SPED-UEW Partners with Multikids to Train Educators in Appropriate Paper Technology
The Department of Special Education (SPED) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in partnership with Multikids Inclusive Academy, held a week-long workshop on Appropriate Paper-Based Technology (APT) to enhance inclusive education for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
Held at the Multikids Inclusive Academy in Accra, the hands-on training empowered participants with practical skills to create adaptive learning and mobility aids using low-cost, recycled materials such as cardboard.
The workshop was led by renowned APT expert Mr. Patrick Sakyi Oppong and supported by key facilitators including Mrs. Florence Akua Mensah, Head of SPED; Ms. Rabbi Abu-Sadat, Coordinator of the Community-Based Rehabilitation and Disability Studies (CBRDS) unit and Mad. Amanda Budge, Founder of Multikids Inclusive Academy.
The session brought together a diverse team of participants comprising lecturers and two Level 200 CBRDS students who benefitted from the immersive training experience.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Mrs. Florence Mensah noted that the workshop forms part of the Department’s broader agenda to integrate inclusive practices into the training of future special educators. “Through this collaboration, we are equipping participants with the tools to create inclusive learning environments using innovative and affordable methods,” she stated.
The skills acquired during the workshop are set to be incorporated into the Level 200 CBRDS curriculum, enhancing hands-on learning, improving employability prospects for students, and advancing UEW’s mission to lead in teacher education and inclusive learning across Ghana and beyond.
Participants were taught how to design and construct adaptive chairs, communication aids and positioning devices which can significantly improve the motor skills, autonomy and classroom participation of children with cerebral palsy.
This initiative not only builds capacity among students and lecturers but also strengthens UEW’s community engagement efforts. UEW continues to contribute meaningfully to national efforts aimed at promoting accessible and equitable education by fostering collaborations with institutions like Multikids Inclusive Academy.
