High-Tech Career Training For Disabled Teens And Young Adults Gets Boost
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The rise of telecommuting and adaptive computer technology for the disabled opens doors to high-tech jobs for people with disabilities. However, since training programs are physically hard for many disabled people to access and are unlikely to be familiar with adaptive technology, it has been difficult for disabled people to completed training for these high-paying jobs.
This ground-breaking training will break another barrier by providing this career training plus mentoring, certification, and job placement assistance to disabled teens and young adults. Individualized programs will be developed as needed. Disabled individuals may also be eligible for refurbished computers. Inquiries can be made by e-mail to foundation@comptia.org
With a grant from the NEC http://www.nec.com/index.html Foundation of America (NEC is a major supplier of a wide array of technology-related products and processes, primarily for businesses), the Computing Technology Association Industry Association http://www.comptia.org/ (CompTIA) plans to train 65 students from mid- 2008 to 2009.
Training will begin at entry levels, according to Steven Ostrowski, a CompTIA spokesman. Certification will be provided for jobs including help desk support, computer repair and basic networking skills.
Applications will be available online through CompTIA’s Creating Futures programs http://www.creatingfutures.us/creating_futures.aspx , during the summer of 2008.
John Venator, president and CEO of CompTIA, said in a statement. "Virtually every industry relies on technology to conduct business. They also rely on a skilled IT workforce to manage their technology infrastructure. Through this training effort, we are reaching out to new groups of talented individuals who are ready, willing, and able to contribute to the growth and success of our industry."
The NEC Foundation has historically supported programs to bring assistive technologies to the disabled, and CompTIA has in the past worked with Lighthouse for the Blind to train visually impaired people for computer-related jobs using specialized technologies.
CompTIA’s Creating Futures program also provides IT training for disabled adults, military veterans in general as well as disabled veterans, workers dislocated from their occupation and unlikely to be able to return to it because of downsizing, and at-risk youth from 15 to 21 who are “unable to achieve the educational, economic, or social expectations of their community due to poverty, minority status, a deficiency in family support, or inadequate employment.”
Earlier in 2008, Creating Futures received a challenge grant from the CompTIA Board of Directors, matching up to $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to the Creating Futures program in 2008 with by adding a like amount to the program's endowment.