Pres Release issued: 23 March 2012.
Glasgow North MP Ann McKechin is visiting a not-for-profit internet café in Partick today staffed by people with sight and hearing loss.
Café Tiki, situated in Glasgow Council's Centre for Sensory Impaired People in Gullane Street, is a partnership between the council, the charities RNIB Scotland and Action on Hearing Loss Scotland and the Glasgow-based coffee company Matthew Algie.
The café, run as a social firm, currently employs four trainees with hearing or sight loss. Even the menus are available in braille and large-print versions. The toilets are fully accessible and a ramp has been fitted to allow wheelchair access.
Ms McKechin said: "With such a difficult job-market, it is extremely important that people with sensory disabilities have access to work experience and training to give them a better chance to compete in the mainstream labour market.
"Café Tiki provides an excellent environment for this training and I was very impressed by the hard work and dedication of the staff I met. It's a great asset for the local community and I hope local residents make use of the cafe - I'll certainly be popping back in as often as I can for a coffee."
As well as providing work-experience to trainees, Café Tiki also offers free internet access to users. "We think it is the first fully accessible internet café in Scotland," says centre co-ordinator Hazel McFarlane. "All our PCs are loaded with screen-reading software so people with sight loss can use them. There is also a small IT training section for people to develop their access technology skills.
"We also host a weekly Work Club to ensure participants get the support they need to access employment opportunities within the wider Glasgow economy."
Matthew Algie, a Glasgow company used by such major retail names as Pret a Manger and Marks and Spencer, is helping develop this concept elsewhere in Scotland.
A spokesperson said: "We are developing non-traditional employment opportunities in a mainstream setting. Matthew Algie are committed to providing a more inclusive and accessible service throughout the UK. We would be happy to widen partner involvement, particularly with employers who want to support our work through work-placements."