Hft’s Personalised Technology team delivers virtual Assistive Technology Awareness training and devices to support providers and vulnerable people in Gloucestershire
Thanks to funding from Gloucestershire’s Digital Innovation Fund, the Personalised Technology (PT) team at Hft have offered virtual Assistive Technology Awareness training to providers who offer services to vulnerable adults in the Gloucestershire area and have set up a loan library of low tech devices for people to try before they buy.
The training aimed to help providers to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of:
- The types of technology that are available
- The outcomes that the right technology in the right place can help people achieve, and
- How to start introducing assistive technology into services
As part of the training, staff developed an action plan that identified low-tech solutions that could aid the people they support. These items were then loaned to the person or service. The team offered ongoing support and advice and, if the technology was successful, the service was able to keep the devices.
Hft’s PT team also measured the outcomes of the project. If you would like a copy of the report please contact personalisedtechnology@hft.org.uk
“I have a better understanding of why I should look to embrace and recommend even basic technologies for the benefit of those we support.”
A previous recipient of Hft’s Assistive Technology training
The success of this work led to the PT team being awarded a further £20,000 grant from the Gloucestershire Digital Innovation Fund to continue their work across the region during 2021-2022.
We are reaching out to day centres across Gloucestershire to provide information on technology and set up a loan library model, enabling people to try tech before they buy.
The team have been working with local providers within day centres, aiming to reach up to 100 individuals. Demonstrations of the technology are being facilitated at the centres and the tech loaned to individual’s to either take home or use during their time at the day centre. Devices such as the C-Pen, when hovered over text will read it out to you enabling people to take control of their post, easy to use remote controls and one cup kettles enabling people to control their TV or make themselves a cuppa independently.
This loan approach enables people to try before they invest, so many times with technology you don’t know if it will work until you try, taking the loan approach encourages people to just have a go. This project is not only working with people with learning disabilities but also older people and other vulnerable groups. As long as you take a person centred approach it doesn’t matter what your diagnosis or condition is, technology can help all of us.
“We’re thrilled to have received a further grant that will allow us to spread our work wider across the Gloucestershire region. We know that technology can make a real difference to people, it doesn’t have to be complicated, simple low tech, low cost devices can really help people to increase or maintain their independence for as long as possible.”
Vincent Scaife, Personalised Technology Coordinator
