Assistive technology

Assistive Technology (AT) provides the support a person with a disability might use to reach their potential at home, in the community and the workplace.

AT may be equipment or systems which help you with moving around your home or community, communicating with other people, processing information, and other daily tasks. 

AT is any device, software, or equipment that helps people work around challenges so they can learn, communicate, and function better. A wheelchair is an example of AT. So is software that reads aloud text from a computer. Or a keyboard for someone struggling with handwriting.
These tools can help people work around their challenges, while also playing to their strengths.

Brain in Hand
Some people we support use an assistive technology called ‘Brain in Hand’.  This aims to reduce the symptoms of anxiety that can sometimes be felt by people with autism in unfamiliar situations.

Individuals and their carers put diary activities into their phone and plan for any challenges that they may face. This ranges from small things like running out of milk, through to planning strategies for panic attacks or losing house keys. The technology then allows the individual to access their schedule and step by step solutions to any problem is on their phone; reminding them what they need to do in a situation whenever and wherever they need it.

Brain in Hand also includes mood traffic lights where the individual can monitor their anxiety throughout the day and help staff pre-empt when support may be required.

What is telecare?
Telecare is a type of assistive technology. Telecare helps the people we support to manage risk and remain independent by means of wireless sensors placed around the home which detect problems such as smoke, gas, floods or a person falling or having an epileptic seizure. Sensors automatically raise a local, audible alarm, as well as alerting a support worker, ensuring the right help can be delivered at the right time 24 hours a day. Telecare gives the people we support control, enabling them to ask for help if they need it but minimising unnecessary disruption, such as night time checks and intrusive home carer visits. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/personal-alarms-security-systems-and-keysafes/