SEND: SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS & DISABILITIES

We have worked with various groups of children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Many of the projects are participatory in nature, meaning that the participants on each film are often heavily involved in deciding the content of the films, by contributing ideas through a workshop process, and will also act or help out behind-the scenes. This process means that the participants themselves actively engage with the content in meaningful ways but also that the result of their hard work i.e. the films, can be watched by other people knowing that it represents an authentic picture of lived experience.

We work hard to create safe spaces for groups to share experiences and to creatively engage with the projects using video, storytelling and drama techniques. Two projects featured on our website concern Independent Travel for students with SEND. Access Is Areas is a suite of films, using drama, documentary and tutorial formats to encourage students with SEND to try out independent travel. The films also give carers and tutors invaluable advice too. There are subtitled versions of all of these films, and some have signed versions for the hard of hearing.

To Boldly Go is the second project about independent travel on the website, which is specifically aimed at young people with SEND. This film has annotated sections to further facilitate lessons and to trigger discussion about independent travel. For this project we even created a physical travel game too!

Both projects are very upbeat and positive and are packed with useful tips showing how to overcomes the barriers that young people with learning difficulties can face – by journey planning, being confident, thinking about safety, using passes and aids, using assistive technology and asking for help from friends, family and bus drivers.

The other film on this website is from our EasySRE suite of films, and is called Game Changer. Laced with humour it explores issues around relationships and sexual health in an engaging and informative way. Topics include: online safety, appropriate behaviour and touching, masturbation, sex and the law, independence and love.

We have undertaken many projects for children and adults with SEND: including some that are related to heritage ( examples can be found HERE and HERE ) while others have highlighted specific courses and services or have helped adults with SEND to make videos to show to carers about their individual needs.

"Wonderfully ambitious and beautifully realised too"

Daniel Meadows, renowned photographer
“Catcher’s approach to heritage is outstanding; the quality, accessibility and beauty of their work means that the community are drawn to their projects”

Hannah McSherry, Herefordshire Council
"As well as working with a wide range of Herefordshire heritage, arts and community organisations, Catcher Media has been committed to boosting skills, employment and economic development within the county."

Jenni Waugh Consulting Ltd.
"We have worked with Catcher Media for many years on several diverse cultural and heritage projects including large heritage projects of regional and national importance and we have come to rely on their expertise"

Jan Nesaratnam, Senior Librarian at Herefordshire Library Service
Our collaborations with Catcher Media have been hugely valuable in the cultural life of Herefordshire and the wider region."

Jon Chedgzoy, Museums, Libraries & Archives Manager at Herefordshire Council
"Catcher Media have made a vital contribution, not just in our county but to the heritage, culture and arts of this country as a whole"

Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Member of Parliament for Hereford & South Herefordshire
"The powerful and beautifully produced films reached huge, enthusiastic audiences that crossed generations and brought the past to life"

Rhys Griffith, Senior Archivist at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
"Catcher Media's oral history projects just get better and better."

Audience member 
"We often have people coming here with cameras but you are interested in us, and what we are actually doing."

Marcin Lisowski, Polish migrant worker
"I firmly believe that to honour our ancestors is a very special thing, to bring them to life."

Raine Geoghegan, Romani poet

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