Assistive Technology Center Gets an Upgrade with Help from Safeway

The Safeway Foundation has given Easter Seals Washington a $90,000 grant to upgrade and expand our Assistive Technology Center in Spokane.  The grant also allows Easter Seals to bring its highly successful Computers for Kids program to King County.

Safeway’s donation allows the AT Center to upgrade its technology for the first time since 2003.  Over half of the grant award will be used to purchase equipment and software for the Assistive Technology Lab and Computer Library, giving people with disabilities access to the most cutting edge technology solutions. 

Steve Lapointe, Director of Easter Seals Community Services in Spokane, described how the upgrade will change the lives of participants. "The impact of the funding from the Safeway Foundation cannot be overestimated. In addition to upgrading the Assistive Technology Center in Spokane, which will now offer updated technology resources to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities, we will also be in a position to provide much needed technology for use in private homes at no cost to the families. In addition, individuals who utilize wheelchairs due to limited mobility will now have access to technology by receiving much needed laptop computers. Computer systems with specialized hardware and assistive technology software can also be provided.”

Remaining funds in the grant will be used to replicate the Safeway Computers for Kids Program, which was funded last year by the Safeway Foundation, and provided free computers with educational software for children with autism in Vancouver, Washington.  Last year’s program delivered amazing results, as children with autism used their computers and Headsprout software to read books for the first time, and improve their verbal and language skills.  This year over 40 children with autism from King County will participate in the program.

Overall, Safeway’s grant provides an unprecedented opportunity for Easter Seals Washington to deliver Assistive Technology services to participants across Washington State.  We are incredibly grateful to Safeway and its employees for their generosity and commitment to people with disabilities!

For more information about Assistive Technology Services and the Safeway Computers for Kids program, please contact Steve LaPointe at slapointe@wa.easterseals.com.