Inclusive Technology/HelpKidzLearn wins BETT 2014 Award for ICT Special Educational Needs Solutions

Oldham-based Inclusive Technology, provider of learning technologies supporting children with special educational needs, has been awarded a prestigious BETT Award, for its HelpKidzLearn resource ChooseIt! Maker 3, which allows teachers to make personalised learning apps for children with special needs and download them to an iPad or Android tablet.

Inclusive Technology provides the very best special educational needs software, switches and computer access devices, simple communication aids, eye gaze and assistive technology for learners with a physical disability, sensory impairment or learning difficulty. ChooseIt! Maker 3, part of the HelpKidzLearn product portfolio, is an exceptionally versatile on-line tool enabling teachers and parents to turn their photographs, symbols, text and sounds into engaging cause and effect or choice-making activities, games and quizzes.

With access to SymbolStix and Widgit Symbol libraries and giving touch, eye gaze optimisation and full switch control, it is ideal for a range of users including those with autism spectrum disorders, communication difficulties, language impairment, developmental disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, Aphasia and traumatic brain injury.

The BETT award was made in recognition of the product’s distinct contribution to supporting learners with special educational needs and was presented during the BETT show in London – the world’s leading showcase of education technology solutions. Now in their 16th year, the BETT Awards are a celebration of inspiring creativity and innovation in technology for education and recognise distinctive and diverse digital education resources that meet the needs of the education system.

The judges said that… "While the unprecedented number of entries made it a tough decision it does mean that Inclusive Technology has been identified as the very best in its category.

"HelpKidzLearn is an excellent resource with a clear work flow. It offers excellent access options including eye gaze functionality and can be used for listening, attention, speech therapy and visual discrimination. One of its strongest features is its ability to be totally personalised to each child’s specific needs. Help Kidz Learn is really good value for money."

Commenting on the accolade, Martin Littler, Chairman and CEO, Inclusive Technology said, "The interest in this product has been enormous. We now have an established global network of 5,000 SEN school subscribers in 52 countries. The next stage is to develop the learning analytics and in order to do that we are actively recruiting HTML developers at the moment."