New Grant Upgrades ‘Adaptive’ Computer Lab in Kingwood, Focuses on Cybersecurity

A $25,000 grant will help The Village Centers in Kingwood upgrade its adaptive computer lab that’s used by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The grant was presented to the nonprofit on Sept. 9 by “Team Up” volunteers with Comcast Texas– Houston’s largest internet service provider. In addition to the lab upgrades, the grant will help train adults with IDD how to avoid being the target of cybercriminals.

“They’re coming to the computer and the internet with a certain innocence and naivete about things, and they’re so full of joy and so quick to welcome people in and want to engage, and there are terrible people, forces and systems to take advantage of that,” The Village Center’s Executive Director Jessica Morales said. “There are great resources out there that we can bring into the computer lab here that can educate them on the basics that we might take for granted. We can share with them the red flags to look for, what should we stay away, when should we call someone else over to take a look for you.”

The investment will make The Village Centers more sensory-friendly, with adjustable furniture for wheelchairs and new types of headphones, mice and keyboards that make it easier for those with mobility issues.

“We’ll be able to bring in quarterly trainings – not just teaching some fundamentals, but we’ll be able to follow the same cohorts and get them more specific training and offering niche areas where we can do research as well with this particular group and more generally on adults with IDD,” Morales said.

The event capped off an eventful day of martial arts training, bingo, cybersecurity reminders and a pizza party. About a dozen volunteers from Comcast Texas joined the fun during a Team UP volunteer and community investment event with dozens of adults whose families utilize services from The Village Centers. The clients affectionately known as Villagers.

“Comcast Texas is committing to ensure the most vulnerable in Kingwood have access to tools they need to stay safe online and also basics such as resume writing and web searches,” Comcast Texas External Affairs Director Misha McClure said. “Throwing a pizza party was the icing on the cake for our commitment to the Villagers, who are our dear friends and neighbors.”

“We’re so grateful for partners like Comcast that open a world of possibilities for our adults. The fact that a major mainstream Fortune 500 company that takes note of a huge area of need that a positive impact can be made is so special for us,” Morales said.

The Village Centers runs a day program for adults with special needs along with five residential homes, transportation routes and a thrift store for job training. To learn more about The Village Centers, visit their website here.