Apologies for the absence · Monday August 20, 2007 by Ann
I have been away-I had internet access but forgot to take the password to get me into here-so couldn’t blog!
I have so much to blog, I’ll probably have to do it in two or three blocks!
We went along to Iris and Geoff Harrison’s for dinner with Alice. We had such a good time. We met up with Joyce, one of the other trustees for the charity Speaks Volumes It looks like the funds will be made available soon, for Alice to get the software she needs to over come the problems of her severe dysgraphia.
Alic still has such problems with the physical act of writing and the FE college were not helpful at all.
Alice had become disillusioned again and had begun to doubt herself again lately. Going to dinner with Iris, Geoff and Joyce was just the tonic she needed. Geoff kindly demonstrated the voice recognition software and Alice immediately had a go and quickly recognised it’s potential. It was so lovely to hear their laughter and joy from the next room.
Both Geoff and Alice got quite emotional later when talking about the difficulties they have had in the past with getting their thoughts down on paper.
I know I have had to leave blogging about this for a while, as I too got upset when seeing their anguish again, to talk about it.
I am not asking for advantages for my offspring, but do feel passionately that they should be on a level playing field with everyone else when it comes to course work and exam situations.
Suddenly with voice recognition software what is in Alice’s head can be seen on paper-rather than what she can physically write or type in the time allowed.
This type of help is available for someone with these types of specific learning difficulties once they get to university-but as the amount of help they really need is simply not available routinely in schools and FE colleges, so many young people like Alice do not make it as far as university-and therefore never have the chance to show how well they could do in that type of academic situation.
Alice is now very keen indeed to be doing whatever she can to further the cause of this charity.
Let’s hope the applications for funding for ‘Speaks Volumes’ are successful so it can be useful in helping many more people.
Hi Anne,Ive only just started reading your blog and its a very interesting read.Could you tell where you got the funds for the software for Alice.My grandson who I might have to HE (he has “Global Development Delay)is starting to take an interest in computing (he is 11 years old)and my wife and I are thinking of buying him one soon.Thanks Frank
— frankie keefe Aug 29, 12:28 pm #