CENATT

National Centre of Technical and Technological Aids

About the Global Grant GG1635049

A - RELEVANCE OF THE PROJECT

Technical aids are devices, instruments or tools that allow people, who have a temporary or permanent disability, to execute some activities that could otherwise not be completed or would require more effort for their realisation.

In Uruguay, access to technical aids is limited, especially for those that do not have the money to purchase them. Some technical aids are available through social projects sponsored by humanitarian organisations. However, all this is anything but sufficient to cater for the needs of the large number of disabled individuals that need support in order to move around, etc. 

PROJECT SYNOPSIS

The project is an initiative of Uruguay's Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), and is supported by the Montevideo City Council, UTU (Uruguayan University of Technology) and the Norwegian Hjelpemiddelfondet (non-governmental organisation). The project has a national scope. Some of the services provided are already available, but will be expanded considerably. CENATT will also concentrate on the acquisition, manufacture and distribution of the aids. The UTU will provide training and education as well as contribute to the centre with the manufacture of some of the equipment needed. These are huge qualitative improvements of what has been done earlier, especially as theoretical training will be provided at the same place where practical aspects are being taught. This will give everybody involved an added value. Moreover, R&D will generate knowledge and innovation in a field where only a few studies have been carried out, especially in this region of the world. 

The overall project goal is to create a system that enables the acquisition and manufacture of technical aids at the same time as attaching greater importance to research and training. In addition, the provision and specific adaptation of aids to the individual needs of the disabled is an aspect of paramount importance. 

The centre will also pool initiatives run by the country's central administration and other related institutions involved in this type of technology by way of agreements with universities, companies and other institutions. 

The next step will focus on the renovation of a building that is optimal for a project of this magnitude. The building that will be housing the National Centre of Technical and Technological Aids has a size of 708m², of which 500m² will be used by the centre itself and 200m² will be used by ONPLI (Pro-Work for Disabled People Organisation) .

The building is in a quite good condition. It is located in a beautiful area near the Prado neighbourhood in Montevideo.