SSK, IBM to set up centre for life skills training

Bangalore, Oct 24: The Spastic Society of Karnataka, PACER Center and IBM India today joined hands to launch India's first comprehensive Assistive Technology Centre.

The new "Spastics Society of Karnataka Assistive Technology Centre for Education and Life Skills Training" is expected to open its doors in early 2008. It would enable children and adults with any disability to learn, communicate and participate more comprehensively in many work and life activities.

Modeled after PACER Center's Simon Technology Center, the new centre would provide assistive technology to help children and adults with disabilities. Assistive technology is specialised hardware or software that is used to help increase, maintain or assist the functional capabilities of people with disabilities, an IBM release said here.

The first lady of Minnesota, USA, Ms. Mary Pawlenty, visited the SSK and unveiled the first plaque for the centre today.

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.

Mr. Shanker Annaswamy, Managing Director, IBM India said, "IBM believe that education, health care and equal opportunity are essential to build a productive, knowledge-based workforce." The Spastics Society of Karnataka Assistive Technology Centre for Education and Life Skills Training would promote inclusiveness and education aimed at reaching out to many children and adults with disabilities, Rukmini Krishnaswamy, Director, Spastics Society of Karnataka said.

UNI