THE ADAPSO FOUNDATION
BY LUANNE JAMES

The ADAPSO Foundation was formed in 1986 by ADAPSO, a national trade asociation representing computer software and service companies, to bring the technology of its members to aid the disabled and disadvantaged.

"We want to make the foundation much more than a funding source," explains Luanne James, the ADAPSO Foundation's director. "We want to leverage the financial grants we make with donations of talent and technology so that we can make a contribution that reflects the unique capacities of our industry."

An example of this approach is the Foundation's assistance to the Electronic Networks for Interaction (ENFI) program at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. It began in June, 1987. Employees of Boeing Computer Services designed a sophisticated network architecture to allow teaching from a remote site and to develop synchronous and asynchronous transmission facilities to include local and long distance communications. They developed a graphics overlay with a cartoon character that communicates in sign language to make the system usable by students in grades K-12. Boeing also donated equipment. Several other ADAPSO member companies contributed services and equipment too.

The Federation of the Handicapped in New York City is another site where ADAPSO members are donating expertise. In December, 1987, the Foundation agreed to assist in redesigning the system that supports their transcription typing service. The service enables home-based workers to transcribe dictation for a variety of businesses and government agencies.

The technology supporting the service was obsolete when it was installed, and the costs fo continuous phone transmission required by the system have become prohibitive.

Experts provided by the Foundation will design a new system that will use most of the equipment the Federation and its workers already have. Their objective is to both increase efficiency and cut operating costs.

The ADAPSO Foundation's newest venture is to convert the job readiness training program operated by Operation Job Match in Washington, D.C. to computer assisted instruction. This will allow them to reach many more clients without greatly increasing their staff. They will also help develop a computer based cognitive rehabilitation program. Operation Job Match is pursuing this in partnership with Georgetown University.

The Foundation also has provided donations and a placement program assisting the disabled. In February, 1987, it gave $25,000 to the Adaptive Devices Applied Methods Laboratory oD the Wayne County Intermediate School District in Michigan. The grant was used to distribute a handheld,Jdirect-select communication aid with a vocabulary of 500 to 900 words to 80 users. This year the Foundation will provide funds to distribute a like number of the aids.

Employment for the disabled is another ADAPSO Foundation area of activity. Working in cooperation with the Electronic Industries Founcation, an arm of the Electronic Industries Association, ADAPSO members are helping define training curricula and training the disabled in job placement skills.

The ADAPSO Foundation's address is 2111 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20007