20th Anniversary for SET-BC
January 20th, 2009
Hon. Shirley Bond - Minister of Education
This month, SET-BC is celebrating 20 years of creating opportunities for BC students with disabilities. We’ve grown from a small program serving only a few dozen students in our first year, to a province-wide network providing technology, consultation, training, and resources to over 2800 students annually. Our regional and provincial teams are proud to help provide the tools and support that BC students need to participate, communicate and learn as independently as possible. We’ve seen countless success stories over the years, where students have used SET-BC technologies to overcome challenges and achieve their educational goals.
We’re grateful for the ongoing support of the Ministry of Education and to our close partnerships with school districts, other community agencies, and technology companies, which allow us to support students and school teams more effectively. We’d especially like to thank our District Partners, who are key elements to our success as they work closely with our consultants to plan, organize and implement our services within each district in the province.
To hear a range of perspectives on SET-BC’s 20 years of service in BC schools, you can view a short video compilation of messages from students, educators, parents, the Minister of Education, and SET-BC staff.
SET-BC Region 1 Celebrates the 20th Anniversary in Victoria
SET-BC consultants on Vancouver Island celebrated SET-BC’s 20th anniversary with a Students Supporting Students Event at View Royal Elementary School. Grade 5 students used the software program SwitchIt! Maker 2 (www.inclusive.co.uk) to narrate books for SET-BC’s accessible book collection.
The students had a very productive and successful morning, creating over 70 accessible books that will be added to SET-BC’s growing alternative format collection. The grade 5 students were proud of their work and very supportive of each other when some of the books were presented to staff, students and invited guests. Click to view the photos and story. - (350K PDF)
SET-BC Region 4 Celebrates the 20th Anniversary in the Kootenays
Monday February 16 was packed with events at the Kootenay regional office in Kimberley, when SETBC celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the unveiling of a student-written accessible book.
The morning began with the visit of Darcy Lane, CanAssist engineer from Victoria, who brought new Sony video cameras and custom wheelchair mounting systems for SET-BC student reporters Kate and Grace. CanAssist had rigged their new cameras for accessibility, operable from a console with large red buttons, and complete with snappy bright umbrellas to protect the gear – and the young reporters – from the elements.
Around 1:00 pm, the other guests began to arrive, including the SETBC host school district’s superintendant and both assistant superintendants, and 21 lively grade 2/3 students from Lindsay Park Elementary School in Kimberley. To make things even more exciting, everyone except for 14 year old Kate, from Invermere, and 12 year old Grace from Fernie, knew that they were also there to celebrate the unveiling of an accessible book the girls had written and illustrated the spring before.
It was only after the Happy Birthday singing and cake-cutting was done, that regional consultant Kathy McCauley announced that they were also there to celebrate the new accessible book. A dramatic “unveiling,” accompanied by a drum roll followed, and the authors saw their new book for the first time. The book, “A Hare-Raising Adventure,” was viewed on the big screen, then the girls, who had regained their composure, answered questions with humour and insight. Besides enjoying the new book, the grade 2/3 students learned about technology and disabilities, and were totally charmed by Kate and Grace. The feeling was mutual!
The event was covered by reporters from Shaw Cable and the Kimberley Daily Bulletin.
Students Comment on SET-BC
Thank-you SET-BC for giving me a voice that people can understand. The MT4 helps me to tell people what I want and what I need. The MT4 helps to answer questions about me and helps me with my schoolwork.
Thank-you, Kyle (Coquitlam)
To SET BC,
Thank you for my MT 4. It helps me talk.
It helps me talk to different people. It helps me sound out words.
I like to talk to other students. I talk to my SEAs and teachers. Happy Twentieth Anniversary and have a good day.From,
Todd (Coquitlam)
Making Cookies
Our class enjoys baking cookies every week with the help of SET-BC technology. Breane uses a head switch to power our machines in the kitchen. Thank you SET-BC!! Watch the Making Cookies PresentationFrom all of us at Skeena Junior Secondary, Terrace, BC
Vendor Partners Well Wishes
Throughout the past 20 years, SET-BC has established close partnerships with many leaders, trainers and producers in the assistive technology field. Our work with students in BC is not only more effective as a result of these partnerships, but we are continuously inspired by their dedication and support of students with disabilities.
We appreciate their well wishes and look forward to the next 20 years!”
View a short compilation of greetings from a few of our friends.
Happy Anniversary SET-BC
I got my vantage in grade five. I am now in grade eleven. I use it many ways:
From Brad.