Assistive Technology Project Supports Independence and Employment for people with Learning Disabilit

Assistive Technology from Tunstall helps people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes

[ClickPress, Tue Jan 09 2007] A pioneering new project called Through Assistive Technology to Employment (TATE) is using current and advanced assistive technology to increase employability for people with learning disabilities and support independent living within a residential care or family home setting.

An estimated 1.4 million people in England live with a learning disability – around 25 per 1000 of the population – and the project aims to develop and mainstream assistive technology devices combined with telecare to meet the needs of these individuals. It will disseminate examples of best practise amongst health and social care providers.

TATE project manager Ann Aspinall said: “Assistive technology offers a real alternative to traditional models of care, delivering round the clock support when needed, whilst also promoting independence.

“The project will help us to develop new ways to provide support and meet the needs of individual users, and to promote best practice and increased awareness of the benefits of assistive technology amongst health and social care providers.”

The assistive technology, supplied by leading telecare provider Tunstall, will be installed in the homes of at least 50 people with learning disabilities across the UK, enabling them to take a full and active part in their communities, supporting them in carrying out everyday tasks and effectively managing risks to their health and home environment.

The lead partner in the project is The Home Farm Trust (HFT), a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities. The project will use a range of intelligent sensors linked to a Lifeline home unit, which raises an automatic alarm if help is required, for instance, in the event of a fall. Remote monitoring and the proactive management of risk allows the user to carry out day-to-day tasks without the need for a formal or family carer to be present all the time.

The technology also monitors and manages potentially hazardous situations such as floods, extremes of temperature and fires, providing low-level support to ensure help is on hand when needed, while also affording valuable independence and dignity for individuals.

An example of the benefits of assistive technology is the case of Jason, who was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at the age of three. Sedation medication led to nocturnal enuresis, and Jason was also prone to wandering in the night, on occasions cooking breakfast at 4am or leaving the house on his own in the early hours.

A Telecare package consisting of a property exit sensor, bed occupancy monitor, temperature extremes sensor to monitor cooking accidents, and an enuresis sensor was installed in the home to alert Jason’s mother, who is his carer, to any problems, enabling her to provide timely help and support.

According to Jason’s mother, “Telecare has changed our lives. The enuresis is now managed and is very rare. Jason is less aggressive, and easier to manage, I can now sleep well at night without worrying about accidents.”

Kevin Alderson, Public Sector Policy Director at Tunstall said: “This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant and tangible impact on the lives of people with learning disabilities, formal and family carers.

“The project will highlight the benefits to users and social care providers of mainstreaming the use of assistive technology for people with learning disabilities in both residential and family home environments.”

Funded by the European Social Fund through the Equal Community Programme, the project, led by HFT has enlisted the support of 16 public and private sector organisations including the Social Care Institute for Excellence, City & Guilds, Cornwall Adult Care Services and Tunstall.

For further information on the project visit www.tateproject.org.uk, or for more details on advanced assistive technology and telecare solutions go to www.tunstall.co.uk.

About Tunstall
Tunstall is the world’s leading provider of telecare solutions, with over 2.5 million users globally. As the leader in the majority of major healthcare markets, including the UK, Germany, France and Australasia, Tunstall provides technology, expertise and advice to millions of people enabling them to lead independent more fulfilling lives. The Tunstall brand is recognised for the value and support the company offers to both vulnerable and older people, and those living with long term conditions: helping them to stay living within their own communities. For more information on how telecare can improve quality of life, visit www.tunstall.co.uk

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