The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) says technology holds the key to better learning and more independence for people with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and other special needs.
Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Founder and Executive Director of the centre, said this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos.
Lesi said accessible technology could provide alternative ways for people with special needs to learn, communicate and acquire practical skills, depending on their individual abilities and needs.
She said technology could also complement conventional teaching methods by making learning more interactive and giving those being trained opportunities to develop skills for everyday life.
Speaking on one of the centre’s initiatives, Tech4All, Lesi noted that the programme was designed to complement learning and skills development programmes provided by the Children’s Developmental Centre in Surulere, Lagos.
According to Lesi, the programme introduces participants to technology and adapts its use to their specific conditions, abilities and learning needs.
She said technology was not introduced as a replacement for existing learning methods but as an additional tool to strengthen what they were already learning at the centre.
“We look at what they are already learning at the Centre and find ways to use technology to reinforce those lessons.
“Beyond the classroom, we also introduce them to technologies that can help them perform everyday tasks and become more independent,” she said.
Lesi said Tech4All works with people with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, and that different abilities require different approaches.
She said W.TEC first trained its facilitators to understand the different conditions and how they could affect communication, learning and interaction before beginning the programme.
She said the programme supported basic literacy and numeracy, including learning alphabets, numbers and multiplication tables, while also teaching basic computer skills.
Lesi said some were taught how to switch on a laptop, create files and perform other basic tasks that could support greater independence in their daily lives.
“These things may seem very basic, but they can be very challenging depending on the degree of the condition that the person has,” she said.
She said those being trained were also encouraged to create simple digital materials such as flyers and birthday cards, giving them opportunities to express themselves and create something meaningful for their families.
Lesi said the broader goal was to equip them with practical technology skills that could support greater independence, depending on their individual abilities.
According to her, some people with special needs might require lifelong support, while others might live more independently if given appropriate training and opportunities.
Lesi, however, said the programme faced challenges because the needs and abilities of those being trained varied significantly.
She said W.TEC could not work with every person at the Centre because some were non-verbal, while others had physical limitations that made it difficult to use computers or other devices.
She said the centre therefore helped identify those who could communicate with facilitators and use their hands or fingers to operate devices.
Lesi said another challenge was the different pace at which those being trained learnt and retained information.
She explained that while some could learn a skill and remember it, others required repeated lessons before they could retain the same information.
She said consistency and repetition were therefore essential, as skills that appeared to have been forgotten could gradually become familiar through continued practice.
“Sometimes, a skill has to be taught several times before they become familiar with it. With consistent practice, they gradually become more comfortable and are able to retain what they have learnt,” she said.
Lesi also noted that some of those being trained could become uncomfortable or agitated by environmental conditions, including loud noises and bright colours.
She said facilitators therefore needed to understand each person’s peculiarities and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.
Lesi said the programme required patience, flexibility and an understanding that progress could look different for each person.
She said W.TEC was encouraged by the possibilities technology offered in improving learning and independence among people with special needs.
She said the organisation would continue to explore ways of using technology to complement existing support systems and provide those being trained with practical skills for everyday life.
It was reported that W.TEC is a non-governmental organisation focused on increasing the participation of girls and women in technology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
