Acer joins hands with ICT Ministry supporting technology utilization to bridge human and technology's digital divide "Career for the Deaf"

Acer joins hands with ICT Ministry supporting technology utilization to bridge human and technology's digital divide "Career for the Deaf" Offer technological opportunities with Acer Tablet PC to initiate occupations for the artistic talented Deaf.   The first phase has started at Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University

The Ministry of Information Technology and Communications Technology (ICT) and Acer computer Co., Ltd, a leading IT company in Thailand for more than 20 years, together weave a dream comes true to the Deaf students at Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, to bridge the digital divide between human and technology   co-hosting "Career for the Deaf" project.   The company realizes the importance of human resource development with IT tools with the company's philanthropic policy to return benefits to Thai community.   The project creates occupation opportunities to the school's artistic talented deaf students through the use of technology. Acer Tablet PCs and software drawing program training are donated to the program.

Acer realizes the importance of IT utilizes to develop skills for artistic talented deaf students and also follows the government policy to bridge the digital divide between human and technology.   The company donates 10 Acer Tablet PCs to support a project titles "Career for the Deaf", and also provides Acer's IT experts to train a drawing program through the tablet PCs for undergraduate students of Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University.   This initiative will increase opportunities and incomes for those artistic talented that enables them to show their skills to public and eligible to develop themselves efficiency.   Eventually, they will have their own way of life through the use of IT, and also improving their self reliance.

Mr. Alan Chiang, General Manager, Acer Computer Co., Ltd, addressed that "I was inspired by Acer projects in Taiwan that the projects donated Tablet PC, supported and provided IT professional to train the handicap deaf in Taiwan. The program was successful that the benefit of the campaign significantly developed their artistic capability and potential to apply vitalization technology from Acer Tablet PC and gain benefits for their livings. I would like to address graceful thanks to the ICT Ministry for realizing the essential of this project and gives this opportunity to Thai youths. This project is warmly supported by the ministry of ICT and Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, the undergraduate school for deaf and people with disability". Mr. Alan added "We would like to offer the Deaf the opportunity to improve their talents and skills so that they can pull out potential to earn their living. The disability is not an obstacle to acquire IT skills but the question and challenge is how we can deliver them the opportunity and this project is another step for Acer to insist our promise to offer and create the opportunity for Thai society.

"Career for the Deaf is the very good project, I have to say thank you for Acer that realize the importance of information technology and give the Deaf with IT. The bride of digital divide between human and technology should cover all over that is the policy of ICT. The Deaf have various talents and skills, and they would like the concrete opportunity and the support, they don't want the sympathy but need the understanding. Today Thai youth have skills and well known world wide. The Deaf students at Ratchasuda College will be the nation significant man power and I hope they can make a living with their artistic talent through the use of IT. The minister if ICT said and added that "Beside this project ICT ministry also support another use of IT in education, such as e- university project which utilizing wireless technology in the study that provide the students unlimited internet connection".

Dr. Jitprapa Sri-on, Director, Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, said "Ratchasuda College is the first undergraduate Deaf school, our first group has recently graduated and received their diploma. "Career for the Deaf" project initiated by ICT and Acer is to give the students IT skills opportunity and support the Deaf to present their drawing skills. The Deaf and the disadvantage are not the society burden but they need another side of living, they need the opportunity and understanding, they has got some special skills more than normal, this students are the nation man power if they get opportunity as usual, I would like to say thank you to the ICT ministry and Acer Computer that give this opportunity to us".

Acer Computer Co., Ltd, supports 10 sets of Tablet PC, software, and printer, and also provides drawing through Tablet PC and software management course to the volunteer teachers, so these trained teachers will teach this to the selected Deaf who have some drawing and computer skills. After the course these students would have enough proficiency to earn their living.

After the Deaf passed this program and ready to leverage their skills, Acer and ICT will support them by acknowledging the public to aware of their ability through Acer and Acer partner's marketing activities including activities from ICT. This will be done to motivate and urge the market to create more jobs for the Deaf. The Deaf have ability to develop their skills by using IT equipments and earn their living without being burden. By giving this opportunity to the Deaf we can aware the society that these Deaf are still worth and they should be giving the opportunity so that they can use their own ability to earn money and enhance government and private sector through their drawing.

Established in 1976, Acer is among the world's top ten branded PC vendors. Acer has marketing and service operations across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, supporting dealers and distributors in more than 100 nations. In addition to offering a broad spectrum of IT products and computer peripherals, Acer is also a leading innovator of e-business, providing MegaMicro solutions that combine IT products with a range of Micro e-services delivered via Acer's Mega e-infrastructure.

Acer fist penetrated the market in Thailand 1984, establishing an office in 1993. Acer Computer Co., Ltd. has been growing rapidly and is now widely recognized in Thailand. A major sponsor of the 13th Asian Games held in Bangkok in 1998, the company has been the recipient of The Reader's Digest "outstanding Brand Performance" for five continuous years (1999-2002). For more information, please visit the Acer website at www.acer.co.th

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