Cyber cafe for people with learning disabilities
23.10.2008
A cyber cafÉ for people with learning disabilities is proving to be a huge success.
It has been opened at the Vocational Skills Centre in Neath Abbey and is extremely popular with 18-65 year olds.
Neath Port Talbot People First, an independent charitable organisation, has joined forces with Neath Port Talbot Council to develop this project that gives people with learning disabilities a chance to access IT and to have training.
The project is funded by Communities@One, a branch of Communities First, and the money has been used to buy the IT equipment for the cafÉ and to employ a member of staff to run the project.
Council officers give day to day support and People First organise the training on a one to one basis.
They encourage people with learning disabilities to take the first basic steps to use simple IT programmes and eventually how to use the internet.
The opportunity is also open to their carers.
Now the group is looking at ways of developing the cyber cafÉ even further by introducing some new ideas on how the cafÉ can be better used and enjoyed more.
The people with learning disabilities themselves are making a huge contribution to this. They are being asked what is important to them and what support they themselves think they need.
This links into the council's approach to person centred planning which encourages people with learning disabilities to become involved in planning their own lives.
Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Social Services, said, "Ensuring that vulnerable people receive all the help they need to reach their full potential is vitally important and this cafÉ is an ideal way for them to become familiar with IT and the internet in a relaxed atmosphere.
"It is a service that is well used, extremely popular and rewarding to all the staff from the many agencies who contribute to it."