FOREWORD

Dr Michael WoodsT.D., The Minister for Education and Science.

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 Enabling Technologies offers a concise and practical outline of how new Information and Communication Technology advances can be exploited for the benefit of pupils with special needs. It will be of considerable interest to all those interested in this field of education.

Special Needs was one of my immediate priorities when I became Minister for Education and Science. I believe that all pupils with identified special educational needs should have entitlement to quality educational services appropriate to their needs and abilities. A package of supports has been put in place by my Department to support this, including considerable extra funding in the current year to address the special equipment needs of children with disabilities. This publication will therefore complement much that my Department has been doing in recent times.

I am also happy to see this work emerging as one of the fruits of the Schools Integration Project (SIP). SIP is part of the Government's Schools IT2000 initiative that was designed to strengthen the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Irish schools. SIP's role within this is to foster the integration of ICT in teaching and learning by funding innovative projects. SIP is the largest school based innovation activity in Europe, with 79 projects involving some 350 schools. Special Needs is one area where ICT can make a significant impact and, by piloting a regional assistive technology support service, the SOLAS SIP Project will have an important role in informing my Department on aspects of Assistive Technology provision.

Boherbue Comprehensive School is to be complimented for the lead that it has taken in ICT development, as well as for facilitating and supporting the development of the SOLAS project. Since its launch in 1997, SOLAS has been innovative and productive. I was therefore happy to announce recently that Boherbue Comprehensive School will continue to pilot the use of ICTs in education by its participation in a £2 Million project involving the use of laptops for students with Dyslexia and other reading difficulties.

Táim an-shásta a choisteáil go bhfuil ag éirí go rímhaith le gach gné de chuid imeacta’ SOLAS. Tá ardmholadh tuillte ag na daoine ar fad a bhfuil baint acu leis an bhfeachtas fiúntach seo. Guím gach rath orthu féin agus ar a gcuid oibre.