Public meeting on major new software to help children with language difficulties

BY: KERNAN ANDREWS

Innovative new software, which has been specially developed for children with impaired language skills, will be subject of a public meeting in Galway.

Galway Autism Partnership will host an information evening in the Menlo Park Hotel, this evening at 8pm. The meeting will be addressed by Enda Dodd, who will speak about the Animated Language Learning software.

Developed by Galwegian Enda Dodd, Animated Language Learning is an internet based software developed for moderate to severe language impaired children. He created the programme for his sons, Conor and Eoin who were diagnosed with autism and hearing impairments.

The programme’s development is supported by Enterprise Ireland, Disney Pixar, the Adobe Corporation, Galway Autism Partnership, NUI Galway, and the Mari Caulfield Speech and Language Therapy Centre. A number of leading academics and experts in the fields of autism, neurology, and language have also contributed to the development of the programme.

The ALL programme is currently in its pre-launch phase. It is suitable for children aged between three and 10 years and Mr Dodd is looking for a limited number of families to participate in this phase of the programme which will run for 12 months. Once this pre-launch phase has begun, the programme will not be available until its commercial release, which is not expected to be for up to 18 months.

All information about the programme will be discussed on the night by Mr Dodd and his wife Valerie. Admission is free and all are welcome.