Above: IGT employee Crystal Rodney shows a student from Imortelle Centre how to install one of the new desktop computers donated to the Centre through the IGT ASA Programme. Photo courtesy IGT.
In late May, IGT donated new technology to the Immortelle Centre for Special Needs in St. Ann’s. This marked the third phase of IGT’s donation as the Centre received new desktops and tablets to further support the needs of the students and to continue the great work being done in their educational programmes.
IGT has been an avid supporter of the Centre since 2015. The Centre is at the forefront of special education locally, providing students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities with life skills, multidisciplinary therapies, and opportunities for social interaction on a daily basis. Long before the pandemic forced schools to pivot towards digital learning, the Centre was incorporating technology in its classroom with the support of global technology company IGT’s After School Advantage (ASA) Programme, benefiting the Centre’s community of up to 80 students with special needs.
Immortelle’s Principal Charlene Gittens shared, “We use the devices donated by IGT in almost every single class, from preschool circle time up to adult vocational training. Incorporating multimedia tools during our lessons helps our students focus for longer, increases engagement, and has the added benefit of allowing learning to continue seamlessly between school and home, using online programmes so families can stay connected to a student’s progress.”
The Centre’s approach to learning aligns with the mission of IGT’s ASA programme, which is devoted to providing young people with access to technology in safe, nurturing environments and promoting opportunities for digital learning in communities where the company operates. The ASA programme places a special emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while providing educational activities to support the workforce of the future.
“In the eight years of our partnership with the Immortelle Centre, IGT has facilitated three technology upgrades to ensure that the Centre’s evolving needs are met,” said IGT’s General Manager Dexter W. Thomas.
