Widgit

National freephone helpline: 0800 269091

enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk

AbilityNet are a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. We offer advice, training and assessment services.

Directorate of Education, Hill View, Hill View Drive, Welling, Kent DA16 3RY

We are a service that offers specialist advice and support to schools in the Bexley area for children with ASD; speech, language, communication and literacy difficulties and sensory impairment.  We have a wealth of experience using symbol support to enable children's access to the curriculum, to develop social understanding and support behaviour.   Advice and in school or centre based training is available to schools/centres in and outside of the Bexley area from:
* Specialist Advisory Teams working within mainstream schools
* Preschool Support Teams

The Widgit Centre in Barking & Dagenham has as the main focus supporting speech and language issues using symbols. We are also working with the science team to develop symbol support for key vocabulary.

The following personnel can access support in using symbols:
- All teaching and non-teaching staff at schools in Barking & Dagenham
- Advisory Teachers from Barking & Dagenham
- Speech & Language Therapists working in Barking & Dagenham schools.

The ICT Team provide guidance and support to all schools in Brent. We are in the process of identifying software that can effectively support children with special educational needs. The ICT Team along with other members of the School Improvement Service have been impressed with Communicate: In Print 2 and its possibilities.

CENMAC is a team of advisory teachers who assess and review the progress of pupils who have been referred to the service.  

Pupils are referred to CENMAC for advice on access to the curriculum and the recording of text.  Pupils can be referred to our service if they have a disability and have difficulties with access. We work in both mainstream and special schools and with pupils who need access to a keyboard, switches or 'start out' communication aids.  

CENMAC offers training in the more commonly used supportive software packages to support access.   www.cenmac.com

Maria Padreddii

zeena.foster@enfield.gov.uk
mpwings@hotmail.com

‘Health and Education working in partnership to improve and enhance opportunities for children and families'

We support and develop good models of inclusive practice across the maintained and private sectors. We work with children and families from Foundation stage through to KS4

We offer training to TAs, Teachers, SENCOs, Senior Management Teams and Local Authority Officers (all sectors)

We also offer 1-1 training in exceptional situations and resource making and development days. Widgit training is available to practitioners and partners in London and the SE.

The service provides support for Tower Hamlets schools in a number of ways:
- Providing advice and consultancy for the whole spectrum of SEN.
- Working with individual pupils with Statements of SEN.
- Delivering Service Level Agreements tailored to the needs of each establishment.

Symbols software support is available to those in the borough of Tower Hamlets working with or caring for children with communication difficulties known to the Speech and Language Therapy service.

Rachel Moore

92 Windmill Road , Headington, Oxford OX3 7DR

01865 759800

The ACE Centre Advisory Trust provides assessments, training, R & D, information, advice, consultancy and equipment loans to support the use of assistive technology for communication and learning for people with physical and communication disabilities across the South of England, South Wales and the Channel Islands.

We support children and adults with severe communication difficulties. We provide:
- One-to-one   advocacy for people requiring a Communication Aid and living in Kent or Medway
- A loan resource library available to people living or working in Kent or Medway.
- Widgit symbol training is available to people throughout the UK at the Find A Voice office. There is a sliding scale of charges operating (reduced charges for parents and those working in Kent/Medway).'
- We will travel to other sites in Kent.

Experienced and happy to train: Therapists and therapy assistants (SLT & OT),
Teachers and Teaching assistants, parents and carers at your premises
/ home / school.  Will adapt to the needs of the audience and their
particular interests and challenges.