AUSTINTOWN — It can be tough for anyone to learn to use a new technology, but that can be particularly frustrating when the new tech has the potential to make life more independent.

To help clients and families get over that learning curve and open more doors to independence for people with developmental disabilities, the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities is creating a community education room.

Once the renovation of the room at the board offices at the Leonard Kirtz School is complete, students, family members, friends and others will be able to come in and sample different tech tools, learn about special features, learn how to set the device up and ask questions, said George Gabriel, a community service provider supervisor at the board, and Ashley Carocci, a community service provider.

Once complete, the room will be set up to reflect different areas of a home where a device might be found, Carocci said. Until then, an office with several devices and staff on hand to help is set up, and videos with helpful information about the device are being created and uploaded to the agency’s YouTube channel, which can be found by searching for “Mahoning County Board of DD” on the site.

Read more in Monday’s Vindicator.