Street Forge Workshops

Information Technology

The Information Technology department is open for five days a week, and has a good number of users in regular attendance. The department can accommodate up to eight students at any one time.

Some of the students are working towards CLAIT and CLAIT+ qualifications, others are working towards passing the simpler NICAS tests, while some are undertaking in-house designed units covering a broad range from graphics to office skills to researching family trees.

We start people off at the level they are at; which may be "How to switch the plug socket on" or "How to enter a formula referencing another cell in a spreadsheet." The students then develop at their own speed. We also have specialised equipment to help learners reach their potential. These range from a Braille reader / printer to single hand right or left keyboards, audio text readers, modified keyboards, magnifiers and specialised rollerball mice.

The department is run in a relaxed way, we believe that people, whatever their ability, learn much more when they are not under pressure. Many of the students are able to use their IT skills to assist with the every day running of the project and this is encouraged wherever possible.

We maintain computers which still run Windows 98 for those familiar with older styles of Windows at home, but most run on Windows XP, and MS Office in various versions as well as Microsoft Works, together with some educational games and graphics programs allowing people to try out different ideas. We also have scanners, a digital camera, a drawing tablet, good internet access and a range of equipment found in modern offices.

We are constantly looking at new educational software and innovative solutions to meeting the different needs and interests of the diverse student base.