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The thing with AtW at the moment is that they will no longer accept 3rd party referrals, the individual has to request input from them. I am aware that they are trying to reduce costs - hence the telephone consultation. I find it frankly amazing that they will send out an ergonomist to look at a work station for someone with a bad back but are happy to assess the needs of someone with motor neurone disease by phone. Those that know me are aware that I am fairly good at putting my point across - but they would not be budged and said that someone coming into the workplace was an unnecessary expense. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, but I was not impressed............... Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:33:54 +0100 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] OCC-HEALTH Digest - 23 Jun 2011 to 24 Jun 2011 (#2011-193) To: [log in to unmask] Hi Sharon, This will cheer you up - I recently went through the process of providing all the information including quotes that ATW required so everything would be smooth and calm. The manager concerned (with a serious long-standing back problem) didn't bother following my instructions and just submitted the application form, an advisor was duly appointed and an assessor sent out.......... the manager was then somewhat surprised when she was refused assisstance (this was pre-changes last year) and somewhat in a huff phoned the advisor who basically was rude to her on the phone. The managers, manager contacted me and told me about the problems! I had a conversation with the manager who sent me a copy of the assessor's report complete with photos........ of her sitting at her PC on a kitchen chair, turns out that for the previous 6 months she had been sitting on a kitchen chair at her computer! Arrgh (polite version - suffice to say the suggestion to her manager was to discipline her for blatant disregard for her own health and safety.....!) I would request that ATW provides an asessor who is a qualified speech and laguage therapist with detailed knowledge about technology. Alternatively get your employer to pay for an assessment and submit the lot to ATW.......... - Don't know if any othese are of use - speechdisorder.co.uk A variety of organisations dedicated to supporting individuals affected by speech difficulties and disorders will also likely be able to offer further information on technology and speech therapy. Afasic (www.afasic.org.uk), the British Stammering Association (www.stammering.org), Christopher Place, The Speech, Language and Hearing Centre (www.speech-lang.org.uk), Communication Therapy International (www.ctint.co.uk), Speakability (www.speakability.org.uk) and Talking Point (www.talkingpoint.org.uk) are a few such organisations in the United Kingdom. This website is fab! - http://www.icommunicatetherapy.com/programme-options/adult-information/speech-a-hearing/speech-difficulties http://icommunicatetherapy.com/resources/downloads-centre/document-downloads/cat_view/33-assistive-communication--aac I've just found some useful stuff for 3 peeps I've seen recently with stroke or brain injury on memory and concentration - so thankyou for posting your question! Have a great weekend Catherine ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH ******************************** Please remove this footer before replying. OCC-HEALTH ARCHIVES: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html CONFERENCES AND STUDY DAYS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH