The use of Smartboards and bespoke software to develop and deliver an inclusive, individual and interactive learning curriculum for students with ASD

NORSACA (Nottingham Regional Society for Adults and Children with Autism) provide specialist education and support for children with autism under the title of Sutherland House Children's Services. This is a 'non maintained' (ie. independent) special school with 84 students ranging from four to 19 years of age, which is set across five sites in Nottinghamshire. There has been significant investment by the school in its ICT infrastructure, implementation and support including the introduction of a specialist ICT role in 2005. The author of this article (and ICT specialist at the school) has developed the use of ICT hardware and software across the whole school as well as developing schemes of work, designing and creating bespoke software for students and producing a number of student developmental tracking systems alongside his teaching commitment to all key stages. Fundamental to the success of the sessions has been the introduction of Smartboards into the classroom setting and the individualisation of software so that it is relevant to the scheme of work and appealing to each student. This article gives an overview of how ICT sessions are planned and structured for children at the school, explores the software that has been developed and presents key design guidelines for developing ICT for children with autism, recommended by the author.