Technology has huge benefits for learners with the most severe and complex needs and it has been a privilege to help support them. Although we are in the midst of an historic low in Government efforts to help these learners, our customers are somehow finding the funding and we are supplying more assistive technology than ever before. I guess we just can’t do without resources that help people communicate, learn, and live life to its full potential.

SwitchIt! Bob the Builder™ is finished! It looks fantastic, and Bob will star on the cover of our new catalogue from November 16th. All proceeds go to help build the new Manchester Children’s Hospital and we plan to raise at least £50,000. Learners with severe and complex special needs can easily access the fully inclusive program and thanks to HIT Entertainment and the BBC they can learn while playing with a hugely popular character.

We have thrived in the beautiful Saddleworth area for 10 years. We commissioned photographer, John Todd, to photograph the sights around Saddleworth. Over 12,000 of these stunning pictures have been downloaded as desktop wallpaper from our website. Sixty-six of the best go on show at Saddleworth Museum, Uppermill, from 2nd December to 28th January. These framed pictures will be on sale and there is a calendar featuring twelve of the very best too.

EENET, a charity promoting the idea of inclusive education to the developing world, is also 10 years old. We have worked with them from the outset providing their website and publishing/mailing thousands of CDs all over the world. All 2,000 EENET contacts received, free of charge, a CD of the proceedings of the ISEC 2000 and 2005 Conferences. We are helping EENET celebrate by sharing an evening Birthday Reception for them at the Special Needs Fringe.

Despite the lack of focus in government, our customers are somehow finding the cash to help their learners. To help spread tight budgets further we are making big price reductions on key resources. Now you can save £20 on Jelly Beamer, the wireless switch; £26 on the Pocket Go Talk communication aid; or £65 on TrackerPro, the hands free mouse. Watch out for many other great savings in the pages of our new catalogue, due out this month.

The nasen and TES Special Needs North Show, Manchester has the resources, information, advice and CPD training for SEN practitioners to help all pupils achieve. With a practical CPD programme created by nasen and an exhibition full of resources, including ICT, come and see what's new! nasen and TES Special Needs North takes place at the G-Mex Manchester, 27 – 28 April 2007.