ETRSS was among 80 specialist schools throughout metro and regional Victoria to receive iPads which will be loaded with a number of applications to help students throughout their day at school.
Vice-principal Ben Ridge said receiving the 11 iPads would make a world of difference for the students.
“Cost is a real barrier for us and while we do already have some iPads here at school, we haven't been able to have any we can use specifically for communication,” he said.
“We have speech pathologists already in the school working with our non-verbal students, but having this technology will help them even more.
“We are so grateful for this donation because now we have the opportunity to really connect with our students and they can feel as though they're heard.
Bank First, in conjunction with Gandel Philanthropy, have donated $50,000 and $100,000 respectively to purchase the iPads which are being distributed to the schools.
This program was rolled out in 2019 with 191 iPads being provided to students in need across 29 specialist schools in Victoria and in 2021 the program has almost doubled.
Mr Ridge said the school had been able to use the apps as well as visual cues in the classrooms to help encourage students to communicate.
“We have pictures in each classroom now that students can point to in order to communicate, but it's not just indoors where we need to speak to these students, it's out in the playground and at home as well,” he said.
“We thank State School Relief and their partners for their generosity. It really will make a massive difference to our students.”
SSR chief executive Sue Karzis said it was the foundation's aim to break down the walls created by language difficulties.
“At SSR we believe in removing barriers to education. The provision of iPads for non-verbal children in specialist schools is one way that we can ensure that no child or young person is left behind,” she said.
“With the generous support of Bank First and Gandel Philanthropy, we will provide iPads to children and young people in need, so that we can give them the means of communication.”
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