Program old

Historically, students with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs were educated/undereducated in segregated, isolated environments or were totally excluded from the public educational system. In many countries, legislation has greatly improved the opportunities for students with disabilities by mandating appropriate, inclusive educational programs for all students. Other countries have legislated that ALL students with special needs be educated in general education classrooms. This legislation rarely addresses how this is to be accomplished nor does it provide funding for or specify the qualifications necessary to meet the specialized needs of these students. When inclusion is regarded as a placement rather than as a process, students with special needs, their classmates and their teachers are faced with significant challenges. Unless they are able to be active participants in the classroom, students with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs find inclusion to be isolating rather than inclusive. This presentation will discuss the process in place at The Bridge School to ensure our students develop the communication and self determination skills necessary to be active members in their educational and social environments.

15:30 - 16:00 AAC Technology Demos (small groups, registration required): 1/ Tobii Dynavox 2/ Pretorian Technologies

In this presentation, Dave Gilbert will explore some of the versatile and imaginative ways in which Pretorian Technologies AAC devices may be used to help non-verbal and minimally-verbal users to develop their language skills. Methodologies such as Conversation and Choice Making are discussed in the context of AAC devices and also the opportunities for engaging younger users by providing audible and visual rewards for good outcomes.

15:30 - 16:00 AAC Technology Demos (small groups, registration required): 1/ Tobii Dynavox 2/ Smartbox 3/ BrainControl 4/ ASSIST

BrainControl AAC, the first augmentative alternative communicator addressing the need of CLIS and advances LIS patients, thanks to an innovative Brain-Computer Interface.

Programming in Scratch using eye-control