CENMAC

The CENMAC office will be closed for the Christmas holidays from Wednesday 25th December until Wednesday 1st January. We wish everyone an enjoyable festive season!

It’s only a few days before many of us break up for the Christmas holidays and we’ve been enjoying a great new story book called ‘One Snowy Christmas Eve’ featuring a fun filled sleigh ride with a twist. Author Marc Bratcher has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. He has created this wild adventure to show that wheelchair users have their own adventures just like everyone else. Illustrator Korky Paul has brought the story to life with bright, quirky characters full of colour and energy. We spoke to the author Marc in the latest blog: https://bit.ly/49HLHIX #christmasbooks #onesnowychristmaseve #uclanpublishing #book #author

CBBC is running a Live Lesson on Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures, Tuesday 17 December 2024 at 11am (GMT). Children will learn some simple drawing techniques during the lesson and could use iPads/stylus to help draw their own book character. We've added a joining link to this lesson and compiled some other useful resources to use over the Christmas Holiday period. Access them here: https://lnkd.in/e-xiRsR9 #teacher #senco #teachingassistant #education #specialeducationalneeds #SEND #inclusion

The Christmas holidays are nearly here and while it can be a fun time of year, it can also be a challenging time for children and young people with special needs when their routines are interrupted. To help CENMAC Specialist Teaching Assistant Claire Hennings has put together some visual symbols to help children know what is happening during the holiday period and reduce some anxieties. We've also complied some extra resources from Widgit, RSBC, RNIB, Guide Dogs and Kids Kindness Club with activities to keep children busy and engaged over the holidays: https://lnkd.in/e-xiRsR9 Widgit RNIB

In the latest guest blog, Gosia Kwiatkowska, Director Rix Inclusive Research Institute shares a powerful tool called the RIX Wiki a simple, accessible, secure, and password-protected online software developed over a number of years to amplify the voices of students and ensure they are heard. Find out more: https://bit.ly/Rixwiki Gosia Kwiatkowska #assistivetechnology #inclusion #communication #send #specialeducationalneeds

Find out how Inspiration 11 software allows students to create customisable diagrams, maps, presentations & more to help with engagement & memory retention. Join us online this Thursday 5 December from 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT). Book your free spot: https://bit.ly/3LrWvQG #specialeducation #SpecialEducationalNeeds #AssistiveTechnology #education #sencommunity #SENCO TechEdology #neurodiversity

At CENMAC we're keen to continue to develop the ways we are person-centred in our approaches with the children and young people we work with, to help to build their self-determination skills, independence and have a voice in the areas which matter most to them. One of the most effective tools to help achieve these skills are Talking Mats. Head of CENMAC Kathryn Stowell is a Talking Mats Licenced Trainer and has now trained the CENMAC Advisory Teachers, SALTs, OTs and Specialist TAs in the Talking Mats Foundation Training. Find out how we use Talking Mats to help empower our children and young people to have meaningful conversations and build positive relationships in the latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eZ2Z_wBN #TalkingMats #FoundationTraining #symbolsupport #communication #speechandlanguage #senco #teachingassistant #speechandlanguagetherapist #occupationaltherapist #occupationaltherapy #speechandlangauagetherapy #communicationskills #givingstudentsavoice #specialeducation #specialeducationalneeds #otherability #inclusion

We've got some great free online training sessions coming up in the next few weeks including a session with David Banes from Global Symbols who will explore some of the key issues to consider when developing and using pictorial symbols that reflect the languages and cultures within schools. Sign-up for this and more in the latest enewsletter: https://bit.ly/NovNews2024 David Banes Charlie Danger #communication #AAC #AACAware #AT # #accessibility #a11y #digitalinclusion #technology #specialeducation #SEND Communication Matters (ISAAC UK) #Education #Teacher #SENCO #TeachingAssistant #SpeechandLanguage #inclusion #AssistiveTechnology

In specialist education settings, providing students with the tools to express themselves musically can be life-changing. CMPSR and Arrownotes, developed by Digit Learning, are designed to break down traditional barriers in music education, offering a fully accessible, inclusive music-making system that empowers students with disabilities to engage with music on their own terms. Read the latest blog and join us for a live 30 minute online demonstration on Thursday 21 November from 15.30 to 16.00 (GMT): https://lnkd.in/erqNkP6Y Digit Learning #inclusion #SpecialEducation #SENCO #MusicTeacher #Teacher #Education #AssistiveTechnology #AssistiveTech

Lovely to bump into Braille artist Clarke Reynolds today at Sight Village event at Kensington Town Hall. A great opportunity for our team to check out the latest assistive technology to support people with vision impairment. #VisionImpairment #BrailleArtist #AssistiveTechnology #artist #clarkereynolds #Braille #SightVillage Queen Alexandra College For The Blind