Building confidence with Discover Digital workshops
Sophie lives in Leicester with her partner Richard, and their children; twelve-year-old Dylan, six-year-old Jake, and two-year-old Daisy. Jake was diagnosed as autistic when he was five years old. He has sensory difficulties, speech delay with limited understanding, and he’s currently night-time incontinent. Jake is also on the pathway for an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.
Sophie says, “Sometimes Jake doesn’t want to verbally communicate so we use PECS picture cards or Makaton. Furthermore, Jake prefers sticking to his routine. Situations outside of his routine can be distressing for him. Therefore, we must repeatedly tell him of any changes well in advance, sometimes months before. Additionally, Jake can sometimes display aggressive behaviour. He also tends to repeat words and phrases, sometimes bad ones, that he hears from other children due to echolalia.”
The impact of our Discover Digital workshops
Sophie and Jake have benefited from attending Family Fund’s free online Discover Digital workshops.
Sophie says, “Family Fund granted Jake an iPad to support with his education and social skills. I was intrigued to know what else we could do with the iPad. So, I started to look into the Discover Digital workshops and what they offered.
“Last year, we attended every single workshop of Family Fund’s Discover Digital Festival. Since attending the creative workshops, Jake’s communication and social skills have improved greatly. Also, thanks to the training Jake can now use lots of apps which has broadened his knowledge of the iPad and how to use it.
“Jake enjoys attending the Discover Digital workshops because there’s no pressure and he can focus on his interests, rather than what he’s told he needs to learn.
“Now that Jake’s tablet skills have improved, he’s able to communicate with us a lot better. Thanks to the workshops, he’s more confident in life generally and with the technology specifically.”
Staying safe online
Sophie adds, “I also attended the Staying Safe Online support workshop that taught me how to restrict Jake’s access to the iPad. It’s great because it keeps me in control and ensures that Jake can’t download or delete apps without my permission. It’s fantastic because I’ve learned so many new ways to keep Jake safe on the internet.
“I would definitely recommend the Discover Digital workshops. The workshops are amazing for parent careers, as well as for children with special needs. Jake is often excluded from afterschool and holiday groups because he’s got special needs and they can’t accommodate him. The fact that the Discover Digital workshops are free, inclusive and can be done from home is amazing!”
