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\u201cWe\u2019re always trying to figure out what the kids like and need, but when you have a system like this it makes it a lot easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim is that these kids aren\u2019t stuck in the corner, they have a voice and can tell us what they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
After applying for the SSR program, Ms Ferrer said they were happy that a great deal of their high-priority students would receive iPads.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith some of the students, the NDIS planning will take too long so this would support them in getting it faster,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important that we\u2019re getting new iPads as well because it means we can run the newest version of the communication apps.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program was rolled out initially in 2019 with 191 iPads gifted and after proving successful, continued to grow and almost doubled its reach in 2021.<\/p>\n
State Schools’ Relief CEO Sue Karzis said providing non-verbal children with a tablet enables them to have their own voice and ensures they don\u2019t get left behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe provide for the student not for the school and if they leave the school it\u2019s theirs to take because for us, it\u2019s about providing a voice for these kids outside of school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have government funding for some of our programs, such as providing uniforms which we do here as well, but not the iPads, so we have to find that money somehow and hope to raise awareness so we can provide even more iPads around the state.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NON-verbal students at the Ballarat Specialist School were presented with thirteen new iPads to assist with learning and communicating last week. Thanks to Victorian not-for-profit State Schools\u2019 Relief and their philanthropic partners Gandel Philanthropy and Bank First, 350 new iPads are being gifted to non-verbal kids at over 80 schools around the state. Ballarat Specialist […]<\/p>\n