With funds raised by our sixth annual Princess Ball, our Prairie Regional Office has donated four Assistive Technology Resource Kits — each containing upwards of $1,800 worth of specialized assistive technology — to support students with disabilities at Regina General Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan through our Solutions for Schools initiative.

Over the past several weeks, our Prairie Region Solutions team, Amanda LaRose and Chelsea Osiowy, have been hard at work. From researching and planning to carefully selecting tools, building kits, and delivering them into the community, their focus has been on one goal: creating meaningful, accessible learning opportunities for students who need them most.

These Assistive Technology Resource Kits are now supporting hospital classrooms and community programs across Saskatchewan. These kits represent access, inclusion, and the ability for students to participate more fully in their education.

This year, these kits were delivered to three classrooms at Regina General Hospital, as well as to families and youth supported through Ronald McDonald House Saskatchewan. These environments play a vital role in supporting students during complex and often challenging times, and we are honoured to contribute to making learning more accessible within them.

“We are absolutely blown away at your generosity and donations to the unit,” shares hospital school teacher Kasiani Parisone (pictured in the photo above, second from the right). “Each item donated is truly something that will be very purposeful in our classrooms. There were things I was already able to put to good use.

“Thank you will never be enough. You have made a great impact on our hospital school classrooms with your presence and donations. We will definitely be sharing info with many of our patients and families going forward. What an amazing resource and place,” she continues. “Forever grateful and in awe of the work you are doing at the Neil Squire Society.”

This work was made possible through the generosity of everyone who supported this year’s Princess Ball. Funds raised were directly invested into creating these kits, helping bring practical, impactful resources into learning environments that support youth with disabilities.

Each kit is a thoughtfully curated collection of both high-tech and low-tech tools designed to support accessibility, participation, and student success. They are flexible, adaptable, and designed to be used across classrooms, grade levels, and diverse learning environments.

Schools and community programs can use these kits to:

• Support students with individualized and adaptable assistive solutions
• Equip teachers and staff with tools to better meet diverse learning needs
• Increase participation, independence, and engagement
• Trial different supports to determine what works best before making longer term decisions

To ensure the kits meet a wide range of needs, they were developed around key areas of support:

• Mobility, Fine Motor and Dexterity
• Sensory and Self Regulation
• Reading and Writing
• Math
• Vision
• Hearing
• Speech and Phonics

Many of the tools span multiple categories, making them highly versatile and effective for a variety of students and settings. These kits are designed to be shared resources, encouraging collaboration between educators, therapists, and support staff to find the best possible supports for each learner.

In addition to building and distributing the kits, Amanda and Chelsea provide in depth, hands-on training to the teachers and resource staff who will be using them every day. They walk teams through each item, demonstrate how tools can be used in real classroom scenarios, and answer questions to ensure staff feel confident and supported.

This training is a critical part of the program. We are committed to making sure these tools are used effectively and meaningfully, not left sitting on a shelf. By empowering educators with the knowledge and confidence to use assistive technology, we are also helping them guide and support their students in learning how to use these tools independently. The result is not just access to equipment, but increased confidence, skill development, and long-term impact for both staff and students.

Through our Solutions for Schools initiative, we are working to strengthen inclusive education in a practical and lasting way. This means providing tools, building capacity within school communities, and helping ensure that every student has the opportunity to fully participate in their learning.

“You made our day! I want to thank you again for your time and effort in making today happen. We are so grateful for the amazing tangible support you have given us and our community of learners. Your classroom kits exceeded our expectations,” shares hospital school teacher Heather Lewis (pictured in the photo above, second from the left).

“We have already put some of the equipment to good use and look forward to enhancing our time with the students we are privileged to serve. The technology will be most helpful time and time again.”

“Thank you again for the generous donation of assistive technology resources for our hospital school program,” shares hospital school teacher Leslie Chapman (pictured on the right). “I really appreciated receiving the resource list and seeing the range of supports you’ve provided. These tools will make a meaningful difference for our students by helping them stay connected to learning, build independence, and access school in ways that better meet their individual needs during a difficult time.”

To everyone who attended and supported the Princess Ball, thank you! You are helping remove barriers and build more equitable access to education for youth with disabilities across Saskatchewan.

 

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