Project DISE

Project DISE (Digital Imaging for Special Education) is an initiative to help student desensitisation and socialisation at Blomfield Special School and Resource Centre.

This project will focus on the use of digital video technologies to assist students in dealing with environmental conditions which may trigger negative behaviours or attitudes. It will also trial the use of multimedia technologies in the development of student digital portfolios to highlight the capabilities of students, and make these available to parents.

Regular and everyday activities such as grocery shopping or a doctor’s visit can be overwhelming and frightening events for some of these students. To help build their confidence, the school will develop a video library of such events.  The videos will be used to prepare the student for community interaction. 

Often people with intellectual and/or behavioural disabilities such as autism have weak social skills and their behaviour can be inappropriate.  A range of videos will be developed showing and explaining to the students’ acceptable social behaviour. 

Individual student digital diaries will also be trialled to see if they are an effective means of aiding student motivation and progress.

Parents will be supplied with DVDs or CDs of their child’s progress at school.  Strategies to help deal with their child will also be supplied on the DVDs or CDs. Teachers will also work with parents and the digital technologies in developing strategies for managing student behaviour.

Teachers will be trained on how to use the digital equipment and ongoing technical support will be provided by the technology partners.