“' structor. PROGRAM A SUCCESS ” What, where to buy PAGE 25 Computers help handicapped AT FIRST glance, the classroom is not any different from other modern up-to-date rooms in a school. Seven personal computers ‘are set up and being used by- seven students supervised by seven instructors. ’ There is an air of happy concentration, accompanied by the low hum of conversa- tion between student and in- Outside there is thunder and lightning but few ‘ look up. - “What is different is that COMPUTERS, the newest teaching tool, are being used at Northstar School (o teach those previously thought of as unteachable. Above, Pat Horwood gives student Jeremy Sellars some help with his language lesson. WITH THIS AD a STREAKS minutes, beautifut, THE NATURAL CUT follows the flow of the hair andis cut exactly as the hair falls. INCLUDES SHAMPOO, CONCITIONING PERMA UALS Martha creates for you in one hour and thitty thin, natural looking nails—unique in all the world. By OLGA RUSKIN these students are mentally-handicapped and range in age from seven to 50, most can’t read — but they are learning. For the first time computer assisted instruction has ‘been offered this summer to the mentally. handicapped in- a “| All offers expire Sept. 18 |: Choice of stylist—~add $2 | ; . $35 § CELLOPHANES .. $19 PERMACURL $35 New in ail the world—just wash & wear. No setting necessry. Gives fantastic curls that last and last. bones , et” , $35 Req. $45 program sponsored by the North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped, and assisted by the North Van- couver School Board. Because of its success, the program will continue in some form this fall. This summer a room in North Star Elementary School was equipped with seven Ap- ple II computers, five donated by the North Van School Board. Sixty-five mentally handicapped students have GOODS BOUGHT OR SOLD ON CONSIGNMENT FURNITURE & APPLIANCES been through the program which was organized by three instructors in the Computer Assisted Instruction Group: Pat Horwood, David Sotiroff and Eric Wilson. Students enrolled for just a weck, or several weeks and at- tended one and a half hour long sessions either in the mor- ning or afterncon. Seven students in each class were teamed up with com- puters and instractors for an ideal one-to-one basis for lear- nlite” "NEWS photo Stuart Davis ning. Wilson explained that such a set was made possible because of the 20 volunteers who offered their assistance over the summer. Wheelchair students were brought to the progam by Handidart, others managed on their own with public transportation. A number who attended live in North Shore group homes for the mentally handicapped. - During the regular schooi year a few younger students attend special education pro- grams in their school districts. Highlands Elementary and Windsor Secondary have special programs for mentai- ly handicapped students from North and West Van. However, adults do not at- tend such schools during the regular school year, but can attend the summer program. - Horwood pointed out that in this way ‘the adult students receive further help.with their language and arithmetic skills. Why make computers available for the mentally han- dicapped? One reason, ex- plains Wilson, is that it keeps the mentally handicapped abreast of the times. Further, with computers students can proceed at their own pace, and also receive immediate feed- back from the screen. _ The use of computers can Rucanor. sporting goods Juniors Size 8-13 Children Size 1-6 Adults Size 7-11 980- 9211 TIME OUT SPORTS LYNN VALLEY CENTRE 23 - Wednesday, September 4, 1985 - North Shore News learn improve hand and eye co- ordination, and initiate typing skills. In the summer pro- gram, computer iastruction was available in the language arts for such skills as letter recognition, learning the alphabet, word recognition, spelling and grammar. In arithmetic computer programs were available for counting and number recognition, ad- dition, subtraction, multi- plication, and division. Some disadvantages are that the available programs are not always constructed well for teaching purposes. The pro- grams used by these students were regular educational soft- ware, and were not specially designed for the mentally handicapped. Instructions : were sometimes above their | level, but in such cases, were interpreted for them by their instructors. The Burnaby Association for the Mentally Handicapped was the first in the Lower’ Mainland to introduce com- puters for use by the mentally handicapped. The NSAMH set up their Computer Assisted Instruction Group in February, with Hor- wood, Sotiroff’ and Wilson who among them. ‘have teaching, counselling and See Computer , Paga 28 Full Leather Molded Sole reg. 19.98 980-0116 ’ cnaissance 922-6161 Tue.-Sat. 10AM - 7PM "660 Clyde Near Park Royall “1582. WARINE DR Wn a, 926- 0307 «.