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Age:16 years of age and older; Chicago resident
Accessible Computer Options (ACO) is a computer
technology center, located within CSO, Inc.’s office complex in the
southwest Chicago community of Park Lawn (adjacent to the east entrance
of the Ford City Shopping Mall). When fully open for operation in the
Fall of 2006, ACO will be Chicago’s only physically and
programmatically accessible computer technology center.
In development now, is a center that will have
software designed to enhance readability: that reads aloud to users;
magnifies or highlights text; predicts words and provides definitions.
It will have assistive devices for people with limited use of their
hands or with other physical challenges. It will have special programs
to work with people at every reading level, learning disability or age
appropriateness and interest level. People with cognitive impairments,
such as mental retardation or traumatic brain injury, as well as the
elderly, people with limited English and those with LD – ADHD will are
target populations for this center. (However community residents also
will be admitted.)
Enrollment in courses and access to ACO may be
free to persons qualified for Medicaid funded rehabilitation or other
government-sponsored programs, if they are enrolled in a program willing
to pay for this service.
The general population may purchase ACO
memberships for an annual fee of $25. This will entitle them to
unlimited Open Access Hours (during ACO’s regular business hours).
(Also, people who purchase CSO, Inc.’s membership and pay the annual
fee of $50 will receive this ACO membership as a premium.)
Individual course (Microsoft Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and Publisher, etc.) fees will depend on the length of each
course. Typically, students will be charged $20 for a 4-week course of
two-hour sessions (=8 hours of instruction), while 12-week courses will
cost $60.
Accessible Computer Options’ regular business
hours will be:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays: 9am - 7pm
Rehabilitation and special services instruction
will be offered:
Tuesdays 9am-11am
Wednesdays 9am-12pm
Fridays 9am-11am
Open Access Hours will be:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1pm-7pm
Course instruction will be:
Fridays 1pm-7pm
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