‘Musical food’ device wins a top award
ASEASHELL Trust volunteer who has used music to overcome food phobias has been given a top technology award for her work with profoundly disabled children.
Rachael Moat, a Stockport-based clarinet teacher and musician, has been named Tech4Good’s IT Volunteer of the Year.
She was nominated for developing low-cost customised music technology in order to encourage the students at Royal School Manchester to interact with their surroundings.
Royal School Manchester is run by Seashell Trust for children with complex needs and severe learning difficulties including little to no verbal language.
Many of the students are averse to touching different materials, but their love for music can be used to persuade them to try.
Rachael has developed bowls of food which play music. By plunging their hands into the bowls, students are able to trigger their favourite tunes.
Rachael’s bowl prototype has been used at the school when filled up with water, and also works with foodstuffs such as custard or spaghetti hoops.
She said: “My hope is that this technology could be used to encourage students to expand a limited diet.”
Using the Skoog – a musical cube which triggers sound on touch – and self- customised technology Rachael has also encouraged students to overcome difficulties with interacting and independence.
Rachael said: “One such student is very motivated by music, and a hand sign for music is one of the limited signs he uses to communicate. He enjoyed listening to a variety of music but could not independently initiate playback.
“I set up the Skoog to allow him to create his own music for the first time in his life while increasing his tolerance to touch.”
The Tech4Good Awards, run by AbilityNet, recognise those who use digital technology to improve the lives of others.
Deputy head Anne Gough said: “Rachael is unbelievably innovative in the way she uses technology to enable children and young people with severe to profound sensory, physical and learning difficulties overcome these barriers to learning.
“Students who have limited ability to communicate with intent have been given the opportunity to interact with technology and intentionally make their own music.”