We want to see this good practice extended. ICT should be used to give children with special educational needs maximum access to the curriculum, and to help them reach their learning potential. Some ideas for using ICT to help children with special needs have been simple, and relatively cheap. The BT Fax Buddies project links children with communication difficulties to adult volunteers, including 12 from the DfEE's Special Educational Needs Division. The child and volunteer exchange one or two short faxes each week, to help the child become more accustomed to informal conversation.
Fax machines are all that is required.
Expertise in ICT amongst professionals working with children with SEN varies. The National Grid For Learning will provide an infrastructure for networked learning, focusing initially on teacher development and curriculum support. Case study - Use of ICT to support children with SEN West Oaks Special School in Leeds provides for children of all ages with a range of special educational needs, including autism. The school has made good use of IT, including use of networked specialist hardware and software to give children with communication and physical difficulties access to the curriculum.