By Patty Courtright
Washington

For young people with disabilities, technology is not just an enhancement, it's a lifeline.

So says Rayna Aylward, executive director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, in describing the foundation's emphasis on using technology to help children with disabilities and their families.

"Technology is important to every child," she says, "but it is important-squared for a child with disabilities."

For instance, she says, a computer can provide a bed-ridden child with communication with the outside world, or it can supply untold opportunities for children with hearing or vision impairments.

Because technology can open many doors for those with disabilities, the foundation has changed its mission within the past year to focus on programs that use technology to help children who have disabilities achieve their potential and participate fully in society.

"Before, we had mentor-based projects that used technology, but we didn't emphasize technology in grantmaking until this past year," Aylward says. "We switched to a focus on technology because we could see the reach and multiplier effects [on the children] of those projects that focused on technology."

Employing technology

Technology-based projects sponsored by the foundation include virtual volunteering opportunities; academic enrichment programs designed to attract disabled students to careers in education, math, science and engineering; computer instruction summer camps for children ages 4 to 12; art therapy programs based on assistive technology; and a lending library network in 30 sites throughout the U.S. where families of disabled preschoolers can borrow a computer or various types of mobility equipment on a trial basis.

For families that want to communicate with others in similar situations, the foundation sponsors the Family Village Web site, a clearinghouse of information aimed at families who have children with disabilities. Users can find needed resources or discuss issues with other people worldwide.

Many of the foundation's programs emphasize networking.

Through two listservs - one for foundation employees, the other for other nonprofits - the foundation keeps people informed of relevant Web sites and projects, Aylward says.

"It's amazing how technology has enhanced linking organizations, which has synergized partnerships," she says.

In some cases, one organization will realize it is replicating an existing program, she says, so the two groups will decide to join forces. Other times, the foundation links grantees and grantseekers through e-mail.

The networking begins with children. The foundation's Digital Clubhouse program trains young people with disabilities to be network developers, to work with multimedia applications, Aylward says. Once they are trained, the young people are able to help organizations establish or change their Web sites.

In fact, the foundation is considering putting its next annual report on CD-ROM, Aylward says, relying on the expertise of Digital Clubhouse participants.

"We're not ready to commit to that yet, but we are moving in the direction of preparing a cyber annual report," she says.

A vital tool

To accommodate nonprofits' ever-increasing reliance on technology, Aylward says, the foundation depends heavily on its Web site.

"There is no question that people use our Web site in the grant application process more than before, with probably one-fourth to one-third of the requests for information coming online," she says.

Although the foundation accepts concept papers online, the actual grant proposal has not yet become paperless because of the many attachments required.

"But we're moving more and more in that direction," Aylward says.

A self-described "born-again geek," she says she slowly began to embrace technology.

"I was a technophobe for much of my life, because I didn't grow up with computers," she says. "When I first started with the foundation seven years ago, I saw technology and computers as a necessary evil. With e-mail, I was resistant.

"Now, I have three computers at home and often will e-mail my husband when he's in the basement."

Patty Courtright can be reached at
pcourtright@mindspring.com