERDF
funding.
- Software tender was published and adjudicated (see http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/gazetteonline/2009/09/default.asp)
- Published research focusing on the use of ICT by disabled persons
amongst individuals and business entities, particularly in relation
to speech enabled software and the Maltese Speech Engine.
Operational Programm I - Cohesion Policy 2006-2013
Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality
of Life
Call part-financed by the European Union
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds
Investing in your future
- Educational software in Maltese
- Through the help of a number of partner organisations, FITA is
developing educational programs targeted towards individuals who's
first language is Maltese.
Status: Created two educational software packages. Discussions
are underway for creating Maltese literacy support software.
-
TACMON - FITA is partnering in the
TACMON FP7 project, which aims to produce tactile touch screens
for use by persons with a visual impairment. FITA is the main
partner responsible for user testing, training materials and interface
accessibility assessment.
- Entrepreneurship and employment
- FITA participated in a Leonardo da Vinci pilot project entitled
Get-Results between 2003 and 2006.Through this project we produced
a Train the Trainer Course for Entrepreneurship. Malta Enterprise
and Gasan Group supported FITA in this initiative.
Status: Completed
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FITA's involvement included :
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Guiding principals
Collaboration
FITA constantly seeks to maximise the use of existing
resources, through the synergy created by working with other organisations,
acting as a catalyst for the creation of new intiatives. The list
includes, MITC, MITA, local banks, corporations, private businesses,
government entities and training organisations. Throughout most
initiatives, FITA works out the necessary operational frameworks
and coordinates the use of facilities and human resources made
available by partner organisations.
In any one project or initiative, FITA routinely investigates
the possibility of involving disabled persons as part of the planning
and/or implementation team, based on the required knowledge or
skill. We promote the creation of inclusive environments where
the participation of disabled persons is facilitated. We thus
aim to allow individuals to contribute towards society to the
full of their ability. By being allowed to practise your skills
and share your know how you often discover new possibilities,
exchange ideas and widen your interests.
This has in inherent positive effect on one's self esteem and
outlook on life. The right not to be discriminated against has
to be complimented with the right to benefit from measures designed
to ensure the independence, integration, and participation in
the life of the community. One key requirement in this regard
is dignified employment.
Sponsorship and Support
A project's financial requirements, where applicable,
will be backed by a business proposal, outlining the different
cost centres, implementation details and monitoring/reporting
frameworks.
Project Administration
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