Computer Program for Disabled Rescued

Thanks to donations this summer, Pierce College expects no problem meeting the computer needs of its disabled students this fall, an administrator said Wednesday.

Several computers customized for use by disabled students were stolen over the Memorial Day weekend and college officials had been worried that some classes would have to be canceled.

The fall semester begins Monday.

“It looks like we’re going to be able to have enough so that we’re back to where we were before the incident happened,” said Norm Crozer, the college’s director of special services.

The department’s five best computers, out of 11, were taken by thieves from a lab tucked away in a remote corner of campus.

Until last week, college officials didn’t know if they would have enough machines to serve the hundreds of disabled students enrolled, including quadriplegics and those with hearing and sight problems.

But Crozer now expects to replace the lab’s outdated computers with newer models, as well as replace those that were stolen, by the start of classes.

Crozer estimates the office received nearly $3,400 in monetary donations, and 13 computers--both new and used--this summer and he expects to receive about six more computers in the coming weeks.

The largest donors of equipment and money were Century Cable, Agoura Hills businessman Arnold Prepsky and Los Angeles-based Harari Inc., Crozer said.

But the first gift to the department was a new security system from Home Tech Security, connected directly to campus police to protect the equipment.

Crozer said that he, his staff and students are looking forward to the year ahead.

Instead of canceling classes, he may be able to expand the offerings.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “There are so many things we can do now.”