In recognition of the battle faced by families of blind children to provide them with the technology needed for attaining social and educational goals, Quantum Technology devised its Braille Literacy scholarship. The Gillian Gale Award for Braille Literacy offers a Mountbatten Learning System and all associated software and accessories to a child aged between three and eight.

After a larger than expected number of applications, Quantum Technology is proud to announce Trinity Sippel from Queensland, to be the inaugural Recipient of the Quantum Technology Gillian Gale Award for Braille Literacy.

At three years of age, Trinity lives with her parents and little sister near Gladstone in regional Queensland. She was born with bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia/ Septo Optic Dysplasia and is totally blind. In her application, Trinity’s Mother, Anna, wrote:

“Trinity loves ‘reading' her tactile books and tracing the Braille with her small hands. It is a special time that we can spend together, singing nursery rhymes, making animal sounds and discussing things of interest to Trinity. She listens intently to the story or rhyme and often joins in, responds to a question and anticipates what will come next. We believe that even now she understands how important Braille will be in her life. As parents, Daniel and I want the best for our daughter and realize that Braille Literacy is fundamental to Trinity's success. We want to demonstrate a love for literacy to Trinity and instil that love in her.”

Trinity is the only blind child in the Gladstone area and attends three sessions a week at Clinton State School where the staff and students are striving to provide an inclusive environment for her in her own community. In a letter to support Trinity’s application, the school stated:

“By providing and helping Trinity gain access to a wide range of Brailled books, we hope to develop her awareness of Braille and an appreciation for literature. It is also our desire to enable Trinity to have access to a Braille writer so that she can practice and familiarize herself with the basic features of a Braille machine and view it as an exciting tool for writing. Of course, it is a future vision that Trinity will learn the vital skills required to access a variety of Information and Communication technologies in a technology rich world. Trinity has a life time of learning ahead of her and we as educators want to provide her with the best opportunities that we can.”

Access to Braille resources is limited for Trinity and her enthusiastic family and support staff. The Mountbatten Learning System will assist in providing materials and learning opportunities for everyone involved in Trinity’s education.

“We have seen first-hand the difference that having access to the right technology tools can make to a child’s success, and trust the Mountbatten Learning System, along with her supportive family and community, will provide the foundation for Trinity to achieve anything she chooses to do in the future,” said Tim Connell, Quantum Technology Managing Director.

Trinity will be presented with her prize, in an award ceremony to be held at the Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club on 31 October, as part of a daylong Students’ and Schools’ Technology Expo held by Quantum.

For more information on the Scholarship Program, the Mountbatten Learning System or the Schools’ and Students’ Technology Day, please contact:

Quantum Technology Pty Ltd
PO Box 390, (5 South Street)
RYDALMERE, NSW 2116
Ph: 02 8844 9888
Fax: 02 9684 4717
www.quantumtechnology.com.au [1]