The Swedish National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools (SPSM) has granted the edtech company Kattalo nearly one million SEK to make its digital learning material accessible to more students. This initiative will particularly benefit students in special education and others who need extra support in their reading and writing development.
“We want all students to be able to develop based on their conditions,” says Pether Wiklander, CEO of Kattalo. “SPSM’s support enables us to prioritize development to better support the target group in special education. That said, this is fantastic development for all students, regardless of their challenges!”
Expertise from the Field
The project is carried out in close collaboration with experienced special education teachers who have daily contact with the target group. Helen Larsson, a special education teacher and ICT educator at Rosenlund Special School and recently named Teacher of the Year 2024, sees great opportunities with the development:
“This is perfectly timed. In my everyday life at Rosenlund, we see how important it is to combine basic skill training with meaningful writing activities. With the new features in Kattalo, we can do just that – each student gets the support and challenges that suit them.”
Denice Sverla, who until recently was the deputy principal at a special school and now works as a development consultant and award-winning author, also contributes her expertise. She has been recognized as a finalist for both “Public Sector Leader of the Year” and “Enthusiast of the Year”:
“During my years in special education, in various roles such as both teacher and school leader, I have seen the great need to find targeted and developed digital learning materials for the student group in special education. Kattalo’s work, combined with the teacher guides that Helen and I are developing, will make a big impact on how more students can be challenged, developed, and succeed. We can create better opportunities for both teachers and students within the target group.”
Practical Tools for Special Education
In 2025, Kattalo will develop several new features within the project framework:
Extended Image Support: Clear images to support all exercises
Sign Support: Integration of TAKK for students who use signs in their communication
Assisted Writing: Ability to dictate text for those who need it, and get hints from the app to correct grammatical errors in texts
Writing Templates: Ability to create texts based on templates to better support different genres
Improved Image Bank: Easier to control content regarding both time and which students it applies to
“It’s about giving teachers the tools to meet each student where they are,” says Michael Söderman, CTO at Kattalo. “When we combine pedagogical expertise with smart technology, we can create new learning opportunities.”
To ensure that Kattalo’s tools and materials are effective and user-friendly for the target group, we will conduct a series of user tests and collaborate with reference groups consisting of educators, students, and other stakeholders. The project runs until March 2026.
Want to know more?
Contact:
Pether Wiklander
CEO and Founder, Kattalo
Email: pether@kattalo.com
Phone: +46 70-840 23 54
About Kattalo
Kattalo is a leading edtech company specializing in early language development and reading instruction. By combining pedagogical expertise with modern technology, we create engaging and effective digital learning materials that help every child reach their full potential.