Communication Works 2023

Beth Moulam 

'From my own experience, I recommend four steps to help us thrive.
First, remember everyone is different and not everyone will use the same communication strategies. Second, always presume competence. We often see that people with acquired conditions like Stephen Hawking and Rob Burrow don't have to jump through a hoop at the start of every conversation. Third, make sure we have time to respond.
Acorns eventually grow into trees, but it doesn't happen overnight. And finally, try to make every interaction meaningful for both of us'

Beth Moulam 

Clarke Reynolds - Braille Artist

'We're here to be seen. We're here to make a difference and to change how the world sees us and be a mentor for the children that have grown up with. I don't like, the word disability, I prefer the expression different ability. We're all have different abilities'  

Clarke Reynolds - Braille Artist

UDL - Removing barriers to learning
with Bob Usher

'We are all gatekeepers. The decisions that we make ultimately influence the progress of a child more than anything else. And that's us; that's within our power. 

We all have a positive role to play. Of course, technology can play a massive role in effective, inclusive practice with the right pedagogy: 

So in summary; Connect with your learners, and present so they can understand and give opportunities for them to express their learning in the most effective way'

Bob Usher - LGfL Content Manager

Beth Moulam Interview

'Inclusion is a move away from tokenistic representation to being at the table in your own right, being expected to have an opinion, being able to question and feeling that your contribution is as valid, equal and valued as everyone else's.'

Beth Moulam

Widgit symbols
with Sue White

'So we're all visual learners very early on until our brains lateralise at around age seven. We're very visual in terms of our learning, so I think it's just really part of an emergent learning experience. But moving on, we process symbols and visuals much more quickly than we process language. And a symbol is very concise and goes straight to the point of the vocabulary that you're trying to get people to understand. Whereas if you have a photograph, it sometimes has peripheral information in it and background information that can detract from that symbol. Photos are important, don't get me wrong, but when you're trying to get across vocabulary and something very quickly, then the symbol is very direct because it's very precise and concise'

Sue White
Widgit Symbols

What does inclusion mean to you?

with Arran Smith

'Putting technology at the heart of learning, with accessibility built in for everyone, creates independent learning and helps ensure all students achieve their full potential. So for me, having accessible technology that is freely available, that removes stigma, that removes barriers to learning, is inclusion.'

Arran Smith
Microsoft Inclusion Specialist

Cosmo - Re-imagining inclusive learning, therapy and play for people with additional learning needs

'Cosmo supports inclusion in a way that students play together a lot of different games and activities. So a lot of these games and activities here are designed to support communication and be customisable for students' different needs, so that students with limited physical mobility, with communication issues can all join in and play one activity together. The activities will have different settings, different difficulty levels, and different responsiveness of the switches as well. So students with different sensory needs and physical needs will be able to play the same activities'

Eva Bukowska
Cosmo Community Engagement Manager

Cosmo - What is it and how does it work?

'Our games and activities help students work on their cognitive, physical and social communication skills. So you'll have a lot of different activities, for example, exercise, where your task is to press the button that lights up. So it's an easy game where you can incorporate some movement-based learning as well. We will have some sensory games such as Fish Tank, for example, which can support social, and emotional learning and relaxation activities.'

Eva Bukowska
Cosmo Community Engagement Manager