WOBO Governor David Gibson had the privilege to participate in and support the Chantry Primary Academy Careers and Neurodiversity Week at the Chantry Primary Academy, Luton.  The focus was on their VI [Visually Impaired] children who were given the brief to make plans and models of an environmentally,  and disability friendly home.  

In the role as Building Inspector, David went to inspect the VI provision pupils environmentally and disability model homes as part of a focus on future careers within the “Building Industry”.   The initiative was established  by Mrs Kate Collings, Visual Impairment Provision Manager and VI SENCo which was enhanced by the preparatory support of her team resulting in a positive and successful morning.

David discussed the development of buildings and how they were designed to protect us as people, keeping us warm, dry, safe, secure and using natural energy for day to day activities.  It was a most participartive experience with individuals asking questions and making statements way beyond their age profiles.

The children had prepared drawings from which they had created buildings personal to both them and their understandng of issues such as resources, sustainability and accessability.  It was impressive to see buildings with positive access, lifts, solar panels, wind turbines, water storage, working lights and more.

The following link provides an overview of the models created which were then discussed on a one to one basis with the “young” building designers and builders for the future.

https://www.facebook.com/buildings

The following photos reflect Davids participation in a most enjoyable morning.

WOBO fully recognises the needs for people to understand about buildings and their development and encourages involvement from the earliest stages possible, focussing on design, construction and end use, fully recognising that each person, as seen ab0ve, has skills, knowledge and expertise to support the development process.