Foundation Programs

Blind Independence Technology Training (BITT)

The BITT program is intended to provide blind people of Trinidad and Tobago with basic skills in computer literacy. It is a program designed to upgrade the basic skills of every visually impaired person of T&T who is seeking to enhance their independence, career, and educational opportunities. The program will be structured in a manner that would promote the idea of people helping people. Students taking the course together will be required to work as a team on projects as well as to assist each other in learning the technology.

Training for the BITT Program is currently available at two locations in Trinidad:

Torres Foundation Technology Learning Center, Port of Spain
Carnegie Library, San Fernando

Assistive Technology Subsidy (ATS)

The ATS program provides subsidies for blind residents of the Caribbean to purchase assistive technology. The Torres Foundation currently provides a US$695.00 subsidy for the purchase of the JAWS program. The JAWS screen reading software is one of the most powerful programs for enabling a person who is blind to use the computer. The software is operated by a series of keyboard commands that read the information on the computer screen out loud to the blind user. Schools, libraries, businesses, and government agencies around the world use JAWS to provide computer access to people who are visually impaired.

This subsidy will continue for as long as the Torres Foundation is financially able to keep the program running.

Following is a breakdown of the JAWS pricing after the subsidy has been applied:

JAWS Standard with SMA (for Windows 95/98/Me/XPHome: US$320.00
JAWS Pro with SMA (for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista): US$600.00

Note: A shipping charge of US$52.00 will be added for each purchase.

Eligibility

Must be a resident of an English speaking Caribbean country excluding the Bahamas
Must be a first time purchaser of JAWS
Must be blind/visually impaired
Must have JAWS registered under the name of the purchaser
Must be the final owner of the copy of JAWS

For more information please call the Torres Foundation at (868) 623-0940 or you can email us at info@torresfoundation.org

Computer Donation Program (CDP)

This program recycles used computer systems from corporations and donates them to individuals in the blind community in Trinidad and Tobago. Since the program began in 2000 we have donated 10 computers.

Some of the recipients of our computer donations include:

Maureen Ramroop - The first blind Trinidadian to graduate from the University of the West Indies
Kern Tyson - Radio broadcaster and gospel singer
Anil Waithe - Blind student at Hillview College

If you wish to make a computer donation it must meet the following system requirements:

Pentium II or higher
Windows 2000/XP
128 MB RAM or higher
20 GB hard drive or higher

We will also accept donations of computer peripherals (i.e. color monitors, printers, etc.).

If you would like to make a donation to the program you can call us at (868) 623-0940 or you can email us at info@torresfoundation.org

Community Volunteer Network (CVN)

The program is designed to provide blind or visually impaired individuals with a source of assistance for everyday tasks while also providing trained and supervised volunteers an opportunity to perform worthwhile services that they will find meaningful and personally rewarding.

Community Volunteer Reader

Responsibilities:

In general; to read mail, other correspondence and miscellaneous materials to clients. To assist with clerical tasks such as filling out forms, organizing papers and paying of bills.

Qualifications:

Must consider relationship with client a professional one
Must respect the confidentiality of the client
Must read in a natural, conversational tone at an average speed
Must have legible hand writing
Must be dependable, patient, flexible and able to set limits
Must be available a minimum of four hours a month
Must make at least a six month commitment

Other requirements:

Must fill out and sign a CVN volunteer application
Must be interviewed
Must Attend a two hour orientation to the CVN Program and to blindness and visual impairment
If an assignment needs to be terminated, the volunteer must notify the CVN Director.

Community Volunteer Shopper

Responsibilities:

Assist with grocery shopping - This may include reading labels, and comparing prices.
Assist with personal shopping - This may include shopping for clothes or errands such as stopping at the bank or drugstore.

Qualifications:

Must consider relationship with client a professional one
Must respect the confidentiality of the client
Must be as objective as possible, unless asked for a personal opinion
If driving a client, must have a driver's license and safe driving record
Must be dependable, patient, flexible and able to set limits
Must be available a minimum of four hours a month
Must make at least a six month commitment

Other requirements:

Must fill out and sign a CVN volunteer application
Must be interviewed
Must Attend a two hour orientation to the CVN Program and to blindness and visual impairment
If an assignment needs to be terminated, the volunteer must notify the CVN Director