Assistive Technology Network – What Can Help a Friend with Disabilities

At the Faculty of Educational Sciences, as part of the Science Festival, a presentation and workshop titled Assistive Technology Network – What Can Help a Friend with Disabilities was held for young and preschool children from the “Zvončići,” “Žabice,” and “Perlice” groups of the Mali svijet Kindergarten. The aim of the activity was to introduce children to assistive technology, i.e., the use of various aids for children with developmental disabilities. Special emphasis was placed on showcasing scientific innovations in this field related to the IT sector. The session began with a child-friendly discussion and age-appropriate lecture, helping the children understand the basic needs and specific ways in which children with developmental challenges function.
Next, children were shown how specific aids from the field of assistive technology work. In the final part of the activity, one group of children explored how to make an innovative tactile picture book for a visually impaired child, while another group studied how a communication wall works. They analysed the meaning of various pictograms and recorded voice messages that corresponded to them. The children also had the opportunity to try out different elements of assistive technology, such as communicators, switches, sensory integration rehabilitation equipment, and aids for the visually impaired.
The lectures and workshops were designed and led by:
Dr. Mirjana Radetić-Paić, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula
Dr. Vanja Marković, pedagogue at the School for Upbringing and Education – Pula
Lea Radolović, M.A. in Speech and Language Pathology, speech therapist at the School for
Upbringing and Education – Pula
Workshop collaborators:
Tamara Stepančić, Principal of Mali svijet Kindergarten, Pula
Sanja Čagalj Huber, M.A. in Rehabilitation Education, educational rehabilitator at Mali
svijet Kindergarten, Pula
Irena Brajković, psychologist at Mali svijet Kindergarten, Pula
Azra Glavić, preschool teacher of the “Zvončići” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten
Tea Percan, preschool teacher of the “Zvončići” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten
Maja Kitak Lanča, preschool teacher of the “Žabice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten
Emina Kovač, preschool teacher of the “Žabice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten
Branka Marić, preschool teacher of the “Perlice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten