Assistive technology session for parents

Last week, staff from Treloar’s Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy Departments hosted a session for a group of parents and carers to demonstrate how we use assistive technology for a class of primary students who are accessing our Sensory and Interactive Pathway.

For students accessing our Sensory and Interactive Pathway, we have implemented the ImPACTS Curriculum this academic year. A part of this curriculum focusses on the development of Environmental Control Technology (ECT). ImPACTS is a curriculum for students with PMLD/MSI that focuses on communication, cognition, technology, motor skills (fine and gross), personal, social and emotional well-being and engagement. Students have individual targets in each area embedded into which are their EHCP and therapy targets. The learning strands consider physical access, motivational effects, developing independence, switching and communication.

Last week’s session showcased how students can use a range of switches to drive their wheelchairs using the Smart driving platform, use a range of programmes on their iPads to activate their favourite music and access to a range of switch-activated equipment such as a vibrating frog, a fan and a bubble machine. The team explored ways how both home and school can work collaboratively to further this success and develop students’ independent participation skills.

The team explored how both home and school can work collaboratively to further this success and develop students’ independent participation skills. Following the success of this event, we are looking forward to creating more events that further promote links between home and school.