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Australian first for new communications software In an Australian first the East Gippsland community now has free access to a computer software program that produces picture-based cards, charts and booklets. By East Gippsland Shire Council - 30th September 2005 - Back to News Called Boardmaker the program contains over 3,500 picture symbols specifically designed for communication purposes.
The symbols are widely used by people who have difficulty using or understanding speech.
The development of the software was a joint initiative involving the East Gippsland Shire, The Rural Access Project, and the Regional Communication Service.
The Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Libraries are the first libraries in Australia to offer Boardmaker for public use in a library.
The Shire’s Rural Access Project Officer Kim Radford said Boardmaker would be of interest to people who produce picture based communication materials for people who have trouble using or understanding speech.
"It also ideal for making signs for shops and services that are easily understood by all members of our community and designing information material such as brochures and fact sheets that make use of well-known communication symbols," she said.
Ms Radford said that communication difficulties were experienced by a wide range of people in our community.
"A person may be born with a disability that impairs development of speech, such as Down Syndrome, Autism, intellectual disability or they may experience an event that affects their speech and language skills, such as head injury, stroke, dementia," she said
"The use of pictures, such as those in Boardmaker, improves a person’s ability to understand what is happening, and also to communicate needs."
Four free two-hour Boardmaker training sessions conducted by Local Speech Pathologist Toni Seiler with the Regional Communication Service have been organised for Tuesday, 11 October at 1.30pm and that evening at 6.00pm at the Bairnsdale Library.
On Thursday 27 Oct at 3.30pm and Friday 28 Oct at 11.00am the sessions will be held at the Lakes Entrance Library.
Ms Radford said carers of people with communication problems, teachers, staff at community residential units, hospitals and other educational facilities will especially benefit from the training sessions.
Refreshments will be provided, and interested persons can register by contacting the Bairnsdale Library on 5153 9559 and Lakes Entrance Library and Business Centre on 5153 9500.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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