Computers for Homebound and Isolated Persons (ships)

KORRnet currently serves over 8,000 individuals, and 700 Nonprofit organizations. KORRnet's web site has had more than 11 million page accesses with an average of nearly 120,000 pages delivered each week. In addition to the ships Participants receiving enhanced accounts, KORRnet provides 140 enhanced accounts to eligible organizations and individuals. For many Nonprofits, KORRnet is a vital stepping stone to their growth as an agency as many of them eventually expand their capabilities and incorporate the assistance of private Internet service providers. This advancement of Nonprofits then becomes a positive commercial by-product of the KORRnet service. The results from ships are multi-faceted, although the most prominent result is the reduction of isolation and increased sense of community with others. The ships Participants complete a feedback email once every two weeks and a more detailed Questionnaire on a quarterly basis. ships also has a database consisting of information on applicants, volunteers, and can generate reports that show various aspects of progress. The following are some excerpts of feedback given from various ships Participants: One particular ships participant did Not want to interact with other people due to his depression. He had suffered a neck injury and was told he was Not going to be able to walk. He then received a computer from the ships Program, and he describes his story as follows: "I started sinking into my small dark room, No ambitions, depression as my best friend. I am living on 20 or so medications. I am Not able to do any type of physical activities. I was rarely aware of what world I was in. I had made up my mind I was going down hill with No way to recover. Then, I was introduced to a program. ships and KORRnet . . . As I was introduced into the world of computers and cyberspace my life has changed. I began a revelation. . . I have access to the outside that would never have been possible without ships, the staff, KORRnet and my connections to the Internet. This computer is my friend. It saved me from sinking down to the abyss of No return. Though still disabled, still gravely ill, I am here and I want to help others. I am sure there are people worse off than myself. . . The best thing I can say about the computer and KORRnet, let me say it has literally saved my life . . . ” ANother ships Participant had this to say concerning how he utilizes his computer with respect to his community: “As you kNow I'm a diehard advocate for the disabled. In my pre-computer era, I worked hard to produce the materials < mostly kNowledge> to help people, i.e., governments, large and small businesses, civic organizations, teaching institutions, churches and individuals understand the rights and responsibilities associated to the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990. The requests for information had to be limited since my correspondence was done mostly by hand, requiring hours per reply. In this era, post-computer, my ability to respond to every inquiry in a timely manner is possible. It also has allowed me to expand writing legislation at the state level. . . And further, my computer has allowed me the opportunity to perform additional research in hopes of raising the quality of life for those with disabilities, and my community as a whole. On more of a personal area, having a computer has made it easier to stay in touch with my family members, have better options to pay bills, where stamps or a trip to the post office isn't feasible. Additionally, researching medications and procedures, helps me play a more involved part in my own healthcare. My computer allows me to give back to those who have given, and I hope to continue, thanks to being a ships participant.” The following progress report was submitted by mother who is the caregiver of her daughter, who has a terminal illness: “…. You just wont believe what we achieved through the computer… It was instrumental in practically saving (my daughter’s life) and showing us a new path of hope that may bring her back to us in body as well as in mind. . . And we have already used information garnered from the internet to solve long standing medical problems that the doctors could Not get a handle on. We are blessed in having an open-minded doctor … when we showed him all the data and information that we downloaded from the computer... He accordingly ordered whole new tests, changed the medication etc., and today she feels a whole lot better.” The impact of ships on community members is quite evident as well. An individual in the community who is homebound and who was seeking community with other homebound individuals emailed ships expressing an interest in being in contact with the ships Participants. This individual was subsequently invited by the ships Participants to join the ships Listserve. ships Participant A, the “Listserve Greeter”, replied with the following: “Well we are tickled to death to have you . . I wanted to tell you that you're at the right place, we are all friendly here and we try to be as close knit as we can . . . So please make yourself at home, you are one of us and we are tickled to see you . . .” This individual has subsequently become a contributing member of the Listserve, writing a monthly syNopsis of the Listserve dialogue and helping those who have questions about the computer.