Qualifications for students with disabilities

What we do? 

CandLE is a not-for-profit organisation that works with students with disabilities and specialise in teaching AAC users. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative communication) is communication in any other form other than verbal speech. We have developed proven methods with many success stories of students going from school to further and higher education, giving them the tools to be successful academically as well as the skills to live independently. 

Our story

CandLE was formed by our Managing Director Marion Stanton whose son Danny Stanton, was born 34 years ago with Cerebral Palsy. When Danny was born, she was told that he would have learning difficulties and would go to a special school. This was before he was at the age he was even supposed to talk. Marion developed communication systems for Danny at an early age and began teaching him literacy and she fought for him to be given the same opportunities as his non-disabled peers. Danny went on to go to a mainstream school where he had a large circle of friends and achieved GCSE’s alongside focusing on his passion of writing poetry. Marion now dedicates her life to ensuring that other young people born with disabilities are given the opportunity to learn and show their potential. She is a leading practitioner in special needs education who teaches others how we can overcome barriers to learning for students with disabilities. Today, CandLE supports over 30 students across the UK by a team of specialist teachers, teaching assistants and resource developers who are driven by the CandLE ethos – Never say can’t, at CandLE every student CAN! 

Our project

Throughout the years of working with students in mainstream school, special school and at home through home education, we have identified a gap in available qualifications to AAC users. We believe that disabled students should be given the opportunity to further their academic potential alongside independent living skills, as well as encouraging personal interests. We are in the process of developing 5 accredited qualifications which are written specifically for AAC users that will incorporate academic learning, research skills and independent living skills to open up doors for future endeavors. These include: 

• Bridge to English – Developing English skills whilst encouraging the use of the students preferred communication method
• Bridge to Maths – Developing maths skills with accessible learning via the students preferred access method 
• Personal Project – A research project based on the students personal interest 
• World Knowledge – Science, History, Geography and BPE (beliefs, philosophy and ethics) 
• Independent Living Skills through Instruction – teaching AAC users how to live independently through instruction using their preferred communication method

These qualifications will be delivered remotely but we also aim to deliver in person teaching through learning centers. We have our first learning hub in Ulverston, Cumbria which will welcome students from the local community and further for one to one and group sessions. A part of this project is getting the learning hub set up to be able to accommodate students and make it a comfortable learning environment. 

Why we need funding? 

We are a not-for-profit company which means the start up cost for this project is not readily available. All of the money we make goes back into helping the students we currently support. We feel these qualifications could significantly impact the lives of many young people with disabilities who currently do not have the opportunities to continue to develop academically and the money we would receive would go towards the following: 

• Accessible changing facilities for personal care at the Learning Hub 
• Electronic equipment for students to use at the Learning Hub 
• The development process of the 5 qualifications by our team of specialist teachers alongside Marion Stanton
• Future learning centers to deliver the qualifications in person to more students
• Accreditation 
• Administration 

Testimonials: 

“There has always been a positive and firm belief in her abilities, and with the skills from CandLE, she has been enabled to show what she really knows and is capable of. This has helped her self-esteem enormously.” Parent 

“...were the only organisation we could find who really seemed to be supporting people with disabilities on this level. They also have a wide knowledge base and years of experience and are always looking for the best ways to support our son to reach his fullest potential.” Parent 

“Without CandLE’s involvement from an early stage at high school, particularly working with the school to make exams properly accessible, and to get appropriate extra time and access arrangements, I think it is very unlikely that my son would have achieved any qualifications, never mind enough to get him into a Russell group university to study maths (where he currently is).” – Parent