Swansea University postgraduate student Janet Hoskin has reached the final of the National Lottery Awards with her pioneering project which helps children with a serious and progressive muscle wasting condition.
Janet researched and developed the Include Duchenne project which focuses on the behavioural and learning difficulties that often affect children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Children with the condition are at risk of Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism.
The project features specialist learning assessments for children affected by DMD. They follow a new custom-built online literacy programme called ‘Decipha’ that’s based on the theme of time travel and is delivered in partnership between home and school.
National Lottery funding has already paid for specialist dyslexia teachers to assess children with Duchenne, as well as train parents and schools on how to deliver the Decipha programme.
Speaking about the project Janet said: “As a special needs teacher and parent of a boy with DMD I know at first hand the difficulties which teachers, parents and schools face in educating children with this condition. After extensive research I developed a tool to support children with complex needs, including dyslexia, speech and language, which took a fresh child centred approach to learning and which teaches to the child’s strengths as well as addressing their weaknesses.”
The Decipha team now works with children, families, schools and local authorities all over the country in supporting new methods of learning through the Decipha programme.
Research from the programme has generated a Leverulme emeritus fellowship for Professor Fawcett, in conjunction with other research she is completing at Swansea University.
Angela Fawcett, Emeritus Professor at Swansea University said: “We are extremely proud that Janet’s passion, hard work and dedication has been rewarded with her project reaching the final of these prestigious awards. We wish her good luck and hope people will vote for her as she would be a worthwhile winner.”
Janet’s project, Include Duchenne, has reached the National Lottery Awards final in the Best Educational Project category and you can vote by going to http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/best-education-project/103/ . The closing date for voting is midday on Monday 26th September.
