Class suspension upsets the routine of the students, and more importantly restricts children with special educational needs (SEN) from regular trainings. “Maker Education Programme” trainees therefore tailored a set of games by applying the creativity and technical skills they learned in the programme to help students keep up with the trainings. 

Sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Association’s Tuen Mun Integrated Social Service Centre has launched the “Maker Education Programme” to promote maker culture among the youths, and worked with “Making on Loft” to implement the pilot workshop for designing games for SEN children. The makers first learnt about the needs of the students, then utilised skills like carpentry, computer graphics, laser cutting etc. to devise training tools.  

For example, the makers understand multi-sensory teaching helps motivate SEN students and advance their ability, so they created a carpet with a mix of texture from pet massage comb, artificial grass, recycled paper etc. to stimulate children’s sensory integration. A giant dice, produced by laser printer, assisted dyslexic children to learn Chinese characters along the storyline, while another sensory board was designed to advance autistic children’s social skills and imagination by simulating daily scenarios .

“Maker Education Programme” aims at nurturing youths to be innovative in solving social problems. This pilot workshop was a great platform for the trainees to put their ideas into practice and serve people in need. We believe that all SEN children are unique and as creative as the makers. The Association will continue to organise similar workshops for the needy. For the latest updates, please visit the Facebook page of the Association’s Tuen Mun Integrated Social Service Centre.