Assistive Technology

Sensory Stories Steal The Spotlight

Everyone loves a good story but children and adults with PMLD can be the most demanding audience. Now there are accessible, award winning tales for all ages. thanks to Inclusive Technology's new platform
Some of the characters in Sweaty Pits McTavish

This has been a lucky year for Pete Wells. It seems he can't put a foot wrong. He is the creator of animated stories and resources for children and adults with severe or profound learning difficulties or disabilities. His creations are featured on Inclusive Stories, a sensory stories platform by Inclusive Technology. They won the BETT award, the Education Resources Award for Best Special Needs Product and to cap it all, Pete won Hartlepool Heroes Teacher of the Year in June.

Pete Wells wins a Teacher of the Year award

Sensory stories are simple stories that are augmented with sensory props. The props encourage engagement, exploration, interaction, and a range of other prerequisite skills. Pete pioneered the inclusive story, choosing to support his sensory stories with an on-screen accessible animated version, to promote cause and effect and improve comprehension.

He also wanted to empower his classes. Learners can watch and interact with the stories on an iPad, a desktop with mouse and keyboard, touch screens and interactive classroom displays or via a switch or eye gaze technology. They stimulate the audience because they involve all the senses so there are things to touch, smell and taste as well as activities that encourage them to make noises, hit switches or musical instruments or shout.

Meet an unlikely superhero

'McTavish held his arm aloft, and filled the loch with ease,

There are some free stories on Pete's podcast site. TeachingTimes opted for the tale of Sweaty Pits McTavish which comes with a wealth of downloadable resources. An excel spreadsheet lists smells from aftershave and aloe vera through to ylang ylang and zebras to give teachers ideas for suitable stinks as well as the range of exotic antiperspirant smells available these days. It also introduces the topic of personal hygiene in a fun way.

<--- The article continues for users subscribed and signed in. --->

Enjoy unlimited digital access to Teaching Times.
Subscribe for £7 per month to read this and any other article
  • Single user
  • Access to all topics
  • Access to all knowledge banks
  • Access to all articles and blogs
Subscribe for the year for £70 and get 2 months free
  • Single user
  • Access to all topics
  • Access to all knowledge banks
  • Access to all articles and blogs