Work placement at Ace Centre

Marica Gatt, a teacher at Fgura Primary B, has recently completed a work placement at the Ace Centre, UK.

The Ace Centres provide services to support the use of assistive technology (AT) for communication and learning for persons with complex physical and communication disabilities. This visit was made possible through the financial support of The European Commission's Socrates Programme, Comenius Action.

During this work placement, Mrs Gatt was involved in various projects, including The Talk About Series which relates to production of curricular activities for various voice output communication aids including the Dynavox Series (Mini Mo, Mighty Mo, DV4 and MT4), and computer-based resources including power point presentations.

The visit included a training module in augmentative and alternative means of communication (AAC), which is accredited by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Mrs Gatt is a specialist teacher, lecturer and disability equality trainer. Her research project involves AAC as part fulfilment for her M.Sc. in Severe, Profound, Complex Learning Disabilities and Multi-Sensory Impairment at Manchester University.

She currently does voluntary work at San Miguel Resource Centre, Pembroke where the use of AAC through signs, symbols, objects of reference and high technology aids has been promoted. Environment control units were also introduced using cutting edge technology such as tablet PCs and portable computers to meet the various complex needs of children with profound learning disabilities and multi-sensory impairment.

San Miguel School offers a wide range of alternative access and ICT software to support communication and learning through the use of AT and AAC systems for children with physical and communication difficulties.

AAC supplements speech which is unclear and provides an alternative means of communication should speech fail to develop. AAC systems used include manual signing, low-tech aids such as communication boards and high tech aids such as voice output communication aids. AAC intervention should be multimodal - using all modes of communication including unaided and aided communication.

AAC also supports and enhances the development of communication and language in children with motor difficulties, language disorders and learning disabilities.

It is estimated that around 380 school-aged children in Malta have severe communication difficulties.