At Mont a L’Abbe School we recognise that all learners with SEND often have the capacity to master high-level content but are unable to access it through traditional forms.
Assistive technologies help remove these barriers and allow learners to access and output content in an alternative way.
We consider what it is that each child needs help with the support from Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
iPads
These mobile devices are found in all classes through out the school and are a versatile tool used by the staff to enhance, implement and evidence teaching and learning opportunities.
We use iPads to support communication needs and we have a dedicated ‘talker’ iPad in each class with ‘Grid for iPad’ APP installed on the device. As a school we have supported the use of ‘Grid’ and ‘Grid for iPad’ in our classrooms.
Some learners in school have a 1:1 iPad that travels with the learners between home and school and out in the community if you are accessing the Post 14 curriculum. These learners have either ‘Grid for iPad’ or roloquo2go installed on their devices to support their communication needs.
Accessibility options
Apple continue to develop the Accessibility options on the iPads to support the individual learner.
Vision: You can change screen colours and text size, zoom in, reduce transparency and more. You can hear what is going onscreen, or use VoiceOver to interact with your iPad.
Mobility: You can navigate your iPad hands-free, or you can use your voice or connect a switch, mouse, or other input device. You can also control other devices, customize gestures and alerts, and adjust the sensitivity iPad responds to your tap or touch.
Hearing: You can adjust audio for noisier contexts or turn speech into text. You can also change how iPad alerts you, or have it recognise bespoke sounds.
Speech: You can communicate with family, friends, and colleagues in the way that works best for you, whether you are non-verbal, at risk of speech loss, or someone with a speech disability.
Cognitive: You can reduce distraction and sensory stimulus, get help with everyday tasks, like signing into accounts and typing, making it easier to identify people and things around you.
Assistive Access: This option gives those with cognitive disabilities the option to perform the most common tasks such as taking photos and communication with close family and friends, while reducing cognitive load and offering more focused choices. An example of its use at Mont a L’Abbe is to enable the staff to control the device and the APP that the learner will be using for an activity, the learner would need to know the six-digit code to disable the Assistive Access option.
Interactive Whiteboards
At Mont a L’Abbe every class has been provided with a Promethean Interactive Panel. The Whiteboards enable the staff to create and deliver captivating lessons, engaging learners with a variety of content and resources. Depending on the class, some boards have been equipped with a hydraulic ram to enable the panel to be raised and lowered to support accessibility for all learners.
Eyegaze
Eyegaze technology uses specialised cameras that enable people with physical disabilities to control a computer using eye movements. We have Eyegaze devices throughout the school that has Grid Pad (AAC) installed and this supports that learner’s communication needs and the device is connected to a printer to print off their work to share with the class and class teacher. At Mont a L’Abbe we work alongside the Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists and charities to support the acquisition of the correct device for the learner. Software comes with the device to help build new skills when using the device.
Dark Studio
These specialist rooms support our sensory and immersive needs of the learners at our school. To be able to work within a specialist environment and create fun interactive lessons using technology. In the dark studio based at the primary school you can adapt the environment and let your creative mind flow. Using the OMI top-down projector to either paddle your feet in a stream or work with a friend to find all of the blue objects the possibilities are endless. You can read stories while using a voice distorter to bring the characters to life. Sit back and watch a favourite program with your peers. Using the different sensory toys to enhance the environment and using Eyegaze to control the equipment around the room with environmental controls.
