Digital Literacy initiative in Orleans County gets national focus at Utah conference

Provided photos: Kathryn Leach, Orleans County’s Digital Literacy Project coordinator, participates in an exercise to demonstrate how difficult it would be for a person with mobility issues to use a touchtone device. Leach was attending a training workshop in Utah with the National Digital Extension Education Team.

A local digital education program developed in cooperation with Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension has put Orleans County on the national map, according to Kathryn Leach, coordinator of the county’s Digital Literacy Initiative.

Leach has just returned from Salt Lake City, where she attended a three-day intensive training workshop for teams of Cooperative Extension professionals interested in helping to close the digital divide in their state.

“Advancing Digital Access: Extension Capacity Building Train the Trainer” was offered in partnership with the Extension Foundation, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy’s Broadband Program Action Team, United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agricultures and the National Digital Extension Education Team.

Participants from all over the United States learned about various digital education initiatives throughout the country, including Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative, which is a program of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, and funded by a $364,130 grant secured by United Way of Orleans County.

Leach learned about the training from Kenneth Sherin, a county executive director in North Carolina, who manages all digital education programming in his state.

“He was googling all digital programs in the country when he found our program and invited me to join this national program,” Leach said.

During her three days in Salt Lake City, Leach and another attendee, Amber Smyer, co-authored a digital volunteer program guide for the National Digital Education Extension Team and presented it at the training.

“The guide book will help those in rural areas or with limited resources get started in creating a digital program,” Leach said.

Leach said the grant which funds Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative was due to run out at the end of the year, but has been extended until September 2024.

“We doubled our numbers of the participants we expected to serve,” Leach said.

In the past two years, more than 200 Orleans County residents have received free support using their computers, tablets, phones and other technology, Leach said. So far, 99 percent of participants have said their tech help session was a success, and nearly three out of four participants have come back for more help.

Sessions helped the majority of people with device basics and device maintenance/troubleshooting. Other topics on which people sought help including financial activity, cybersecurity, password assistance, entertainment, healthcare management and social support.

In addition to the information she contributed at the training, Leach said she learned a lot.

“I heard about other programs and instructional materials by the Nation Digital Extension Education Team that I can use here,” she said.

Anyone wishing more information or getting free tech help, including information on affordable internet options, can call Leach at (585) 798-4265, Ext. 146. Leach also reminds individuals they can be helped with more than one device or topic for each mentoring session.

While attending a three-day training in Salt Lake City, participants had time to go sightseeing in the amazing countryside. Kathryn Leach, program coordinator for the Orleans County Digital Literacy Initiative at Cornell Cooperative Extension, is in the rear, on the right.