National campaign to educate people with developmental disabilities about protection from germs

Aug 24 2009

The Tech-Aid Institute, http://www.techaidinstitute.com, is launching a national campaign to educate people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities about how to protect themselves from germs that include the 2009 flu pandemic that is commonly known as the Swine (H1N1) Flu. With alarming reports of this virus already hitting the United States, Tech-Aid hopes to swiftly reach caregivers and people in this special population with their award-winning interactive CD-ROM, Live Smart Live Safe: Preventing Respiratory Illness. Samples of the program can be viewed online at: http://www.techaidinstitute.com/productsPRI.html.

Tech-Aid created the interactive CD-ROM computer program for independent use, and the video DVD for group settings or at-home review to help people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities:

1. Understand germs and germ transmission
2. Become more aware of cold and flu symptoms
3. Be able to monitor their symptoms with a digital thermometer
4. And to seek medical attention for cold and flu symptoms when appropriate

The Software Company that focuses on critical public health and safety issues was the first in the world to create an interactive CD-ROM for people with intellectual disabilities that focuses on this potentially life threatening health issue. The Founder and President of Tech-Aid, Dr. Jennifer Wells said, "We feel a sense of urgency to reach this special population with this preventative software program because many people in this often forgotten population could be extremely vulnerable to this fast-spreading influenza strain that has already taken some lives. We've already had outstanding feedback on how our interactive software programs are helping people with intellectual disabilities learn about how to protect themselves from germs and other viral pandemics like the HIV virus."

Dr. Wells says she saw the need to develop this type of software after years of working with people with intellectual disabilities, autism, and severe chronic mental illness. Since establishing Tech-Aid in 2002, Dr. Wells has received grant funding to do work in the areas of preventing sexual misconduct and opportunistic sex offending; substance abuse and crime prevention; HIV/AIDS prevention; and emergency preparedness.

Just last month, Tech-Aid was honored with three prestigious Bronze Telly Awards, www.tellyawards.com, for their project, Live Smart Live Safe: Preventing Respiratory Illness. Tech-Aid will also be part of the Oregon Olympic Youth Games on the Nike Campus in Beaverton, OR this September.