Skip to content

Local Programmers Develop Apps for Unique Learners

Bonnie Burke, Donna Buchanan, support worker, and Peter Fenn check out a new tablet app. On Monday January 26th, a group of Widdifield students from Mrs.

Bonnie Burke, Donna Buchanan, support worker, and Peter Fenn check out a new tablet app.  

On Monday January 26th,  a group of Widdifield students from Mrs. Shulman’s Computer Science program unveiled their latest creations at the PADDLE (Providing Adults with Developmental Disabilities Life-long Experiences) Program. 

Josh Floyd, Maria Taylor and Cameron Haslehurst took up the unique challenge of developing educational software for learners with developmental disabilities who attend the PADDLE Program.

The PADDLE  Program is a local learning centre for individuals over the age of 21. 

This program is run out of Chippewa Secondary School and is designed to offer a structured, meaningful, inclusive and community-based environment where dependent adults with developmental disabilities can continue to thrive and grow socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually.

Coordinators from the PADDLE Program reached out to the community in an effort to address the lack of free, age appropriate learning programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

“Some of these Widdifield students really took the challenge and ran with it.  As an educator, I can say there is a real gap between what is out there and what could be done, in terms of software for phones and tablets.  There is definitely a large group of people who could make use of these types of applications and the high school kids who developed these Apps have a bright future” said PADDLE Teacher Jason Berger.

For Shulman’s part, she is happy her students have a real client to work alongside and develop for. 

In the past, student projects are often designed for theoretical clients and the programs go by the wayside.  This time the students’ efforts will be enjoyed and used to educate real people.  This unlikely partnership between adults with developmental disabilities and high school aged computer programmers has been a perfect fit.  It has been both beneficial and eye opening for everyone involved.