Program Abstract
DDRC’s PAL (PC’s for Aided Learning) program is a technology program for people with developmental disabilities. The objective of PAL is providing computers to people with developmental disabilities and their families. We accomplish our objective by refurbishing donated computers.

Our program also seeks to increase learning opportunities and job skills for the developmentally challenged community. The computers that we provide to people with developmental challenges assist us in reaching this task. Studies have shown that computers provided to people with developmental disabilities have increased life skills, educational opportunities and provides necessary job skills for today’s technology driven marketplace.

Our program is funded by DDRC, public grants and the community.

Background
DDRC has a long history of assisting people with developmental disabilities. DDRC offers many programs from Resource Coordination to Adult Vocational Services to Activities Programs to Supported Living programs. As an agency our mission is to provide leading-edge services that create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the community. One way that we archeive our mission is by providing computer technology for people with developmental disabilities. DDRC has provided computers to people with developmental disabilities in the past. Previous computers given to the DD community were computers that DDRC replaced during their regular replacement cycle. DDRC would enhance these donated PC’s with operating systems and necessary hardware to make the computer usable. Our program was limited in its reach to just Jefferson country residents and limited in the number of PCs available. To assist more people in acquiring computer technology, we have created the PAL (PC's for Aided Learning) program.

Program Description
The PAL program takes computers donated by agencies, corporations and the community, refurbishes them, and gives them to members of the developmentally disabled community and their families. We have expanded the reach of this program to all members of the DD community in the state of Colorado. The computers that we provide to the community are not only fully functioning, but will also have educational software installed to increase learning opportunities for the recipients.

Additionally the PAL program hires people with developmental disabilities to perform refrubishing of donated PCs. We feel having people with developmental disabilities performing the refrubishing, not only gives them a strong sense of pride in helping their community but also gives them computer repair skills that are valuable in today's marketplace.

In order to acquire PCs for the program to refurbish, PAL seeks donations from both the Colorado DD community along with donations made from the corporate sector and the general public. We have established a minimum standard for donated equipment to ensure the quality of the refurbished product. Minimum standards will also reduce the amount of equipment that is unusable and must be disposed of.

If you are intrested in more information regarding our program, please email us at pal@ddrcco.com