Programme
9:15 Registration and Coffee
9:45 Welcome and Introduction by Anna Rourke
(Manager, ACE Centre North)
"The changing face of ACE"
A view of events that are shaping the future service delivery and rationale of the ACE Centres.
The ACE Centres endeavour to respond to the changing needs of the population involved in Assistive Technology and AAC. Now is a critical period of change with the prospect of the end of the Communication Aids Project (CAP) as we know it, and the evolution of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda. Over recent years, we have recognised the importance of establishing and developing local Assistive Technology teams and CAP has gone some way towards helping this to be achieved. Within the emerging Children’s Trusts, there are opportunities to promote multi-agency service delivery, pooled budgets for equipment and support and advice on the assessment process. The challenge from here on is to ensure that local and regional expertise is maintained and developed along with the need for our services to support this.
10:30 Hilary Ellam (DfES Chidren's Trusts Coordinator for the North and Yorkshire & Humberside)
Childrens Trusts:
"Most areas should have a children's trust by 2006. The Government expects all areas to have a children's trust by 2008. What is the philosophy of the Chidren's Trusts and what can we learn from the Pathfinders?
11:30 Coffee
11:45 Session (A) Ian Bean (former member of Middlesbrough CAP Team at Priory Woods School, now of Inclusive Technology)
Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards are fast transforming the way that teachers and pupils approach learning. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the field of Special Educational Needs where IWBs can help deliver the highly motivating, multi-modal, personalised learning opportunities that really engage pupils in the learning process. From visual stimulation to video editing, this session will share practical ideas for using the board with pupils experiencing severe and complex special needs.
11:45 Session (B) Mick Donegan ACE Centre South
Access through Eye Gaze
The aim of this session is to give examples of how eye-control technology enables people with a wide range of communication difficulties to communicate more quickly and efficiently using e.g. The Grid, Speaking Dynamically Pro, Dasher, etc. What are the potential benefits of eye control over other methods of accessing technology? What are the shortcomings? At present, eye control technology is rarely used by people who might gain enormous benefit from it, despite the fact that, globally, vast numbers of people with communication difficulties use eye-pointing as their preferred method of low-tech communication, using e-tran frames, eye-pointing to real objects, etc. The COGAIN project, supported by the European Commission, concerns ‘Communication by Gaze Interaction’. The ACE Centre’s role is to represent the needs of users, giving them an opportunity to use eye control technology to communicate more quickly, efficiently and, ultimately, more cost-effectively.
12:45 Lunch
1:45 Session (C) Kirklees CAP Team
Making a case for future provision to Senior Managers
"Preparing for the future"
This team has already started to gain the attention of the budget holders and policy makers in Kirklees in order to ensure the commitment to supporting pupils who need AAC and Assistive Technology beyond the life time of CAP. Telling the local story has been vital to engage the right people in paving the way for a commitment to continuing AAC and AT provision and support for the future. This session will summarize the buttons they have pushed, data they have collected and stories they have told to attract attention.
1:45 Session (D) Carol Allen Advisory Teacher, North Tyneside
ICT Access to the Curriculum for Learners with SEN
Technology has so much to offer learners with special needs. Initiatives, projects and guidelines abound BUT how much of this is easily translated into good, fun and effective classroom practice. This practical session will offer ideas which you can take away to try!
2:45 Coffee
3:15 Whats New? - The Website - Finding your way around!
Steve Carroll and Sara Dale - ACE Centre North
3:30 What's New? - A review of the latest hardware and software
Andy Banns - Technican and the Team - ACE Centre North
4:00 Close
M60 to Jct 3, A34 signposted Wilmslow & Cheadle
Straight on at the traffic lights, Follow the A34 for approx. ½ mileand take left off the bypass and sharp left at the junction following signs for Cheadle onto Schools Hill. BGWS is approx. ¼ mile down the hill on the right
M1 North up to the M6
M6 to Jct 19 following signs for M56, Manchester Airport
Continue on the M56 and take Jct 5, for the Airport itself.
Straight on at roundabout follow signs for Wilmslow & Moss Nook
Turn left at traffic lights at T-Junction and proceed for approx. 300 yards
Turn right at traffic lights, down Finney Lane through Heald Green for approx. ½ mile until you reach a T– Junction.
Turn left at the traffic lights (Griffin pub on the right) onto the B5458 (old A34)
Continue to large roundabout. Third turn off is Schools Hill and is signposted Cheadle, BGWS and Ladybarn School. BGWS is approx 1/4 mile on the right.