SET News
Lorraine Kamp - SET-BC’s District Partner for Surrey
September 2007
We want to highlight the efforts of one of our long-time District Partners, Lorraine Kamp, who has worked with us for the past 16 years to support students in Surrey School District. Lorraine has provided strong leadership for AT and augmentative communication services in Surrey and we’re very pleased that she will be returning to SET-BC this fall as a regional consultant in the Lower Mainland.
Lorraine responded to a few questions about her role as a Surrey AAC specialist and SET-BC District Partner.
Describe your background in special education and assistive technology.
As a speech-language pathologist with dual training in elementary education, I find it peculiar that a position at Sunny Hill Hospital is what introduced me to special education technology. As part of a very dynamic neuromotor team at Sunny Hill, I was introduced to the power of technology in the lives of individuals with disabilities. What followed that was an opportunity to be part of a an innovative new program called SET-BC for a few years, leading to 16 years as an augmentative communication SLP in Surrey school district.
What was your role in Surrey school district?
In Surrey I supported students from kindergarten to grade 12, devising augmentative and alternative communication solutions and assisting educators in the implementation of those systems in an educational setting. I learned a great deal about the application of technology in the education of children with disabilities as I followed students through their entire education. Boy, do I do things differently now than I did 20 years ago! Not only because the technology has changed, but also because I have a better understanding of the application of both technical and non-technical solutions for students across their 13-14 years in school.
How long have you been a SET-BC District Partner?
It was natural that, because I had worked for SET-BC, that when I joined Surrey School District, I took on the role as the District Partner as it began to develop. In my role as district partner for 16 years, I began to look beyond communication technology to other technology and software that would assist in the education of the students I supported.
What do you think is the most important role you play as a District Partner?
As District Partner, my most important role was to assemble a committee that represented the issues that technology addressed; a speech pathologist, a vision teacher, an occupational therapist, and 2 integration support teachers. This team reviewed the large number of requests for technology and made the sometimes difficult decisions about which students would be our priority for SET. Over the years, it became apparent that the district needed to develop some long term planning for the students supported by SET, as well as the students that were waiting for technology.
“ I recall one very difficult situation when, after reviewing 50 requests for service forms, we were faced with 6 students with pressing needs for technology at the end of the school year. We had only enough points to support 2 of them. ”
I recall one very difficult situation when, after reviewing 50 requests for service forms, we were faced with 6 students with pressing needs for technology at the end of the school year. We had only enough points to support 2 of them. The team struggled with the decision of which students’ education was most at risk without the technology. In the end, we made a choice based on the uniqueness of the technology required. The students whose needs involved vision and voice output technology were put forward and we scrambled with the district’s and SET’s help to find short term loan equipment for the others.
This lead to the district’s purchase of a small loan bank of equipment to be used for short term solutions. SET has helped us with some short term loans of specialized peripherals and this, with the district equipment, has been very helpful in insuring that students have what they need to access the curriculum.
Being the district’s voice for special education technology has been the most important role I have played as District Partner. Working with the district’s consultants, we plan for inservices and workshops to introduce and train staff on new technology and software. In addition, we meet as a team with the district administration to work through the barriers to the successful application of the technology. While time consuming and difficult at times, my role as District Partner has been both rewarding and stimulating! As I return to SET as a consultant this year, I look forward to sharing the knowledge I have gained from 20 years in the field of assistive technology and my years as SET District Partner.