IT was an exciting start to term three for Bendigo Special Developmental School students, with State Schools\u2019 Relief providing fifteen iPads to non-verbal children.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bendigo SDS principal Kirshy McAinch said the delivery is \u201clife-changing\u201d for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunication is everything, it\u2019s how we access everything in life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re very lucky to have this targeted at an early years\u2019 level, which means they\u2019ll be able to learn right through as they progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
With much of the school\u2019s budget going towards the staff, relief teachers, and educational support team at the Bendigo SDS, Ms McAinch said there\u2019s \u201cno way\u201d they could\u2019ve purchased the iPads.<\/p>\n
Through the SSR program, the school has been able to provide them to 50 of its 137 students.<\/p>\n
The students can take the devices home, enabling them to communicate outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n
Victorian-based not-for-profit organisation State Schools\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
CEO Sue Karzis said the initiative has become her main focus over her four years with SSR.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to give students a voice is life changing, it really inspires me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go and knock on doors and ask for money, and I\u2019m happy to do it because this is where the money\u2019s going. Every dollar that we can put towards this is a dollar well spent.\u201d<\/p>\n
SSR also provides uniforms, footwear and other educational resources to financially disadvantaged schools.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IT was an exciting start to term three for Bendigo Special Developmental School students, with State Schools\u2019 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 […]<\/p>\n