Telephone Number: 01733 322110

Fax: 01753 324878

Email address: dbukkarten.freeserve.co.uk

Website: www.deafblind.org.uk (not specific to the Ian Karten CTEC Centre)

The purpose- built Deafblind UK Ian Karten CTEC Centre was opened by Lady Victoria Leatham on 24 March 1999. The Centre offers training in information technology to people who are deafblind or have severe dual sensory impairment. It is situated in the grounds of Deafblind UK’s National Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Paston, Peterborough.

The centre aims to improve the quality of life and independence of deafblind people through adaptive computer technology, helping to restore or improve communications skills and enhance access to information, social contact and education.

The Ian Karten CTEC Centre will provide:

The centre will also give professionals working with deafblind people the opportunity to learn about the availability technology and the potential benefits to deafblind people.

Refreshable Braille Display

Allows a deafblind person to use a computer by touch alone. Moving pins form Braille letters which enable a deafblind person to feel the words a sighted person would see on the screen, giving the user access to the telephone and the Internet.

CCTV

Splits the computer screen enabling the user to see magnified printed material on one half of the computer screen while still accessing the computer’s other functions.

Eezee Reader

A hand-held magnifying device scans small pieces of text which are magnified onto a monitor.

Screen Magnification software

Enables a person with a visual impairment to view magnified portions of the screen.

Speech synthesiser

Enables someone who is blind to use a computer by listening to the screen display.

Handtapper