CHATBACK was set up in 1986 by the present Director, Tom Holloway, to provide an electronic mail (email) facility for up to 100 schools in the UK and abroad. Most were special schools, all cater for children who have some mental or physical difficulty with communicating. It set up electronic links with children in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, USA, and even a special school in Novosibirsk in Siberia. For information about Chatback staff, please click here
Much
has changed since those early days, and we have now started a new project
in collaboration with Commitments
India, a charity in Andhra Pradesh, which aims to serve the rural
poor and disabled and disadvantaged persons
TIMEWITNESSES
- memories of the 1940s - notes from their grandparents on life
from 50 years ago. This also includes a 'Panel
of Elders' of many nations that you may put your questions to. You
can find a list
of stories here and also
Quicktime movie clips of some of the stories here
A
VIEW FROM MY WINDOW -- children are invited to write about the
view from their window.
Some of the schools we have helped are:-
- Cedar School, Southampton
- Wellesbourne CE Junior
and Infant School in Warwickshire
- Clapham Terrace School, Speech
and Language Unit in Warwickshire
- Victoria School,
Birmingham, UK
- Welford
and Wickham Primary School, Berkshire
We have also provided computers
and a training room to a group of elderly and retired people of Royal
Leamington Spa. This is the computer group of the Warwick District 'University
of the Third Age'. With help from Warwick District Council and the Cabinet
Office programme 'Better Government for Older People' they help to run
the Leamington Elders Advice Point
and their meeting/training day is every Wednesday morning. You can
write to their Chairman, Robin
Shepherd, for more information.
CHATBACK INTERNATIONAL via Internet
In association with St Johns University New York, we are also taking part in a research project. This is directed by Professor Bob Zenhausern of the Psychology Department of St Johns, and we are using the resources of St Johns University to establish the increase in linguistic competence and self-esteem of groups of children at 16 physical handicap schools in Birmingham, 4 London schools and a corresponding number of schools in the USA. 
We would be delighted to hear from special schools from anywhere in the world who might want to join us via The Internet.
For more information please write to the Executive Director of Chatback International, Dr Bob Zenhausern, or the UK Director of Chatback, Tom Holloway, at these addresses:-
Dr R Zenhausern Tom Holloway
Psychology Department The Chatback Trust
St Johns University 6 St Mary's Crescent
SB 15, Marillac Royal Leamington Spa
Jamaica, NY 11439 Warwickshire, CV31 1JL
USA United Kingdom
Phone: 718-990-6447 Phone: (+44) 1926 888333
Fax: 718-990-6705 Fax: (+44) 1926 771707