Member Article

Funding For iPads Supports Vital Speech Therapy For Children

Children receiving specialist speech therapy support from South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust can now access a better service thanks to the donation of five new iPads from the CareTech Foundation.

Rebecca Sherrington, Speech and Language Therapist at the Cape Road Clinic in Warwick, applied for a grant of £2500 to help support children with difficulties communicating. Previously the department only had one iPad, their most valuable and used resource, amongst the equipment the department owned for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC).

Now with 5 new iPads complete with 4G, WIFI, and a robust cover, the Cape Road Clinic has the latest technology to hand that can support the specialist Smartbox Alternative and Augmentative Communication software for children to access. The electronic symbol and text-based communication software will allow children to develop their language and communication by empowering them with the tools to make communication easier.

CareTech Foundation CEO, Jonathan Freeman MBE, says: “It is incredibly important that we are all enabled with the ability to communicate. We know how frustrating it can be when our communication is misunderstood. For these children having the opportunity to access assistive technology really is an opportunity to lead a more independent life. We couldn’t be happier knowing our donation is going to such good use.”

Rebecca Sherrington, Speech and Language Therapist says: “These new iPads really are a life changer for so many children and their families. Our mission is to improve the life chances of children in Warwickshire by working with families and professionals to improve skills and breakdown barriers to communication. With this new technology we are able to provide the children we support with the opportunity to lead a more independent life.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CareTech Foundation .