Business & Tech

Upgrading? Advocates for Disabled Seek Used Computers, Equipment

Donating computers is good for the environment, helps disabled citizens become more independent, and may qualify you for a tax deduction.

Now that you've moved on to a sleek laptop or tablet, is that old desktop tower and monitor taking up too much room on your desk?

Has your business recently moved on to new technology, and needs to get rid of the old equipment?

There are organizations in Monmouth County that want your old computers to help developmentally disabled people learn "real world" skills, navigate the Internet, and fill out online job applications. 

In its publication about recycling, the Monmouth County Recycling Dept. says the national Cristina Foundation will help you find a home for old technology. Here are three local organizations in need of equipment from the "Donate Now" non-profit locater section of the cristina.org website. 

Tech Connection, Shrewsbury
The TECHConnection at Family Resource Associates is a New Jersey non-profit agency located in Shrewsbury that provides computers to families with a child or family member with a disability. Retired engineers volunteer to clean them up and reformat them for a waiting list of families. Typically, the volunteer program puts 40 computers back out into the world. 

The Arc of Monmouth, Tinton Falls
The Arc of Monmouth is seeking to upgrade its 8-year old computer hardware and software in order to allow the two dozen developmentally disabled students in the Dorothy B. Hersh High School engage in academics, career awareness and vocational instruction, as well as related services. Touch screens, keyboards and wireless mice will especially benefit those students who are deficient in gross and fine motor skills, they say. 

Community Options, serving Monmouth from Forked River
Community Options is a national non-profit headquartered in Princeton that has ambitious goals to train the most severely developmentally disabled working-age adults for high quality jobs in the tech industry. Ideally, one personal computer or laptop would be placed in each of the group homes for use by the residents and the staff. 



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