The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation – a public, national foundation with the mission to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives – today announced its largest grant class ever. The Foundation will award $625,000 in grants to 14 organizations and give an additional $25,000 in donations to five organizations, all of whom are using innovative solutions and technology to further the CTA Foundation’s mission.
“This year we received an incredible collection of proposals from organizations across the country using technology to serve people of all ages and abilities,” said Stephen Ewell, executive director, CTA Foundation. “This year’s grants will support important issues including social isolation, employment opportunities, voice recognition technologies and educating consumers about the innovative technologies that can meet their individual needs.”
The CTA Foundation is pleased to support the following organizations with grants:
Benetech: Bookshare, the world’s largest digital library of accessible materials and support for Benetech’s flagship literacy initiative, will develop an app that will work on smart speakers.
Byte Back: Funding will support people with disabilities and seniors in various technology programs purchase tablets, screen magnifiers and other assistive technologies.
CareWheels: The grant will help continue development of the CareBank, a cloud based platform utilizing in-home sensors that improves senior’s medication adherence and social connectedness through peer-to-peer monitoring.
Community Technology Network: The group will partner with Family Eldercare to provide individualized 12-week digital literacy programs to seniors in Austin, TX.
Easter Seals of Greater Houston: BridgingApps, a program of the Easter Seals of Greater Houston, will expand its website content – a digital compendium of apps specifically targeted at seniors and those with disabilities.
Front Porch: The organization will expand its Voice-Activated Independence and Smart Home Engagement Project to introduce voice and smart home technologies across its senior living communities.
Hearing Loss Association of America: The group will create videos about the benefits of hearing technology for older adults with hearing loss in various situations including at work, in restaurants and at home.
Lighthouse Guild: Grant-enabled programs will give students with vision loss the ability to produce, compose, arrange, record and perform music through the use of accessible technology.
Meals on Wheels: A pilot project will test the feasibility of virtually connecting isolated, home-bound seniors to their local senior center.
Music & Memory: The group will use tablets to increase quality of life for seniors in skilled nursing facilities through music.
Oak Hill: Funding will develop a “smart home on wheels” to bring the versatile technology to seniors and individuals with disabilities who lack transportation.
Older Adults Technology Services (OATS): The organization will develop additional content and best practices to increase the reach of its award-winning Senior Planet platform.
South Florida Institute on Aging: Bring the award-winning Senior Planet technology program to South Florida to improve digital literacy and reduce social isolation in seniors.
Senior Navigator: The group will expand its online searchable library of specialized technology-based solutions for seniors and their caregivers.
In addition, the CTA Foundation will provide $25,000 in donations to Avenidas, Generations United, Perkins School for the Blind, Southern College of Optometry and United Spinal Association.
For more information, visit CTAFoundation.tech.