IBM South Africa has donated about R800 000 worth of computer equipment and financial aid to the Wits University Disability Centre.
The investment, spanning the next three years, will include 15 IBM computers donated annually to benefit mainly blind students.
Kathy Jagoe started the Wits University Disability Centre in the mid-1980s, to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities. The centre`s Disabled Student Programme caters for about 200 students with mobility, visual, hearing and speech impairments.
Dudu Nyamane, IBM SA`s human resources director, presented the first phase of the donation to the Wits University students, including R100 000 annual financial aid.
"We often take it for granted that we can operate our computers at will and that the privilege applies to everyone. The broad calls to bridge the digital divide unwittingly neglects a huge number of constituencies. We are making an intervention towards bridging the digital divide by attending to the needs of students with disabilities," says Nyamane.
The PCs use a Jaws software package and Window-Eyes as screen reader devices, while a Braille display unit and sound calculator assists blind students to interface with the computers. The R100 000 per annum donation will contribute towards the cost of sign language interpreters for deaf students.
Nyamane says the donation is part of the company`s corporate social investment, which focuses mainly on education.
"As part of our vision, IBM is also rolling out KidSmart Computer units to schools countrywide, in a R10 million investment aimed at introducing children aged between three and nine to computer technology. This will help deepen their thinking about the importance of acquiring IT skills while opening their career options," says Nyamane.
Nita Lawton-Misra, head of the centre, says she is ecstatic about the donation and guarantees it will make an enormous difference to the students.
"Since the launch of the centre, more students are coming forward and disclosing their disabilities. Students are scared to be classified as disabled as it creates a stigma."
She says the centre provides access to information for any student who requires adaptive devices.
"The centre is not about traditional disabilities; we also provide chronic illness support. I hope other universities in the country can adopt similar projects," says Lawton-Misra.
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