IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (The Scheme)

Introduction

People with visual impairment (PVI) require computer aids, such as screen readers and Braille displays, to access via personal computers (PC) a wide variety of information. The distribution of such computer aids to communal access points and assisting PVI to acquire such high-performance facilities can increase their opportunities to get in touch with the digital world, and to meet their studies or employment needs respectively. To these ends, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has established the Information Technology Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (IT Scheme), as a continuation of The Jockey Club IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment which ended in end-2020, to support PVI in the acquisition of equipment/devices.

Eligibility

Apart from not possessing the aids supported by the IT Scheme, individual applicants must also meet the following conditions -

(a) Nominated by subvented non-governmental rehabilitation organisations, students affairs offices of local tertiary institutes, principals of local secondary and primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department (applications must be submitted through one of these nominating organisations);

(b) Possessing basic competency in using IT and demonstrating the needs for such aids for studies or employment; and

(c) Not having received subsidies from other charitable funds such as the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities in the past three years for acquiring high-performance Chinese screen readers, Braille displays, accessories and/or portable devices in the reference list at Appendix .

In addition to meeting the conditions in paragraph 8 above, individual applicants must satisfy the financial criteria that their family asset should be below the asset limit for medical waiving at public hospitals and clinics. Moreover, their family income should be below 150% of Median Monthly Domestic Household Index (MMDHI). Level of monthly household income and the subsidy level which may be granted are provided according to the following scale:

Family Income Level	Support Level for the Scheme
Below 100% MMDHI	100%
Above 100% MMDHI but below 125% MMDHI	75%
Above 125% MMDHI but below 150% MMDHI	50%

To optimise the use of available resources, priority will be given to individual applicants who are proven to be in immense financial difficulty in the acquisition of the aids supported under the IT Scheme.

Details

SWD will send out invitations for application from eligible organisations and individuals at half-year intervals. A ceiling of grant for each batch of application will be set. If the grant approved for a batch of application exceeds the ceiling of grant for the batch, the remaining applications in the batch will be carried forward to the next batch of application for consideration according to the sequence of the application dates. Organisational and individual applicants will be notified of the results two months after the deadline for application.

Individual applicants must seek the nomination of the organisations mentioned in paragraph 8(a) above and submit an application through the nominating organisation on a prescribed application form together with the quotations for the required items. The nominating organisation is required to -

(a) assess the applicant’s needs for computer aids and/or accessories/portable devices in the reference list at Appendix;

(b) assess the applicant’s IT competency;

(c) assess the applicant’s financial situation; and

(d) assist the applicant in the use of IT with the aids, and provide the necessary follow-up/technical support to facilitate their studies or employment.

Once the application is approved with notification letter issued, the organisational or individual applicant may procure the necessary computer aids and/or accessories/portable devices in the reference list at Appendix in one month’s time. Payment would be arranged by reimbursement upon the production of a valid receipt. SWD may render direct payment to the supplier according to the invoice where necessary.

Enquiry

Enquiries can be made to the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch of SWD at telephone number: 3586 3594 or e-mail: eoimc@swd.gov.hk.