News

Year 3 teacher, Narelle Drew, has organised the creation of a tactile map of our new Year 1-6 MacKillop Junior School Building for Year 3 student, Declan. This map will help Declan familiarise himself with his future classrooms before construction is completed.

Declan was born without vision due to a condition called ‘Leber’s congenital amaurosis’. Declan has a number of Education Support Officers (ESO's) who assist him with his orientation and learning at school, who also make braille and tactile resources for him to access his learning.

Narelle sourced the plans of the new building from Matt Whyte from Edge Architects, who then sent to Beata Nalepa at SA School & Services for Vision Impaired in Adelaide, who organised to have the map made into a tactile map.

Narelle:
“I know the move to the new building will be a big adjustment for Declan, so I want to make the move as smooth as possible for him. Allowing Declan to have a tactile map of the building allows Declan to start becoming aware of the dimensions and layout of the new building. The map also allows Declan to be aware of where important features are like his new classroom, access doors to the building, toilets, stairs and elevator."

Declan is loving being able to familiarise himself with his future classrooms, what a fantastic resource for him!

Pictured L-R: Narelle Drew, Declan, and ESO Carolyn Jones.