Bridging the Digital Divide program
A collaboration between the Department of Aging & Disability Services (ADS) State Unit on Aging & the CT Tech Act Project (CTTAP).
This 2 year pilot program allows us to have a Full Time Digital Divide Coordinators (DDC) at two of our community AT Partner agencies: the NEAT Center at Oak Hill & UCP of Eastern CT.
Our goal is to help bridge the digital divide by providing one on one or group services to adults with disabilities (18 and older) and aging adults (60 and older).
Services to individuals include:
- Increase access to technology & technology use
- Provide tech support, troubleshooting, & teach built in device accessibility features
- Increase access to the community, virtual programming & telehealth to reduce social isolation
- Connect Individuals to community resources for ongoing supports
- Provide tablet technology (with or without hotspot) to individuals 60 & older, if eligible
Why connect with a DDC?
If you or an individual you work with has technology but struggles to use it and would benefit from some training & support, such as
- Connecting to their Wi Fi
- Learning to use social media to connect to family and friends
- Learning to use virtual platforms like Zoom, Teams or virtual community services
- Learning how to use built in accessibility features in their devices – speech to text, magnification, text to speech, etc.
- And more …
Services to Organizations:
- Provide training to entities, such as staff at senior and community centers, libraries, and others who serve the same population, to help them provide access and tech support to their participants.
Why connect your agency to a DDC?
If your organization serves adults with disabilities or individuals 60 and older and you/your staff could benefit from training to be able to support your clients, such as:
- Learn how to set up built in accessibility features on your technology or your clients’ technology
- Learn how to set your client’s up with virtual platforms or your virtual services
- Help your clients use social media or other internet activities (i.e..: online grocery shopping, accessing eBooks, connecting with friends & family etc.)
Contacts:
Contact the CT Tech Act Project for more information by sending an email via our website or calling 860-803-0588. You can contact a DDC directly at the following:
NEAT Center – serving Litchfield Hartford, Tolland & Windham Counties, Call (860) 488-5923 or email William.Seaman@oakhillct.org
UCP of Eastern CT – serving Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex & New London Counties. Call 860-288-9520 or email DDC@ucpect.org
The Connecticut Bridging the Digital Divide program is funded by the federal Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Expanding the Public Health Workforce within the Disability Network.
