Resources & Supports: NCTE & Department of Education and Science (DES)

2 Issues for the SEN teacher Matching technology with needs/students Training in ICT and SEN Acquiring hardware/getting funding Choosing software (tools & content) Getting support/helping yourself Using software/ICT in the classroom NCTE is an important source of support in most of these areas, as follows:

3 NCTE/DES Technology Support Grants for ICT use in special needs, issued by DES (without application) to the school DES funds for integrated individual special needs students (application- based) Laptops for visiting teachers Providing special needs advice e.g. through booklets, websites, etc.

4 Grants for Individual Students with Special Needs Primary / Special Education Provision is available to cater for individual students with specific assistive technology needs Application-based procedure administered by the Special Education Section of the DES Schools apply through their local inspector and make the relevant reports available (no special application form)

5 Grants for Individual Students with Special Needs Post-Primary Application-based procedure for individual students with specific assistive technology needs The eligibility criteria, application form and procedure under the terms of Memo 11/95 Applications and queries should be directed to: The Secretary General, Department of Education and Science, Post Primary Administration section 2, Floor 3, Hawkins House, Dublin 2

6 NCTE Software Support Software evaluation activity -involves special needs teachers/titles Much of the software evaluated relevant to special needs... evaluations available via NCTE/ScoilNet websites UK special needs publishers doing demos/ workshops, often resulting in free software donations to education centres Guide to software evaluation published

7 NCTE SEN/ICT Training Training starts with basic training: introductory phases 1 and 2 Special needs and ICT courses: –Special Needs & ICT: The Basics –Learning support –Specific special education target groups Support groups through education centres

8 NCTE SIP and other innovative projects Projects looking at –use of specific software –different uses of ICT with students with special needs –support provision Raising awareness of inclusion See NCTE website for project summaries and resources

9 NCTE: ScoilNet Support Special needs section Advice and information sheets on disabilities Special needs technology section Message boards set up. Facilitators support message boards.

10 Other SEN activities Working with European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: research on ICT & sharing web resources Identifying support issues - regional and local support Working to build knowledge of 20 regional ICT advisors Looking at SEN project proposals

11 General Support Sources Support Groups via Ed. Centres On-line message boards Schools Integration Projects Other schools / teachers NCTE special needs staff ICT Advisors Publications, talks, conferences Referrals to other services, e.g. special needs and ICT advice service- DES

12 ICT Advisor Network ICT Advisors located in full- time education centres - work with NCTE to provide advice and training to schools

13 NCTE Contacts (for SEN) Address: National Centre for Technology in Education, DCU, Dublin 9 Ph: Fax: Web: