Strong Voices

IHC has big plans for its Stand Tall money game app this year, and many more students and teachers will have a chance to play the game.

Stand Tall has been developed to help young people with intellectual disabilities and neurodiversity learn to manage money – and life. The game app has already been put through its paces in five Wellington secondary schools to gain feedback from students and teachers.

Phil Clarke, IHC Head of Library and Information Resourcing, is now planning to take the game further afield by involving more schools and libraries throughout the country.

“People who are interested should let their local schools know or email us on ihc.events@ihc.org.nz.” Phil says one of the IHC team could come and run a workshop to showcase the game, either in person or online.

“We have tablets that already have the game loaded. We introduce the game then people can go at their own pace.”

A new member of the IHC Programme’s team, who has experience working with disabled students, will be responsible for promoting the game in schools. “We are looking at students in special classes.”

Phil also plans to promote the game app through public libraries. It has already been showcased at Mt Roskill Library in Auckland and Wellington City Libraries had some displays last year. “It’s an opportunity to tie it in with any promotion they are doing,” he says. “They could tie it into World Down Syndrome Day and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We have promotional material that we can send them.”

The app, developed with online gaming company InGame, challenges players to think about their day-to-day spending choices. Players play at their own pace and can repeat stages if necessary. A voiceover option is also available. The game is designed to be played by individuals, but it also works well as a group activity.

But technology doesn’t stand still. Stand Tall is Version 1 of the app. Phil plans to establish a user group to discuss a possible Version 2 to see where the game could go next. It will also be entered in the 2024 Hi-Tech Awards in the Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good category.

In 2023 Stand Tall was showcased at the New Zealand Disability Support Network Conference in Wellington, the Next Steps Expo 2023 in Christchurch, the uLearn23 conference in Auckland and the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) conference in Christchurch.

The Holdsworth Charitable Trust donated $20,000 in seed funding for Stand Tall, and $75,000 was contributed by the Ministry of Social Development. Other supporters are the Dines Family Charitable Trust, Avanti Finance, Glenn and Sonja Hawkins and SkyCity Auckland Community Trust.

The game is available now to play online or download from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Caption: Voice actor Shardia Rose Keen (centre) with friends at the launch of the Stand Tall game app in Auckland last year.

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