Expanding Danny's choices

by Robyn Raine

For the past six years I've been talking to people at the Department of Education and schools to get them to get communication technology in place for children and young people with disabilities. I helped to develop a training module in communication technology that just recently received accreditation. It's amazing to think that I've been able to do this. It's taken a long time, and a lot of work, but it's really been worth it. I know first hand about the difference communication technology can make to the life of a person with a severe disability. For my son, Danny, it means he can demonstrate his intelligence. We're working on his High School Certificate though Distance Education. Home schooling. We have a carer/Integration aide assisting us with it four hours a day three days a week. I use my five hours weekly respite entitlement for support for one other day. The rest of the time it's up to me to work with him and that's not easy for either of us, a parent, a mother, being the teacher for her 15 year old boy. And then factor in Danny's spastic quadriplegia!

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Contact: Cooinda Family Support Group