Launching Ceremony of Ceremony of CyberAble.net cum Seminar on “ IT Opportunities for People with Disabilities “ IT training for people with mental handicap: linking research into clinical services ” Dr. Cecilia LI Associate Professor Department of Rehabilitation Sciences The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

IT development in Hong Kong Technological revolution Digital Divide in Hong Kong $2.2 billion have been invested to address “ digital divide ”

People with disabilities SWD provides financial assistance for the purchase of PCs. SWD supported free IT awareness courses for them. Lottery Fund financially supported IT awareness and IT thematic training programme for a period of three years.

Cyber training programme for MHs: Self-awareness programme Providing hands on experience on basic computer operations and skills in surfing on the internet Courses designed at a level appropriate to the capabilities of course participants

Introduction A programme funded by Social Welfare Department. Targeted to train 2500 people with MHs in one year. Each client undergoes 6 hours of training.

Mission: Ensure equal opportunity of people with mental handicap in accessing IT People with mental handicap are capable of using IT

Aims To offer high quality IT training courses To conduct basic research, analyze the neurological and cognitive abilities of people with mental handicap, importance factors for human-computer interface, and set up parameters for designing computer softwares for them To design computer platforms that are appropriate to different levels of people with mental handicap To establish a model of mutual-helping service by people with disabilties so as to fully utilize social resources

Human Resources Principle Investigator ： Dr. Cecilia Li Service Team Susanna Yeung (Project Manager) Patrick Lam (Part-time Research Assistance) Ada Tam (Part-time Research Clerk) Philip Ng (Technician) Instructors and Tutors Volunteers and Parents Research Team Dr. Cecilia Li Dr. Chetwyn Chan Prof. Christina Hui-Chan Prof. Chow S. Lam Dr. Andrew Siu Alex Wong (Full-time MPhil Student) Jackson Wong (Part-time MPhil Student)

Training Content LevelContent Beginner  Basic PC operations  Introduction to the Internet  Introduction to Internet browser and commonly used webpages  Use of bookmarks Intermediate  Higher level of computer operations  Advanced typing skills Advanced  Introduction to MS Word and other simple PC softwares

Training softwares Specially designed for MHs They are: (1) appropriate to clients ’ mental abilities (2) interesting and easy to operate (3) able to arouse clients ’ interests in learning computer skills

Training Information: From May to Nov, 2002 Target No. of Training Courses125 No. of Training Courses Completed68

Training Information: From May to Nov, 2002 No. of training hours done 8160hours HKPU: 7200 Hours Outreaching: 1160 Hours Training Location:

Training Information: From May to Nov, 2002 No. of clients trained1298

Training Information: From May to Nov, 2002 No. of trainer trained105

Train-the-trainer programme Training workshops are offered regularly to equip trainers with the skills of teaching people with mental handicap. OT students and Psychology students People who are experienced in teaching people with mental handicap.

Trainers: Tutors and instructors We have two instructors and 8-10 tutors in each session. Instructors give verbal instructions in front of the class. Tutors assist the clients to learn.

Instructors They are OT graduates, psychology graduates, and people who are experienced in teaching people with mental handicap.

Tutors: Who are they? OT students Added value → increase their exposure to potential client in the future Phoenix Clubhouse members Added value → enhance their abilities of open employment People from different social backgrounds (e.g. housewives, working people, full-time students) Added value → widen their horizon and contact different groups of people in the society People with disabilities Added value → giving them a sense of competence

Problems encountered Some may have difficulties to attend the training sessions at PolyU Outreaching Services Short of suitable training software for people with MH (Addressed by research) Variations of trainees ’ levels of performance (Addressed by research) Insufficient follow up training for people with MH

Outreaching Services Targeted to reach low mobility clients Delivered services to centers or sheltered workshop that are far away from HKPU Difficulties: (1) Higher costs for hiring tutors (2) Need to provide and set up PCs at the target location

Website

Research Projects: Aims Explore the difficulties facing by people with mental handicap in learning IT skills Develop an assessment tool to stream people with MH into different levels of courses Devise a research-based computer software for training people with mental handicap on IT skills

Initial Findings (1) difficulties facing by people with mental handicap in learning IT skills

Assessment of Computer Competence CB: My favorite in IE (Adding Bookmarks) Yes No Yes No

Beginner Course Offered for people with MH who are assessed as lower level of computer competence

Internet Browsing house/rpo/rpo_cnkdot.html house/rpo/rpo_cnkdot.html house/rpo/rpo_clrbk.html house/rpo/rpo_clrbk.html

Intermediate Course Offered for people with MH who are assessed as middle level of computer competence

Advanced Courses Offered for people with MH who are assessed as middle level of computer competence

Outcomes of training (1): Evaluation questionnaires AspectsRatings Suitable Environment4.20 Appropriate Training content 4.02 High Quality of teaching4.16 Arousing interests4.16 Increasing kownledge4.18

Outcomes of training (2): feedback from parents Optimal teaching pace Interesting training softwares Aroused clients ’ interests on computer Sufficient teaching assistance Appropriate training content Increased self-confidence in using computer Demand for more training hours

Outcomes of training (3): Feedback from OT students Valuable experiences Beneficial to their future profession

Outcomes of training (4): Feedback from ex-mentally ill tutors Transitional employment Increasing their chance of getting employment Enhancing their self-confidence

Outcomes measures (5): Feedback from clients Enjoying the training sessions and found the games interesting Increased their competence in IT skills Before Training After TrainingFull Score Use of mouse and keyboard Internet Browsing Total

Plan for further work Outreach training programme to Day Activity Centre and Sheltered workshop Planning of the advanced training programme for those who have basic skills in IT: a. application of software b. design of webpage Development of research project aiming at improvement of learning for people with MH Incorporation of research findings into software design for people with MH

Plan for further work Encourage more front line professionals to participate in the train the trainer programme for people with MH Facilitate the atmosphere of IT among the services sectors (sheltered workshop, day activity centres etc), to build up computer system with easy access to internet

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