Special‑populations director showcases social‑assistive robots, seeks donations for Night to Shine

Shavehte Grady, director of special populations, told the board the department supports students with disabilities under IDEA and Indiana Article 7, coordinates related services (speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology and nursing) and uses research‑based technology to support social and academic skills.

Grady described two grant programs (Pyramid and Robokind) and demonstrated a social‑assistive robot named Carver (and an avatar called Harper). She said the robots teach social skills, emotional understanding and self‑regulation and noted that teachers, occupational therapists and speech pathologists use the robots to align lessons to students’ individualized education plans.

Grady also announced the Night to Shine prom‑style event on Feb. 13 for students with special needs; the event is funded but the department requested donations of formal wear, service providers (barbers, stylists and makeup artists) and volunteers to serve as peer buddies. She said the district expects 10 students to attend and that event coordinators will communicate size and clothing needs through the registration QR code.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about how the robots are used and how many units the district has. Grady said the district has five physical robots and seven virtual avatars and that staff determine lesson timing and student selection based on individual plans. She invited community volunteers and said a registration QR code will provide follow‑up details.