Pickens County Partners In Education Foundation

I am a special education teacher at Carrollton Elementary School and I teach students with multiple disabilities. The Pickens County Partners in Education Foundation has provided funding for three projects at CES that has greatly impacted the teaching and learning process for students with disabilities.
The first grant awarded funding to purchase a phonics program. This program was very successful and provided the needed classroom materials necessary to deliver effective reading instruction.
The second grant awarded funding for the T.A.L.K. (Take Along Language Kits) project. Several students are nonverbal and are unable to express themselves and require augmentative communication. My school did not have a curriculum or available activities to facilitate instruction that would engage them in instruction to promote communication. TALK kits were assembled with all of the necessary communication boards and switches along with interactive games for the student to use at school and at home. These activities are excellent because they increase effective communication and positive feedback. The TALK kits are also excellent homework assignments for students who are unable to complete paper and pencil homework.
The third grant award funded a wheelchair swing. Our school is the host school for students with multiple handicaps. Before the PIE foundation awarded the funding for the swing, our school had no adaptive play equipment for students with physical impairments. Now, our students who use wheelchairs are engaged in the fun that every child should experience during recess/p.e. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to see the smiles and enthusiasm that these children have on their faces when they know that they are going outside to swing. Everytime that the students use the swing, my thoughts include much gratitude to the board members of the PIE foundation.