Special students showcase talents
Cerebral Palsy students from Auckland have been awarded a top prize at an international film festival.
Carlson School for Cerebral Palsy in Three Kings scooped up the Judge’s Choice Award and a $15,000 prize at the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival in Australia earlier this month.
The competition aims to raise awareness of the abilities of people with a disability.
Carlson School’s documentary, titled Yes We Can, centres around how eight students communicate using iPads, eye gaze devices and Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display books.
Using this technology, students are able to write stories, decide on activities, express opinions and even dance.
Teacher Susan Gauci said the students and their ability to learn was often underestimated.
‘‘I often hear, ‘these kids can’t read’, ‘these kids can’t walk’, ‘these kids can’t talk’’’.
You cannot blame a person for not learning because of their disability - it is about your ability to teach that person, Gauci said.
The competition included 200 films from 18 countries voted on by more than 500,000 people.
The highest rated films, including Yes We Can, will be screened in Auckland in November.
There will also be screenings in New York, Zimbabwe and Malawi.