A Guide to Implementing Assistive Technology for People with Learning Disabilities - a product of the TATE project
"We believe that Assistive Technology has a crucial role to play in empowering individuals and enhancing the employability for people with a learning disability and their carers".
This was the mission statement of the TATE [Through Assistive Technology to Employment] Project which ended in December 2007. TATE was funded through the Equal Community Programme (ESF) and became a consortium of 18 partners from commercial, voluntary and public sectors, who worked together to identify the benefits of providing assistive technology and telecare to people with a learning disability and those who support them.
The project worked closely with major manufacturers to devise and implement assistive technology and telecare in a very person centred way in 32 homes, involving 150 service users of The Home Farm Trust (HFT), The Brandon Trust and other service providers.
This person centred technology is now meeting the needs of people with a learning disability, assisting in their growing independence. The project has demonstrated that such technology can bring benefits to the users themselves, and help staff and family carers change the way that support is provided.
The Tate Project has produced this useful and informative handbook for organisations and families who wish to implement person centred technology. The guide expertly lays out the case for assistive technology and telecare, putting it in context - how and why it should exist alongside existing services - and provides a clear guide to implementation.
Crucially, the handbook also addresses concerns - there is a section on the ethical approach of delivering assitive technology and telecare - and there is a very useful section on resources and sources of funding.
The handbook can be obtained from the Home Farm Trust, telephone or downloaded below
Download A Guide to Implementing Assistive Technology for People with Learning Disabilities
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