TAUNTON — Superintendent John Cabral is pleased to announce the Taunton Public Schools was awarded a 2022 Allison Keller Education Technology Grant from The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism.
The district was awarded $5,264 through the Allison Keller Education Technology Grant program. The funds will be used to support the district’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Library pilot program, including the purchase of six iPads and protective cases; two of each GoTalk20+ and GoTalk9+ devices; and three of each Proloquo2Go, TouchChat and screen protectors. The grant will also fund an assistive technology consultation.
The pilot program will allow building-based Speech-Language Pathologists to have multiple options in order to recommend appropriate communication systems to individual students, as well as allow educators and staff in the RISE program classrooms to model AAC use consistently throughout the school day.
“Thanks to this generous grant from the Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism, our district will be able to purchase numerous technological devices to further support and enhance our autistic students’ learning experience,” Superintendent Cabral said.
Taunton Public Schools was notified that the district was awarded the grant via a TikTok announcement made by Allison Keller. To view the TikTok, click here.
Taunton Public Schools was one of 19 organizations and schools that received a total of $90,000 in funding to purchase laptops, SMART Boards and more to assist students with autism.
“The Flutie Foundation Allison Keller Education Technology Grants help our partner agencies address a variety of significant needs in the autism community,” said Nick Savarese, Executive Director of The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. “Programs like these are helping people on the autism spectrum live to the fullest and we are proud to support their efforts.”
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, based in Framingham, awards grants annually through a competitive application and review process. The Allison Keller Technology Education Grants that the Flutie Foundation distributed this year fill the financial gap in meeting the technology needs of schools and organizations to help people and families with autism live life to the fullest.
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