ITWeb to host golf day

ITWeb’s annual Golf Day celebration aims to provide a platform not only for golfers from the IT industry to network and enjoy a round of golf, but to raise money for a worthy charity, says the company.

The 2008 Golf Day celebration, sponsored by Softline, will take place on 4 March at Pecanwood Golf Estate, and is expected to raise in excess of R100 000 for charity.

In the four years that ITWeb has hosted the event, a total of R354 700 has been raised, with each successive year showing an increase in the funds raised, says ITWeb.

For the 2008 event, ITWeb has selected the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) as the beneficiary organisation.

The selection process took various factors into account. Firstly, as part of the IT industry, ITWeb’s aim was that the chosen organisation should be benefit not only from the funds raised by the event, but also from the products, services and technology offerings of the IT industry.

In addition, the sustainability of the chosen organisation was a key factor, states ITWeb. The company wanted the donation to make not only a short-term impact, but also provide a sustainable long-term benefit.

Organisations were also rated on credentials such its NPO status, as well as what existing support it has. The organisation should be an established and credible one, but at the same time not be over-supported, says ITWeb.

Professor Erna Alant, director of the CAAC, says the organisation provides children and adults who are unable to speak with a means to express themselves, in order to facilitate their inclusion into society. These solutions include the use of low and hi-tech communication strategies to ensure active participation in a variety of life activities, she adds.

“A major challenge of the CAAC revolves around the need for leadership and mentoring of AAC users in spreading the message in communities that not being able to speak does not mean you have nothing to say. To address this challenge, the organisation has embarked on a leadership and empowerment training programme called ‘Fofa’, or ‘to fly’,” she states.

Alant says the programme for young adults with little or no speech aims to enhance their existing communication abilities and empower them to become advocates for the use of augmentative and alternative communication strategies.

“The programme targets youths with little or no speech capabilities, but who can read and write. It endeavours to assist them in not only improving their communication skills through the use of notebook computers, with custom-made software and a voice output system, but also empowers them with access to the Web as well as other sources of information and support,” she explains.

The programme is in its fourth year and the accomplishments of some of the participants after the training include full time employment, studying business economics, presenting lectures to students in the field of disability, and participating in advocacy groups in their own regions, states Alant.

Although the needs of these people differs depending on the severity of their problems, says Alant, the CAAC generally needs to support them in obtaining a communications system with a voice output, as well as to finance their own travel and accommodation expenses to attend training on the University of Pretoria campus.

She continues: “These technology, travel and accommodation expenses combined with the intensive individual training required by each individual during the week-long training period on campus culminate into an expense of around R50 000 to R60 000 per newcomer to the programme. After the first attendance, subsequent expenses of their participation in the training programme will then include only travel and training expenses.”

Alant says the hardware needs of these people include notebooks with voice output systems, special communication software eg, The Grid (Sensory Software), access to the Web from their home to facilitate communication, and access to information and a cellphone.

ITWeb says the donation from the 2008 Golf Day celebration will, through the use of IT systems, assist CAAC to assist these people to reach their full potential and enable them to stand up and take their place in society.