Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) provides subsidies for the provision of MASS endorsed aids and equipment. Most communication devices are able to be subsidised under this system. A person eligible for assistance from MASS must be a permanent resident of Queensland and be eligible for benefits (eg. Centrelink Health Care Card). For a communication device to be covered it must also be prescribed by a Speech Language Pathologist. A subsidy of up to $3000 is available for communication devices. The website detailing the procedures is www.health.qld.gov.au/mass/communicationaids.asp

It takes a considerable amount of time to decide which device is most suitable as there are lots of factors to consider (ie. The student’s ability to access the device, size of the device, size and number of cells, pictures vs words, portability and price). Therefore a high level of parental commitment is needed. The device should also be trialed in a number of different environments (eg. Home and school). Someone also needs to be available to program the device.

Please contact the school’s Speech Language Pathologist if you are interested.

Our Senior Schooling Programs are highly individualised to suit the needs of all students. All Senior students have Individual Education Plans as well as classroom based academic goals. Transition Planning for the end-point of schooling begins around at 16 years of age with continued support throughout this exciting time. Our highly skilled Senior Teaching Team have many years of combined experience. Continuous up-to-date Professional Development Inservices ensure that knowledge, skills and strategies are current and relevant to our student population.

We have 9 Senior School classes consisting of;

4 x Activity Therapy classes: These classrooms cater for students with severe and/or multiple disabilities. Programs include daily living programs (such as mealtimes, personal grooming and continence), academic subjects (based on the Key Learning Areas), Community Access, adaptive technology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy.

1 Senior Outreach Class: Students requiring extra focus on improving social skills, self-regulation skills and working as a team participate in this program. Community access (such as shopping, physical activities and cultural excursions) form the basis of the program with work experience, academic/classroom work, Manual Arts, Horticultural Science and Hospitality all geared toward increasing independence and cooperation.

1 Secondary Inclusion Class: Some of our Senior students attend a program physically based at Southport High School. These students can access relevant mainstream high-school subjects, while still receiving support from our Secondary Access teacher and teacher-aides. The Secondary Inclusion class also access resources and programs (such as Hospitality and the computer lab) based at Kumbari Avenue School. The best of both worlds!

3 x Senior class groups: The three school-based Senior class groups enjoy the stability of a consistent teacher, teacher aide and physical location. The students access a wide range of programs both on and off school campus. These include Hospitality, Manual Arts, Horticultural Science, community access, work experience, swimming and physical education programs (such as bushwalking and ten-pin bowling), school camps and cultural excursions.

The Department of Employment and Training (DET) has developed a website promoting pathways through vocational education and training for students with a disability, funded by the Australian National Training Authority.

The website provides information about planning a career, career options, training pathways and related support services for people with a disability.

The site was developed through the efforts of staff from DET, TAFE Queensland, Education Queensland as well as the Regional Disability Liaison Officers and Disability Coordination Officers of Southern Queensland.

It has the support of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and the Australian Association of Independent Schools Queensland.

Before its release, school students with a disability trialled the website to test its accessibility and usefulness. Most of these students use the internet regularly but had not considered the internet as a way to get this sort of information.

Generally, they found the site to be helpful for planning their future. Some enhancements to the structure of the site will be made in response to their feedback.

The DET web portal hosts the site with links from the TAFE Queensland and Education Queensland websites.

Visit the site at:

http://www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au/client/jobs_careers/job_career_planning/disability/index.htm

For more information contact the Office of Industry and Community Development project sponser Becky Walsh on phone (07) 3237 1326 or email becky.walsh@det.qld.gov.au

Activity Therapy offers a full curriculum incorporating Key Learning Areas and is outcomes based. We incorporate personalised planning to deliver programs in the most appropriate and effective way for each individual child.

Students have access to a variety of communication aids, e.g. Boardmaker developed choice-boards, picture exchange communication system, signing and voice output devices.

Activity Therapy students are encouraged to use wheelchair accessible adaptive technology, e.g. touch screens, switches, specialised keyboards and switch activated toys and appliances.

Students are involved in specialist music lessons where they learn different skills such as music appreciation and creating music using instruments and the soundbeam.

Classes enjoy swimming and practice skills such as water familiarisation, range of movement and submersion. The students are eagerly awaiting the opening of the school hydrotherapy pool.

Students also have access to a range of off-campus experiences as part of the class or as a whole school activity. Excursions are relevant to class programs and aim to enhance the students’ life experiences and community relationships. Excursions include: swimming, the Variety Club Marriot Courtyard luncheon, circuses, community access such as shopping, sports days and theme-based excursions such as museums, farms, sanctuaries and art galleries.

The inclusion program at Southport State High School operates and is resourced as a satellite of The Kumbari Ave School. Prior to placement in the Inclusion program, all students must be enrolled at and attending The Kumbari Ave School – Gold Coast. In addition to meeting certain selection criteria (such as age, ability, behaviour, mobility) for Inclusion, Students and Parents need to be aware of their joint responsibilities (wearing correct uniform).

The Inclusion staff consists of one full-time Teacher, one full-time Teacher-Aide and is allocated extra Aide time on a needs basis, in order to support our students 100% of the time. This program allows students who are enrolled at The Kumbari Ave School, who meets the criteria, to access elective subjects across a variety of faculties. Subject areas not covered by chosen mainstream electives are covered in our Inclusion class, thus ensuring all students participate in all required curriculum areas.

The general aims for the Inclusion Access Class are – for the staff to work collaboratively with mainstream staff, students and the parents in order to ensure quality educational outcomes for students enrolled in our setting. For the students to have the opportunity to access a range of suitable subjects at a participation level. To be accepted in a mainstream setting, with opportunities for developing social skills and forming friendships.

This inclusion program has been running since 1994, the rationale behind the establishment of the program is to provide ‘Outreach’ or ‘Satellite’ inclusive settings for The Kumbari Ave School – Gold Coast students.