Aurora community grant gives Giant Steps pupils a voice

The school was the recipient of an Aurora Energy Community Grant, enabling them to purchase new iPads and specialised Proloquo2go apps for its pupils.

The symbol-based communication program allows the school's non-verbal pupils to express themselves and increase their communication skills and language development.

Giant Steps principal Tim Chugg said it was important as it gave non-verbal children a voice within the school and in the community.

"Some of our students are non-verbal which means that they talk very little, if at all," he said.

"For a student to be able to ask to go outside and play, to say they are hungry, or even say 'hello' to people is empowering and they are more able to develop relationships with others if they can communicate."

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Mr Chugg said the school had been using the app for three years, with about 15 children now benefiting from the technology.

"We find that students who are able to use their iPads to communicate their thought and feelings, giving them an actual voice - sometimes for the first time in their life - have fewer incidents of behaviors that can disrupt their learning," Mr Chugg said.

Aurora Energy chief executive Rebecca Kardos said the grants program aimed to help organisations, such as Giant Steps.

"Being able to contribute to this wonderful program ensures that every student at Giant Steps living with autism has a voice," she said.

Other grant recipients included Community Housing, the St Helens District High School Association, Housing Choices Tasmania, Starting Point Neighbourhood House, and the West Moonah Community House.

For more information about the Community Grants Program, visit auroraenergy.com.au.