Participants of the Friendship CIrcle's Teen and Young Adult life skills program City of Seattle Technology Matching Fund (TMF) and Verizon team up with the Friendship Circle of Washington to provide digital skills training to developmentally disabled youth
What do you get when the City of Seattle’s Technology Matching Fund (TMF), Verizon, and the Friendship Circle of Washington work together to leverage their digital know-how, awesome volunteers, and funding for equipment and internet services? A public-private partnership that makes a huge difference in the lives of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a program that helps differently-abled youth have independent futures and a higher quality of life.
The Friendship Circle of Washington’s Teen and Young Adult Life Skills program is one of the City of Seattle’s TMF grantees making a huge difference in our region. They provide group and one-on-one digital navigation training to young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equipping them with the skills and confidence to perform essential life skills and activities. Armed with these digital navigation skills, young people with disabilities are prepared to fully participate and succeed in the community. Programming includes money management and banking basics, internet safety, computer navigation, emails and resume writing, and job search and applications.
The City of Seattle’s TMF grants support community-driven solutions like these to achieve digital equity across Seattle. These grants, sometimes in partnership with corporate sponsors, are a cornerstone of Seattle’s Digital Equity Program to create opportunities and eliminate existing and historical barriers to technology access and use. Over $7 million has been awarded to community programs since 1998.
“The Teen & Young Adult Life Skills has truly jumpstarted my son’s independence. It’s easier for me to picture a future for him now because he’s so much better prepared to enter the broader community successfully. I feel like I don’t have to worry about his future like I did before.”
Marina, a mother of one of the participants
“Technology is a constant evolution, and it’s hard for anyone to keep up with all the changes, upgrades, new gadgets, and apps. But if you don’t have basic digital skills, you’re behind before you even start,” said Seattle’s Interim Chief Technology Officer Jim Loter. “Our yearly Technology Matching Fund grant program gives people not only a start but a strong boost to gain the skills and confidence to navigate this aspect of our life.”
“The Verizon/ TMF grant is helping our organization deliver a vast array of digital navigation skills to young people,” said Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, Executive Director of the Friendship Circle of Washington. “A unique aspect of the program is that the digital navigators are trained volunteers through the Hillel at the University of Washington. They are matched one on one with participants to receive 1.5 hours twice monthly, building digital skills. TMF funding is also providing laptops for our participants with disabilities to keep (after having attended a minimum of five sessions.)”
On the corporate side, Verizon has been participating in Seattle’s TMF program since 2020. “At that time, we decided to piggyback on the TMF methodology to identify the best ideas for digital inclusion initiatives. This partnership has allowed Verizon to identify and fund one more deserving community-based program,” said Azmeena Hasham, Executive Director of Public Policy and Community Engagement for Western Washington at Verizon. “It’s a win-win-win for Seattle, the Friendship Circle of Washington, and Verizon.”
“Verizon is proud of our multi-year partnership on the Technology Matching Fund program, which is among the best community-based initiatives for addressing digital inclusion,” said Hasham. “Our public-private partnership is a wonderful example of supporting the local community while achieving mutual goals. We hope that TMF support will become broad-based, with sustained participation from more private companies, to continue to expand this excellent program.”
Marina, a mother of one of the participants, said “the Teen & Young Adult Life Skills has truly jumpstarted my son’s independence. It’s easier for me to picture a future for him now because he’s so much better prepared to enter the broader community successfully. I feel like I don’t have to worry about his future like I did before.”
To find out more about Seattle’s Technology Matching Fund grants, email ITD_DigitalEquity@seattle.gov or call 206-684-8498.