 About The Project:
Project History:
 The Start of the Project:
U Can Do I.T. started life as the WAACIS Project in 1996 as part of the Lionel Wigram Memorial Trust who, together with Henry Smith's Charity, financed the project.
Anthony Wigram (a former national chairman of PHAB), in conjunction with Dr. Janet Larcher, a consultant on micro technology aids for people with disabilities, and Mark Williams, head of the Augmentative Communication Service at Charing Cross Hospital, all recognised the need to provide Internet training for disabled people.
While many disabled people can raise money to buy computers themselves, or have computer equipment donated to them by various charities, there has been until now a complete lack of home-based training available at an affordable cost from any charitable body. Therefore, very often these computers have remained unused.
The Pilot Project:
The pilot project lasted for two years during which time we employed full-time tutors and gave training to 90 students. The pilot project proved the need for the WAACIS service and so in July 1998 WAACIS became an independent charity, eventually changing it's name to U Can Do I.T. in April 2002.
Recruitment of Tutors:
In September 1999 we decided that we could achieve faster progress if we employed part-time freelance tutors who would be remunerated on the basis of a fee per training session delivered, rather than directly employing tutors as before.
The great advantage of this scheme is that our tutors can make their own arrangements with students, and give training sessions at a time convenient to both. We are also able to attract highly skilled people with excellent technical abilities and good teaching skills. This is very cost effective as the tutor's fee not only includes the tuition, but also the travel and preparation time. The tutor also makes his or her own arrangements with students for tutorials, leaving the office staff free for other work.
The recruitment has been an outstanding success. We placed our first advertisement in the London Evening Standard in September 1999 and received over 200 replies. Many of these were from people with extremely good computer skills and a high level of commitment.
It is absolutely essential that all tutors are carefully checked by U Can Do I.T., and therefore a personal police check is a necessary part of the recruitment process. We also take up three personal references from people who know the candidate well.
Currently we have 37 tutors covering all of the London boroughs, and occasionally a little further. There are a number of potential tutors who are in the process of being interviewed.
WAACIS Students:
Now that a basic network of tutors has been established, our prime objective is to recruit future students. We advertise in the most appropriate publications covering the London area and, in addition, our tutors are in touch with local social service departments, PHAB clubs and many other organisations that provide services for blind, deaf and disabled people.
Full details of how to apply for tuition is set out on the "Become a Student" page, where you can download the application form together with the terms and conditions which describe the relationship between U Can Do I.T. and our students.
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