Students’ lives transformed by technology

Four National Star students spoke to hundreds of people at Bett, a leading education technology show to explain how technology has transformed their lives for the better.

Jaspar, Dan, Jack and Aidan explained how they are achieving their potential thanks to the use of technology when they spoke in front of an audience of hundreds of people at Bett UK. They shared their insights into some of the challenges faced by young people with disabilities, highlighting the barriers to education, social inclusion, and independence.

They then described how, by using innovative technologies, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and adaptive software, the lives of young people with disabilities can be transformed.

‘Technology is power,’ says Jaspar. ‘My eyes, thanks to the technology, have super powers. I can move independently driving my chair, control my music, the lighting in my room, the curtains, my computer. And flirt, well doesn’t everyone?! I am 20 years old after all,’ he added.

Jack, a proud Brummie, said: ‘The impact of technology on my life has been massive.
It enables me to listen to my music and music is important to me because of my
dancing. Music also helps me relax.

‘Without technology I would have never been able to ask my fiancé Bethan out on a date. I could never have asked her to marry me. Now my biggest wish is to have my own voice so that when I give my wedding speech, I sound like me,’ he added.

Aidan is passionate about Esports and praised his National Star team for the efforts they have made to embrace technology to help him settle into college.

Dan, who has his own blog on Facebook ‘Disability Matters with Dan’ talked to
the audience about how the Mollii suit, a full body garment which works to switch
off muscles that are overactive while stimulating ones which are underactive has changed his life.

‘By using the Mollii suit I have less pain in my legs. I have even been able to reduce the amount of medication I take to control the pain. That means I have had less side effects and I don’t have as much fatigue.

Now I can make the most of college life,’ said Dan. Chief Operating Officer and Principal of National Star Simon Welch said: ‘As a leading specialist college we have a team of dedicated professionals who are constantly exploring ways of introducing new technologies to enhance the lives of students with disabilities. Our aim is to ensure that students are fully equipped for life after college.’