FITA is the acronym for the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility. Founded jointly in 1999 by the Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Dizabilita’ (KNPD) and the Malta Information Technology and Training Services Ltd (MITTS), FITA is a non-governmental organisation that is responsible for making IT accessible to disabled people throughout the Maltese islands. With a staff complement of only two, FITA has made great inroads as an advocate for ICT literacy in the field of disability.

FITA’s principle role is supporting disabled people in overcoming and removing barriers to education and employment through ICT. However, one of the foundation’s main objectives is the provision of training services in ICT to disabled people. This focus on ICT training has become a key aspect of FITA’s work and two distinct impairment groups have been identified: visually impaired people and people with intellectual disability.

Training blind and visually-impaired people in the proficient use of ICT has been a feature of FITA’s work since its inception. Michael Micallef, himself a blind person, is responsible for the entire service and has formalised the process. Open to individuals who are registered with KNPD, training is carried out on a one-to-one basis and can (if required) begin from basic computer awareness, leading up to word-processing, audio-editing, Internet-based services, research and communication.

Following a successful pilot project, FITA, together with the Malta College for Art, Science and Technology (MCAST), also runs courses for people with intellectual disability or communication problems. The programme includes basic courses in computer office skills and has since led to other, more challenging, courses.

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is one such course that FITA runs in conjunction with MCAST and the Education Division, with the help of ST Microelectronics. Structured around seven ECDL core modules, it is now in its second year and is an EU-based qualification that teaches users how to use MS office tools. The Computer Society of Malta collaborated in converting the standard examination paper to simplified Maltese, with the result that twelve disabled students recently sat for the ECDL Module 2 examination and achieved the relevant certification.

ECDL is a basic requirement for knowledge workers within the civil service and today an average of 20 intellectually disabled students apply each year.

By increasing empowerment and social inclusion, FITA has demonstrated that disabled people have become more self-reliant and conversely less willing to rely on traditional support structures. FITA’s clients have become more independent, able to contribute productively to society and to the economy.

In its attempt to minimise the digital divide, FITA also actively seeks to disseminate information to the widest possible number of potential clients, notifying them of which ICT products and services they may avail themselves.

For more information visit www.knpd.org/mittsfita, where subscriptions to the FITA newsletter can be taken out, or alternatively contact the executive coordinator at [email protected]