CEO Message

Welcome to the Technology Assisting Disability WA (TADWA) Website. I encourage you to look around the website to learn what our dynamic and growing organisation is all about and see the services we have to offer or perhaps how you may be able to support us by becoming a member or volunteer or providing a donation.

 

TADWA's purpose is to improve the quality and enjoyment of life of people with disabilities, the frail-aged and those caring for them, through the application of technology and skills of volunteers and staff.

 

Our values are teamwork, loyalty, commitment, accountability, excellence, innovation, professionalism and respect. All volunteers and staff at TADWA are committed to 'customer focussed' service provision.

 

TADWA is a not for profit organisation with workshops and offices located in Bassendean, providing customised designed & built equipment, aids and computers to children and adults with disabilities, the frail-aged and their carers.

 

In November 2008 TADWA relocated to its own purpose built building in Bassendean WA. Since 1999 the organisation had worked from premises in Lord Street, Eden Hill provided by the WA Department of Housing and Works. In 2002, when the Eden Hill site became marked for redevelopment, negotiations took place to relocate TADWA . The town of Bassendean recognised the importance of the services TADWA provides to people with disabilities, the frail aged and their carers across the state. This resulted in the Council offering TADWA vacant land on which to construct a new building. Construction of the new building was made possible by the funding partnerships with Lotterywest, Dept of Health (HACC), Dept of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development and Local Government, Therapy Focus, Lycopodium, Bendigo Bank and TADWA. The total cost of the new centre was $3.4 m (not including land). The new building also accommodates Therapy Focus's Swan Team of therapists. The new building has provided us with opportunities to both consolidate and continue to expand our services.

 

Commencing in 1984, a small number of Telecom employees banded together to supply communication equipment for a person with a disability. TADWA has since expanded to provide minimal cost services to over 1,600 persons each year within the metropolitan and regional areas of the state. An added value made by the organisation is the contribution towards 'saving the environment' by recycling and refurbishment of unwanted equipment and computers that would otherwise become landfill.

 

The organisation has strong working relationships with the WA Dept of Health (Home and Community Care), WA Disability Services Commission, disability service providers, local governments and health professionals. TADWA is a panel member of the Government Community Re-Use for ICT under Common Use Agreement (CUA 5101). This initiative provides the organisation with a constant supply of refurbishable computer technology. TADWA is also accredited by Microsoft under its Community Microsoft Registered Refurbisher (MRR) program and as such is able to provide customers with quality computers with fully licensed operating systems and software at minimal cost.

 

The organisation currently has 69 members, 61 volunteers and 34 staff (full/part time).

 

In closing, once again I invite you to please have a look around our website to learn more about the services we have to offer.