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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will invite eligible individuals and organisations to apply for The Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (10th Round) and the Central Fund for Personal Computers (22nd Round) tomorrow (April 19). The deadline for submitting applications to both schemes is May 28.
The objectives of The Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment are to support non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations providing services/schooling to people with visual impairment (PVI) and tertiary institutions to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers and Braille displays to facilitate PVIs to use the Internet; and to subsidise individual PVIs in need to purchase these devices for the purpose of studies or employment.
The items supported by this scheme are the advanced Chinese screen reader, such as Chinese JAWS or compatible devices; and Braille display of 40 cells, such as Focus 40 or PAC Mate or compatible devices.
Successful organisational applicants will be sponsored to install Chinese screen readers (maximum $9,800 per set) and Braille displays (maximum $36,000 per set). For successful individual applicants, the subsidy will be no more than $9,800 for a Chinese screen reader and 75% of the cost or $27,000, whichever is less, for the Braille display.
Eligible organisations should complete the designated form to tender their applications. Applications by individual applicants must have a nomination from rehabilitation units of the SWD, subvented non-governmental rehabilitation organisations, the students affairs offices of local tertiary institutions, principals of local secondary/primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department, and should be submitted with a designated form together with the quotations for the concerned items by nominating organisations. The department has sent letters to the relevant organisations to invite them to tender nominations.
For enquiries, please contact the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch, SWD, at 2892 5652, through email to srm3@swd.gov.hk, or fax to 2119 9035.
The "Central Fund for Personal Computers" aims to assist persons with disabilities in acquiring the required computer facilities and in implementing their business plans or receiving supported employment service at home. Applicants must be users of rehabilitation services of and nominated by SWD, SWD-subvented rehabilitation organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department and:
(a) have difficulties in engaging in open employment;
(b) produce a viable business plan involving the use of computer facilities;
(c) have financial difficulty in acquiring the required computer facilities;
(d) be capable of using computers to carry out income generating activities in accordance with the business plan; and
(e) be nominated by the organisations with the consent of the latter to provide guidance and follow-up services after the acquisition of the computer facilities.
For enquiries, please contact the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch, SWD, at 2892 5156, through email to srm5@swd.gov.hk , or fax to 2119 9035.
For details of the above schemes, please visit the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk) or CyberAble.net (www.CyberAble.net). Information notes and application forms can be downloaded from the websites.
Ends/Sunday, April 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:32
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