Angie

I missed the beginning of this thread as I was on holiday so please excuse any ignorance that I display!

I run an EAT service based in Hull, which includes environmental controls assessment for Hull, East Yorkshire & North Yorkshire.  I would aim to look at computer access as part of any ECS assessment. In Hull & East Yorks I also have SLAs which let me take on separate referrals for computer access only, but that’s not the case in North Yorks.   I’m starting to discover that this presents a hole which is difficult to fill.  IMHO it seems that this important aspect would benefit from inclusion specifically in EAT SLAs.

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carter, Angela
Sent: 03 September 2009 15:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Computer access assessments

 

Dear all who have responded to this subject,

 

I have been very interested in reading your responses.

 

I am an OT who is now Wirral’s Assistive Technology Strategic Development Manager. My role initially has been around establishing a telecare service via the Preventive Technology Grant. Now, I am project managing the numerous facets of telecare, telemedicine and beyond. As part of the latter I have been managing the case of an individual who has required a computer to enable her independence. She wishes to use Outlook to send prompts to her mobile phone as she has memory problems affecting day to day planning. The IT is also to enable her re her hobbies of grow your own gardening and card making – the latter being a business opportunity.

 

Her computer is being funded via Wirral’s Personalised Budget pilot as personalised budgets can be used for the purchase of technology.

 

In enabling individuals to use their Personalised Budgets in this way, my concern is how we ensure that individuals have the assessment and advice they need. This is important to ensure the solutions individuals need are effectively and appropriately identified and that money is not wasted, by them having to trawl through the market place to hopefully find what is required.

 

My current experience has led to me working with North West EAT, which is obviously a resource with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Our discussions of how such advice and support could be provided have initially involved the ideas of bringing a  basic level of expertise locally here in Wirral e.g. basic switches, software programmes etc, possibly via an environment like an Independent Living Centre. We also a need to consider how we can ensure access to the expertise of the EAT service, is available when required beyond this. This could involve an increase in the EAT work load.  

 

I have provided feedback regarding the need for computer access assessments and assessment for specialist technology, in relation to the effective use of personalised budgets, to the recent consultation relating to the Specialised Services National Definitions Set (3rd Edition) Assessment and Provision of Equipment for People with Complex Physical Disabilities (all ages) - Definition no. 5.

From reading all your responses, this subject of computer access assessments appears to be one that various EAT type services are aware of, providing or grappling with, across the country. I would welcome some understanding as to whether you are all EAT services or something else. I would also appreciate any comments or further thoughts on this issue.

 

As I progress here with my project to find out how we will meet the computer access and other technology needs of individuals, here on Wirral, I am happy to update the forum of my progress and hopefully the final outcome.

 

Regards

 

Angie

 

 

 

Hi all

Do any of you working in NHS departments provide computer access assessments to local clients?  By this I mean access to PC or laptop for email/word processing/internet, not AAC or ECS.  We have provided this service for some years and I would like to know if we are offering something unusual, to help justify continued funding.

I am aware of Ability Net and the Ace Centres as we do work in conjunction with these on occasions.

Thanks
Mike Broadhurst

mailto:[log in to unmask]
Michael Broadhurst
Head of Bioengineering
Regional Medical Physics Department
Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE
Tel: 0191 233 6161 ext 22192

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