iPad delivery to aid communication

IT was an exciting start to term three for Bendigo Special Developmental School students, with State Schools’ Relief providing fifteen iPads to non-verbal children.

The devices can have NDIS-funded programs loaded onto them, allowing students to communicate with teachers, support staff, and their families, and assist them with engaging with educational resources.

Bendigo SDS principal Kirshy McAinch said the delivery is “life-changing” for students.

“Communication is everything, it’s how we access everything in life,” she said.

“These kids need so much support to understand they have a voice and learn how to use it these devices give this child and the team around the child one focal point, one way of helping them learn and use communication in all its forms.

“They’re very lucky to have this targeted at an early years’ level, which means they’ll be able to learn right through as they progress.”

With much of the school’s budget going towards the staff, relief teachers, and educational support team at the Bendigo SDS, Ms McAinch said there’s “no way” they could’ve purchased the iPads.

Through the SSR program, the school has been able to provide them to 50 of its 137 students.

The students can take the devices home, enabling them to communicate outside of the classroom.

Victorian-based not-for-profit organisation State Schools’ Relief has received $90,000 through its partnerships with Bank First and the Australian Schools Canteen Association to provide 423 devices to almost 30 specialist schools in the state.

CEO Sue Karzis said the initiative has become her main focus over her four years with SSR.

“Being able to give students a voice is life changing, it really inspires me,” she said.

“I go and knock on doors and ask for money, and I’m happy to do it because this is where the money’s going. Every dollar that we can put towards this is a dollar well spent.”

SSR also provides uniforms, footwear and other educational resources to financially disadvantaged schools.