Skip to main content

Harjap Braich - student at Chancellor - recipient in the technology category of the 2023 Yes I Can! Awards

 

Each year the Annual Conference of the Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children (MCEC) presents the Yes I Can! Awards, to recognize the achievements of students who have exceptional needs and of the adults who support them. Chancellor student Harjap Braich is the recipient of MCEC's Technology category.

Congratulations Harjap!

Harjap is amazing.   She loves school.  Harjap thoroughly enjoys her peers and being part of the group. 

Harjap has cerebral palsy.   Her body does not always listen to what she tells it or needs it to do.  Lots of times her hands and feet get away from her, and this is very frustrating for her.  Most of her day is in a wheelchair and she really likes when she can get out of her chair and stretch and roll around on the floor.

Harjap is non-speaking.   She communicates through yes/no questions, body language, vocalizations, eye gaze, laughter, and the occasional tears.   Harjap has recently attempted to say some words!  She relies heavily on answering yes/no questions with a resounding “yah” or bubbles for no.

In October 2021 Harjap received a funded iPad with wheelchair mount and head switch.  The iPad has various switch activated apps, Proloquo2Go and Pictello.  This has been very exciting for all the adults working with her as this will now give Harjap a voice to express herself!  Harjap worked diligently for an hour every school day to learn how to use the switch and apps.  

Harjap works hard every day.  Things that the rest of the students take for granted are a huge feat for Harjap, yet she perseveres and completes her jobs.  She engages in most of the learning tasks going on in the classroom and is especially proud when she gets to present her speaking club reports. Harjap LOVES answering her classmates’ questions about her presentations.  She is extremely patient with the adults as they learn how to adapt and work with the equipment.  

We are incredibly proud of all the progress Harjap makes every day and every year, and if anyone is an example of “Yes I Can”, it is Harjap!

Congratulations to Harjap and also to Linda Green, the Learning Support Teacher at Chancellor who nominated Harjap.

image description
Back to top