Laois children with special needs reach for the stars
St Joseph's NS Ballyadams student Mark (9) having fun with a telescope project, as part of a new STEM initiative in Laois for children in ASD units
CHILDREN with autism and other special needs in Laois are reaching for the stars, as part of an exciting initiative to explore science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in a way that nurtures their strengths.
Free workshops are being rolled out across the county, bringing the subjects to life for young people with autism and special educational needs.
The groundbreaking programme has already been delivered to students in ASD units at Portlaoise College, St Fergal’s College in Rathdowney and St Joseph’s NS in Ballyadams, developed by Laois Co Council’s STEM Engagement Officer Seanie Morris.
At two-hour sessions in all three schools, students built a robot car from scratch and then learned how to drive it, as well as creating ‘pop’ rockets and learning about astronomy.
Seanie explained: “It’s great fun for me but it’s the kids who will be the real winners. I’m a Level 6 SNA (special needs assistant) myself and I feel it is very important that no child gets left behind as they grow. School and education is not only about learning skills, facts and numbers but also about having fun and building their own personalities.
“Sometimes, something extra is needed to help them along the way. Maybe it’s sports, which every school automatically has a focus on but not every kid is sporty. STEM is another avenue and the activities I do help bring a lot of children out of their shell and add skills such as verbal communication and presentation, teamwork, coordination and even patience.”
Seanie said that previous workshops he hosted in coding, astronomy and pop rockets, in libraries and at special events, involved children with different backgrounds and educational needs and all are treated equally.
He said: “Kids deserve everything good. That’s why I love working with them. We do things like make pop rockets out of toilet roll holders. We put vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in special bottles and, as the pressure builds, it explodes safely and launches the rocket off the table.
“There’s great excitement when that happens and it gives the children real-time science investigation and experimentation.”
The workshops and similar STEM programmes are part of the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan ‘Pathway for Transition’, co-funded by the government and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund.
The project is an initiative of midlands local authorities with Laois as lead partner, together with Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.
The initiative will be showcased as part of national ‘Your Council Day’ this Friday 27 June, which highlighted the role of county and city councils in providing supports for local people.
