The Special and Inclusive Education Network under the coordination of George Borg has just launched a new unit - the Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU).
The main role of this unit is to assess students with learning difficulties and thus be able to suggest suitable technology for them to better access the curriculum and enhance their quality of life.
Marica Gatt, a peripatetic teacher at the Special and Inclusive Education Network, explained that the ACTU's main objectives are to ensure that all students are given the necessary support to access the curriculum through the proper use of technology. In order to achieve this, assessments will be carried out and appropriate recommendations activated. The unit also provides support services for parents and professionals, a life skills programme support for older learners and specialised training to professionals in Assistive Technology and Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Before the ACTU was launched, the only school that was using some kind of Assistive Technology was San Miguel School in Pembroke.
"Children with profound and multiple learning disabilities could access the curriculum through ICT using switches and adapted computer technology and specialised software to introduce basic cause and effect skills and moving them on to establishing advanced switching and scanning skills."
Ms Gatt said that, although the unit has just been launched, it is envisaged that the unit will eventually provide services to the schools and will be fully functional once all the equipment and the specialised staff is in place.
The Curriculum Management Department within the Education Division has supported the training of staff working within the Special and Inclusive Education Network. This intensive training programme in assessment issues pertaining to assistive technology took place in collaboration with Ace Centre North, UK. Lisa Farrand, deputy head of the centre, and Andy Banns, technical adviser, were recently in Malta to provide hands-on training on Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. The trainers also gave talks to educators and the public on Assistive Technology issues.
The ACE Centre North offers a wide range of services to support communication and learning through the use of Assistive Technology and Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems and resources for students and adults with physical and communication difficulties.
Ms Gatt said the unit has had very good feedback from parents who for years have felt the need for a support and assessment unit.
"Before, families used to go to specialised centres abroad for an assessment or would buy equipment they would have seen in catalogues without their children being able to try it out beforehand to see if it were the right kind of technology. Unfortunately we had situations where families paid hundreds of pounds to take their children abroad for an assessment and still got unsuitable equipment.
"Parents are enthusiastic when accessing this unit because even students with complex and multiple learning disabilities can now have access to the right technology through the use of sophisticated equipment. Parents are excited when they realise the capabilities of their children and it is true to say that technology unlocks potential.
"Sometimes, parents cry with joy when their non-speaking children communicate with them for the first time using a voice output communication aid. Students can finally make their own choices, choose their own food and drink, express their needs, feelings, aspirations and contribute in classroom discussions," she said.
The ACTU in collaboration with the ICT Department within the Education Division and other stakeholders are currently in the process of accessing EU funds for various projects, which include providing access to new hardware and software and developing a text-to-speech engine in Maltese. The latter will finally give disabled students a voice and a choice.
"We are currently working on establishing some different kinds of ruggedised PC-based communication aids, Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC) and PDAs through our research and development programme. Thanks to the support of the HSBC Cares for Children's fund, the tablet PC project has already kicked off," Ms Gatt explained.
"We are also planning to provide support to older students in the use of a life skills corner where non-speaking students can hold telephone conversations, use MSN and send text messages using their communication devices.
"We also intend to work on innovative projects such as environment control units attached to the students' communication devices so they can control their wheelchair and the immediate environment such as changing the television channels, their CD player or anything which can be controlled by Infrared technology. This will ensure that students with disability are no longer passive recipients but active participants in full control of their own lives.
"Other projects we are seeking sponsorships for involve identifying the services of specialised staff both from the local scene and abroad to help in assessments and training initiatives," Ms Gatt said.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a particular project may contac. George Borg, Special and Inclusive Network coordinator, Special and Inclusive Education Network, Hamrun on 2122 8349/50.