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Melissa McCarthy, Director of Educational Services Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) presented "Using Technology to Support Children with Disabilities" at Connected Australia 2013. This conference is designed to help organisiations harness the opportunities that super-fast broadband will create, and explores the future impact of the NBN through the healthcare, education and consumer industries. For more information, please visit the conference website: http://www.connectedaustralia.com.au/2013
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Connected Australia Conference
15-16 October 2013
Melissa McCarthy
Using technology to support
children with disabilities
(Who is RIDBC?)
RIDBC services
Educational Services
• Early intervention
• Preschools
• Schools
• School Support Service
• Teleschool
Clinical Services
• Audiology
• Cochlear Implant Services
• Assessment
• Additional Therapy
• Community Support
RIDBC Renwick Centre
• CPE
• Grad Cert
• Masters, MPhil, PhD
Why is RIDBC necessary?
• Early diagnosis and intervention in children with
hearing loss is critical for natural language
development. (Yoshinaga-Itano, et al., 1998)
• Children with hearing and/or vision impairment
require specialized early intervention support. (Sass-Lehrer, 2002)
Why use technology?
• Low incidence disabilities
• Population affected regardless of location
• Higher incidence in indigenous communities
• Limited supply of qualified specialists
• Recruitment, retention and ongoing PD
Cruz’s story
RIDBC Teleschool
• Started in 2002 as small NSW program
• Received government grant in 2004 to expand
to national program
• Focused on developing methodology of
telepractice from 2007 - 2011
• Opened first interstate site in Darwin in 2012
• Expanded technology infrastructure in 2013
Telepractice model
Synchronous
components:
– 1:1 sessions
– Telephone contacts
– Group sessions
– Parent education sessions
– Residential visits
Asynchronous
components:
– Educational packages
– iPad/iPhone apps
– RIDBC and Me website
VC set-up
VC Infrastructure
RMX 2730 (VC Bridge)
Teleschool VC rooms
VC1a VC1b VC2
VC3 Multi purpose
Welwyn
Remote Offices
Hunter Nepean GBS Gosford
Lismore Darwin AHH HTC
Computers and Tablets in RIDBC
Internet users
RegisteredUser in
Internet
UnregisteredUser in
Internet
Technology at RIDBC
20 MB
Technology in the home
• High-end
videoconferencing
equipment
• Family television
• Next G cellular
network
• External aerial
In-home option
Private Family Blog
RIDBC and Me
Parent Courses
Apps
How would NBN help?
• Improved availability and connection speeds
• Increased access to in-home support
• More frequent, consistent contact for families
• Greater range of support options for families
• Decreased sense of isolation
• Eliminates barriers of inequity and distance
Charlie’s experience
Outcomes
• Continuity of service provision
• Consistency of professionals
• Comprehensive, streamlined model from one
provider
• Decrease in travel/time away from home
• Improved access to specialists/expertise
For further information
• Contact Melissa McCarthy
(02) 9872 0240
• See our website www.ridbc.org.au
• For Professional Development Opportunities,
see www.ridbc.org.au/renwick
