Resource pack helps disabled children speak out

[Guest guest]

Resource pack helps disabled children speak out

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=27523

At present, many disabled children, particularly those children with

limited vocal language, are excluded from being involved in decision-

making processes in schools. Thanks to the launch of a new resource

pack for teachers this Friday [July 13] children with little or no

speech could soon be communicating their views.

The Participation in Education (PIE) research project has been

exploring approaches for including disabled children, aged 7-11,

with little or no verbal communication in decision-making at

school. This is groundbreaking work as it is often very challenging

to help such children communicate their views.

Researchers from Bristol University's Norah Fry Research Centre and

the Graduate School of Education conducted a national survey of

practices in special and mainstream provision and relationships were

established with 11 disabled children with little or no verbal

communication attending two special schools in Bristol and

Cheltenham.

Time was spent with these children, and interviews were held with

their parents, teachers, head teachers, speech and language

therapists and teaching assistants as well as other professionals.

The project has been funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Key findings from the research project include:

There needs to be better sharing of good practice, both within and

between schools.

Children can be included in all aspects of decision-making at some

level, given the right support and the motivation.

An increase in whole school and whole local authority approaches to

communication is needed to ensure continuity.

Children with little or no speech are increasingly successfully

involved with their reviews, school councils and target setting.

More training and support with communication is needed, for

professionals, families, and for teaching assistants in particular

as they play a vital role.

The funding and insurance of communication aids is an issue that

needs to be addressed.

Nearly 100 teachers and professions from Bristol and the South West

will attend Friday's launch event of the resource pack, I want to

choose too, at the University's Graduation School of Education.

Pupils and staff from Bettridge School in Cheltenham will also talk

about the work they carry out around communication at their school.

The pack contains 'messages' from children and other participants,

and examples of good practice and materials that can enhance

children's participation.

Debby , Research Fellow at the Norah Fry Research Centre, who

has played a key role in developing the pack, said: " Our inspiration

has been the desire that young people have to communicate, however

difficult that is for them, and the joy they find in being heard. "

http://www.bristol.ac.uk