A UNIQUE orchestra, based at Chadsgrove Special School in Bromsgrove, is giving children with disabilities and special needs a chance to play an instrument independently, writes Sophie Baram.
Revolutionary new software means regardless of students’ physical impairments they can use an iPad, Eyegaze, a laptop and SmartNav (a head tracker) to make music.
One 15-year-old student Ibrahim has disabilities preventing him from holding an instrument but he now uses a headtracker (a small metallic dot on his chin) to play the clarion.
He said: “It has taken quite a bit of practise, but now I feel like an expert.
“Having the independence it gives me makes me feel free.”
Steph Wellings, a music teacher at Chadsgrove said, “The introduction of the SmartNav has opened up many new possibilities for Ibrahim and he is now making excellent progress with tasks he could’t access before.”
It follows Worcestershire County Council revising its SEND policy – visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/graduatedresponse to view.
