Useful links and websites

There is so much information available on the internet regarding assistive technology. Here are some of our favourite links. Save this page to your favourites now and come back to visit these links time and time again...

Foundation for Assistive Technology – FAST The Foundation for Assistive Technology (FAST) works with the AT community to support innovation in product development and good practice in service provision.

Disabled Living Foundation - DLF is a national charity that provides free, impartial advice about all types of disability aids.

Royal National Institue for the Blind – RNIB is a website specifically for people with visual impairments, a great resource for information and best practice, it also sells products suitable for people with visual impairments through its online shop.

Royal National Institute for the Deaf – RNID is a website specifically for people with hearing impairments, a great resource for information and best practice, it also sells products suitable for people with hearing impairments through its online shop.

Halliday James – have developed I-Cue and Ablelink, i-Cue’s - Dynamic Support Environment Combines the functionality of both Telecare and smart house technology to create a living environment which provides both physical and cognitive support for the occupant. Ablelink - Cognitive Support Technology - is a suite of software programmes which provide person-centred cognitive support specifically targeted at people with Learning Difficulties and those with Acquired Brain Injury.

Tunstall - Telecare consists of a range of equipment that monitors the environment/person e.g. smoke detectors, extreme temperature sensors and epilepsy sensors are all designed to keep people safe and living in their own homes for longer and with reassurance. Tunstall's Telehealth solutions offer a way of delivering tailored care for people with long term conditions in their own homes, which helps improve quality of life and helps prevent avoidable hospital admissions. A series of tests can be carried out in the person’s own home, the results of which are fed, via the internet, to the person’s GP.

Simpla – have produced an easy to use phone.

CUHTec - Centre for Usable Home Technology is a joint venture between the University of York and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It draws on a world-class interdisciplinary research base in Computer Science, Electronics and Psychology at the University of York.

CUHTec's aim is to ensure that future home technologies meet real social and personal needs by: working in collaboration with users, especially older and disabled people; articulating user requirements for the next generation of home technologies; providing events, courses and information; brokering partnerships to implement the requirements in mainstream products.

B&Q – Can Do range

B&Q Home Easy Range – a range of off the shelf products that can assist with turning equipment on and off along with the ability to operate equipment via a mobile phone, see the website for the full range of products.

Great Home Easy Demos – help you to see how the equipment works.

Ask Sara – a useful website for assessing need, the search engine asks for information and then gives suggestions about specific equipment that may be helpful.

More about MacIntyre and Assistive Technology

MacIntyre has embarked on an Assistive Technology (AT) project with the aim of technically enabling the organisation and supporting people using MacIntyre’s services to increase their independence and to take more control over their lives.

There are various definitions of Assistive technology, one of which - The King’s Fund defines AT as any product or service designed to enable independence for disabled and older people. (2001). MacIntyre is working with individual people to identify pieces of equipment that will enhance their lives, supporting the person to take more control, we see this as Person Centred technology.

What is the AT project?

The project is to develop the organisation’s technical skills whilst delivering the most effective, efficient, PC solutions for the people we support, which will support and encourage independence. The project will be delivered across all of the operational services that MacIntyre delivers - Supported Living, Inclusive Care, Adult Life Learning and the two residential schools.

Who will deliver the project?

To deliver the project, MacIntyre will employ a full time project manager – Assistive Technology Advisor.

How will MacIntyre deliver the project?

The AT Advisor role will inform MacIntyre about what AT is currently available, what is being developed and potentially what might be possible for future use. The advisor will share the information across MacIntyre, this will be through the steering group, website, literature sent out to key people at key times throughout the life of the project, sharing good ideas and best practice at Roadshows, conferences and meetings with people using services and staff.

Where will the project focus?

MacIntyre is keen to see all people benefitting from this resource, therefore anyone can contact the advisor for support, information and advice. The advisor will carry out visits, assessments and recommend particular products that may be helpful. Staff can also contact the local OT for advice on products. The project will begin by looking at 2 geographical areas where MacIntyre provides services, carrying out detailed assessments with colleagues from other organisations, these joint assessments will identify equipment that could monitor the environment and provide additional support for specific situations. This type of AT will support some people to increase their opportunity to be at home without support, relying on environmental sensors to raise an alarm as and when needed. A thorough assessment ensures that a wider range of equipment can also be considered which will increase independence, confidence and self esteem.

National AT Activity

The government is committing monies to support research and development of AT for older and disabled people, between April 08 and March 09 a total of 168 projects devoted to AT research and development were occurring across the UK. In June 08 the government announced that £31 million of funding would be provided to the Whole System Demonstrator Programme (WSD) and would go live in Kent, Cornwall and Newham, the WSD will run for a minimum of two years. The WSD sites will be subject to rigorous real time evaluation of the benefits of Telecare and Telehealth which is believed to be the largest type in the world. The learning from the WSD will be shared with an action research network, run by the King’s fund and the DoH Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP).

What will WSD do?

WSD will issue, free of charge for the duration of the programme, Telecare equipment based on individual assessment of AT needs. People have been asked if they would like to volunteer to use this equipment. The person receiving the equipment will use it, provide feedback on its use and the data captured via the call centres etc.. will put together a picture that should determine if Telecare equipment has been effective and if the outcomes of those people using it have been enhanced. This research will enable the Dept of health to understand the real benefits to the end user and support decisions about the role of Telecare in future Social Care provision.

Latest policy and guidance

Here are some links that may be of interest. They are in relation to the latest policy and guidance from the Department of Health, and have significant implications for assistive technology in the health and social care setting.

Green Paper – Shaping the Future of Care Together 14th July 09

Report - Research and Development work relating to Assistive Technology 2008-2009 9th July 09

Assessment Underway...

Following the awareness workshop held in Warrington recently, MacIntyre's Karen Duggan and Home Farm Trust's Emma Nichols visited the home of the four ladies due to take part in MacIntyre's Assistive Technology pilot programme.

Over the course of two days, and in a very relaxed and informal environment, the four ladies and their support staff discussed their day to day life experiences with Karen and Emma and some of the challenges which face them on a daily basis.

All aspects of the ladies lives were covered and particular attention was paid to what was working well and what was not working so well.  In this respect, methods and devices could be looked at to both help and assist independence, as well as continuing to promote the achievements and steps already being taken by the individuals.

Following the assessments, the enthusiastic house met to discuss how they themselves can begin to make small but significant steps to further promote independent living within the service with the implementation of picture shopping lists amongst other things.

The assessment process now complete, Karen and Emma will begin to look at what forms of assistive technology will be of benefit to, not only the individuals, but the house as a whole.

They are due to return to the service in mid-April to reveal the results of the assessments to the ladies and arrange the installation of the technology.

Check back soon to find out how they got on...

Assistive Technology gets set to enhance the lives of four Warrington ladies

While the use of assistive technology is not completely new to MacIntyre, with people already using various forms of technology as part of their support and day to day life, the opportunities for people to use technology remains limited for people with a learning disability.

MacIntyre's new and exciting Assistive Technology pilot project aims to make a difference to people's lives through increasing or maintaining their independence and/or keeping them safer, as well as expanding our knowledge of the range of assistive technology available. 

For the duration of the pilot project we are supported by Home Farm Trust who have recently completed a project looking at Assistive Technology and Telecare for people with a learning disability.

The pilot project is taking place in Warrington, with four ladies who share a house and have a team of staff supporting them (Bernie Vero, pictured above). We recently held an awareness workshop to let all those involved know about the different types of technology and to hear stories from those who have used assistive technology. The workshop also enabled people to think about how technology might be able to help them as individuals.

The next step is an assessment with MacIntyre's Karen Duggan and Home Farm Trust's Emma Nichols, due to take place this week. This will involve talking about the things they like to do and exploring how technology may contribute to their support received from MacIntyre.

Check back regularly to follow the story of the four ladies and how assistive technology aims to improve and sustain a more person centred approach to the people who use our services.