Ace intro to FC fans

FC teams up with charity to give those with major speech-disabilities a voice

For this year’s October Minithon, the club has decided that our partner charity will be Hollinwood based ACE Centre North www.ace-north.org.uk . ACE North delivers training and assistance to people for whom effective communication is difficult because of a physical impairment, language disorder or learning disability. The ability to communicate is fundamental to a basic quality of life. Just as our club is dedicated to giving football fans a voice, so too ACE North’s work is devoted to giving young and old a voice.

ACE North’s team of experienced specialist Speech & Language therapists, occupational therapists, teachers and technicians uses its expertise in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology, such as famously used by Stephen Hawkins. An active ACE Centre North Board member, former rugby league player, Andy Walker suffered a spinal cord injury in 2006, resulting in paralysis from the neck down. Andy uses a chin controlled wheelchair and with the help of ACE Centre North uses Assistive Technology to use a computer. For those who watch Emmerdale, Andy plays the part of cheerful Steve Kelly, who acts as a mentor and tried to cheer up the paralysed Jackson.

You will know doubt be seeing Andy and the young people at Gigg Lane as ACE North want to build a real partnership with FC supporters and are keen to visit the branches to discuss how we can work together, especially in giving communicatively disabled young people a voice to shape their own destiny.