What are Access Now Computer Help Days ?

The Internet is more and more important to everyday life. Internet access is increasingly necessary to obtain employment, education opportunities, health information and city services. But many people still do not have access to the resources of the Internet. Only 55% of low-income households have a home computer and only 50% have home Internet access in San Francisco. According to a City Controller's poll, the vast majority of low-income communities of color, disabled, elderly and limited-English speakers lack home Internet access.

Photo (c) Ben Delaney. www.bendelaney.com

There are several components to successful Internet access

1. Affordable access to the Internet itself

2. Access to affordable equipment

3. Culturally appropriate and affordable technical support and training

4. Appropriate, relevant and engaging content

5. Personal and economic sustainability.

If people do not have all of these components available, they are not likely to use the Internet in their daily lives.

Access Now Computer Help Days are a collaboration between the City and County of San Francisco, the Stride Center and CTN Bay Area to engage volunteers to help increase Internet access and use in the City of San Francisco. After more than three years of successful projects, Access Now Computer Help Day events are supported by a coalition of nonprofits, government agencies and local businesses, committed to creating digital opportunities throughout the Bay Area.

Access Now Computer Help Days are one day training, advice, and technical support events created to increase access to computers and the resources of the Internet in low-income and underserved communities in just one day.

Here is how it works:

1. Community Partners/ Community-based organizations, such as afterschool providers or community centers, identify what barriers may exist for those communities to access the resources of the Internet. We have created a Community Assessment Survey to help our partners identify barriers to access.

2. Then Access Now recruits volunteers, Event Partners and Demonstrations that can supply information or resources to address that need. There are currently more than 50 organizations that can provide specific information or programs.

3. An Access Now Computer Help Day event presents services or content to meet the community’s need(s). Each event may be different in order to be effective for a specific group of people.

Examples of past events

- Tech Support events where tech support professionals and volunteers diagnose and repair common problems and people can learn about affordable computer purchase and repair. 

- Technology Resource Fair at which community organizations and businesses provide information about their technology programs and services. Volunteers help demonstrate useful website sites and activities. 

- Advice Sessions at which trained volunteers sit down and show people what they want to learn, one-on-one. 

- Hands-on workshops at which partners demonstrate a specific device or software application for a small group of participants.

We can make a difference in just one day.

Access Now events are free and open to the public

Access Now to provides services to all qualified persons without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender identity, HIV status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other non-service-related factor. In addition, all community organizations hosting events complete an accessibility checklist prior to each event.

Photos from events

Results

Since 2007 (as of Dec 2009):

264 volunteers completed more than 518 volunteer shifts
1507 people helped one-on-one
289 computers repaired
80 computers and software installed for individuals and in public labs:
Alice Griffith Opportunity Center; Conard House, McAllister; Bernal Dwellings; Francisco Middle School; Hayes Valley Rec Center; Valencia Gardens; and Westside Courts

13 wireless systems installed: Alexander 230 Eddy (TNDC); Alice Griffith Housing Development; Antonia Manor 180 Turk (TNDC); Conard House, McAllister; Curran 145 Taylor (TNDC); Dudley Apartments; Franciscan Tower 217 Eddy (TNDC); Plaza 250 McAllister (TNDC); Potrero Hill; Ramona 260 McAllister (TNDC); Ritz 216 Eddy (TNDC); West Hotel 141 Eddy (TNDC); Westside Courts; Valencia Gardens

Three non-English languages spoken (Cantonese, Spanish and Mandarin)

Four community websites created:
http://www.mcallisterhotel.org/newsletter/
http://westsidewifi.org/
http://bayareacommunitytechvolunteers.wikispaces.com/
http://digitalinclusion.wordpress.com/
Press
"One World, One Web: On OneWebDay, people worldwide celebrate the democratizing power of the Internet by working to give everyone fast, affordable access to the Web," www.YesMagazine.org, Sept 24, 2009
“Worldbeat – Networking Across the Digital Divide,” InfoWorld, April 9, 2008
“First Chinatown Computer Repair Day at TIE Center,” Tsing Tao Daily, March 30, 2008
"Tenderloin Residents Get a High Tech Boost," SF Chronicle, March 2, 2008
ABC News, March 1, 2008
“Digital Do Gooders,” San Francisco Magazine, March 2008
KTVU Channel 2 website, February 28, 2008
“Tenderloin Tech Day,” CNET video story, December 2007
“Technology Exhibition at TIE Center,” Sing Tao Daily, February 28, 2007
“Technology Exhibition,” Ming Pao Daily, February 28, 2007
“Technology Exhibition at TIE Center,” International Daily News, February 28, 2007
“Technology Exhibition at the TIE Center,” World News Journal, February 28, 2007