Unique technology aids students in musical production

Students with special needs who attend Oak Park School in Sarasota will star in a production of “It’s a Small World” at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, using a unique technological device that will “speak” for them.

The students, ages 3 to 16, will be dressed in costumes that represent diverse cultures and nationalities around the world. Because of various mental and physical challenges, such as autism and cerebral palsy, they will be equipped with a voice output communication aid, or VOCA. Each VOCA will be programmed with information about the country the student represents, and when a student presses a button on the device, the audience will hear the spoken words.

Oak Park School is located at 7285 Proctor Road.

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].