Bringing literacy skills to underserved students in Latin America

50% of Mexican teenagers are functionally illiterate. This number is even higher in Peru, Guatemala, and other Latin American countries.[1] 70% of students with disabilities in Mexico are not given an opportunity to attend regular schools and are denied quality opportunities to gain literacy skills. Again, the number is higher in other countries[2]

AyudaTec was founded by educational technology leaders in the United States who share a vision. In the US, millions of dollars are invested in software and hardware to help students learn to read. Companies who create and sell these products earn a good profit. We can adapt these products for use in Latin America, distribute them on a not for profit basis, and provide excellent solutions to help millions of students.

Technology use is rapidly rising in Latin America. Computer purchases are increasing at 19% per year.[3] Technology extends a teacher's reach in classrooms where students need lots of practice, reinforcement, and feedback. Good software helps teachers in Latin America to maximize students' learning experience.

The average per family income in Spanish speaking Latin American countries is less than 12% of the America equivalent. Unfortunately, Latin American countries tend to under-invest in education as well. By donating to AyudaTec you help accomplish a variety of goals:

• Bring excellent literacy technology to Latin America
• Share your prosperity with others, helping to brighten their prospects
• Attract for greater investment in education and educational technology by Latin American ministries of education

1. Many children with disabilities are being accepted in mainstream schools in Latin America.
2. Many schools have computers.
3. Most of the teachers in Latin American countries teach between 30 and 50 students with and without disabilities at the same time. Many of the students will never catch up with their classmates without having access to the right technology.
4. Most of the existing technologies in the US that have helped thousands of students with disabilities are not available in Spanish.
5. Many students with physical or/and cognitive disabilities will never learn anything with regular books for several reasons:
   • The books are hard to understand
   • Physically, many students can’t even open them
   • Some students need more help, more repetition and more practice than others. Books offer a limited amount of exercises.
   • Some students need auditory and visual content to learn and to keep them interested in learning more

1. Help students with disabilities succeed in Latin American schools.
2. Help teachers learn how to use existing computers more effectively in their classrooms.
3. Organize training for teachers in Latin America
4. Make existing technologies available in Spanish
5. Help students with disabilities gain literacy skills through our software, which includes various built-in features. For example, it supports seamless use with the IntelliKeys alternative keyboard, switch scanning, includes recorded speech en español, etc.

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