Technology Adoption

SER is committed to closing the “Digital Divide”, the term used to describe the segments of society without access to Information Technology and its potential to improve life and livelihood.

Access includes not only the availability of computers, but having access to the knowledge that will provide proficiency in the basic tools of technology to achieve a higher level of education attainment and achievement. Access also provides a link to technological innovation for underserved populations in the acquisition of language, new delivery methods of learning and to serve people with disabilities. Barriers to physical access to technology must be overcome to offer motivation for young people to “stay in school” and provide opportunities for people of ages to improve their quality of life and economic future.

SER’s partnership with IBM for the last 36 years has brought a number of innovative programs to the network of SER affiliates to assist them in delivery of services. IBM is the oldest and largest supporter of SER with a total contribution of 15 million dollars in product and services.
 
SER Technology Programs in Partnership with IBM
 
Tradúcelo Ahora
SER clients benefited from IBM’s automatic translation technology used by Spanish-speaking parents to understand emails from teachers regarding their children. It is also used to access information in Spanish on jobs, healthcare, legal aid and education
 


Reading Companion
SER Affiliates have access to IBM’s groundbreaking interactive software application for children and adults of many different ethnic backgrounds to learn English

Acessibility Works
IBM software is used to serve older adults in SER’s Senior Employment Program who have vision and motor limitations and also assists low-level learners and the unemployed

World Community Grid
SER participates in IBM’s commitment to donate unused PC time to researchers around the world.

Web Adaptation Technology (WAT)
This technology application is for people with all kinds of disabilities including hearing

IBM’s SME Toolkit
Great tool for starting your own business especially for SER clients: It offers advanced technology-based business tools and free software.

2008: Most recent contribution from IBM

IBM has donated 20 state-of-the art desk top computers with AccessibilityWorks software applications to two SER affiliates, Central States SER in Chicago and San Diego County SER in Oceanside, California, for use in their senior programs and programs for at-risk youth looking for jobs. In 2007 IBM donated computers for an Older Worker Computer Lab at the Senior Community Service Employment office in Fort Worth and computers to Florida SER in Miami to use for a language acquisition program called “English on the Job"

"Press Release"

Ribbon Cutting

Pictured from left to right. Sal Martinez, Executive Director of SER San Diego County, Arturo Zertuche, SCSEP National Director, Tom Trotter, IBM Senior Executive Emeritus & Chairman of the SER National Board, Rocky Sanchez, Mayor to the City of Oceanside, CA, Todd Flora, Manager of IBM Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs.
 
Message from Tom Trotter Chairman of the SER National Board
 
 
Senior Operations Executive (retired) IBM North America Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs
 
What I most admire about SER as an organization is that they have never been resistant to cutting edge changes in technology; they’ve leveraged the technology of the future.

IBM is dedicated to providing a greater understanding of the importance and positive impact of technology. The need to close the Digital Divide has been most apparent in Hispanic families both in their daily lives and in the educational needs of their youth.

Poised to become the largest minority group in the nation, Hispanics are nonetheless faced with critical problems that will compromise their great potential. IBM has answered this need by creating a number of innovative programs that are being used by schools all over the country and by nonprofits such as SER.

IBM is concerned with finding a diverse pool of skilled workers with strong backgrounds in math and science.  I share SER’s concern about the lack of formal education of Hispanic youth at a time when the global economy demands a high level of skills in advanced technology.

Too few Hispanic young people are entering the educational pathway that leads through undergraduate engineering in computers to careers in information technology. Formal education with at least some education necessary at the post secondary level has become the principal pathway to careers in IT.

I have a vision of a “new” SER. To meet the global needs of the future SER must take charge of its future and respond to the many needs of the underserved which includes access to technology, financial literacy programs, wellness programs and English language acquisition.

IBM will continue to develop innovative programs that open the door to technology for countless people around the globe. IBM donated over 145 million dollars to nonprofit organizations around the world last year and will continue to do so.
 
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