F E AT U R E
The power of inclusivity Year 6 Class Captain Joshua Wood competed at the Queensland Swimming Championship this year and enjoys writing and reading. He is also profoundly vision impaired and writes and reads using Braille. Joshua completes all his school work, including assessment, in Braille. He has now progressed to a very high level, winning state Braille competitions over recent years. “When I sit an exam, I use a book in Braille,” he said. “I read the questions and then type the answer on my BrailleSense – a little portable computer in Braille – or on my Mountbatten Braille Machine.” Older brother Ben started at BGS in Year 7 in 2017 and after a year at school was confident the environment would also suit Joshua. Their parents, Dean and Jenny, agreed and Joshua started Year 5 at the School last year.
“We really value education and we want Joshua to be able to go to university. We thought Brisbane Grammar School was the place that would give him everything he needs to enable that opportunity,” Jenny said. “It is a credit to everyone at the School how well he has been catered for and how he is just one of the boys. At BGS, Joshua has been encouraged to participate in everything and not let his disability stand in the way.” Not letting anything stand in his way has been a motto Joshua has lived since he was born. In 2017 he and Ben entered The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world’s oldest schools writing competition, established in 1883. Joshua’s entry was the first in Braille in the 134-year history of the competition. The pair both earned certificates of Special Commendation and the Duchess of Cornwall, Qantas and Australian Women’s Weekly jointly paid to fly the Wood family to London to visit Buckingham Palace and receive their awards.
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