TATE is a project funded through the second round of the Equal Community Programme. The project has demonstrated that by bringing two existing technologies together: assistive technology and telecare, people with a learning disability can be supported in ways not previously explored. The project has captured the imagination of the UK market.The lessons learnt from the project are being used by commissioners, providers, policy makers, family and formal carers and people with a learning disability to develop new ways of support. Using technology in this innovative way is supporting people to have more opportunities in: independence, social coherence and inclusion, virtual communities, safety, mobility, employability and employment. Clearly if a person with a learning disability is more independent and safe then their family carers also benefit in having more time to pursue their employment and leisure interests.

Policy Context

The Preventative Technology Grant (PGT) and the Whole System Long Term Condition (LTC) Demonstrator Programme have highlighted the government’s interest in the use of electronic assistive technology (EAT) and Telecare. Assistive technology is defined by the Audit Commission (2004: 3) as ‘any item, piece of equipment, product or system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities and independence of people with cognitive, physical or communication difficulties’ and Telecare is defined by ICES (2004) as ‘Care provided at a distance using information and communication technology (ICT)’. The government’s interest is for reasons of economy and resource management as well as independence and inclusion.

Description of target users and groups

Adults with learning disabilities.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

TATE is a development collaboration of 18 partners from the voluntary, commercial and public sectors with HFT (The Home Farm Trust Ltd) being the lead partner. The TATE Project has explored the various components for the successful implementation of EAT and addressed many issues. Some issues were foreseen, such as initial staff resistance, but others, such as hidden costs, were not apparent until the installations were being carried out.

Technology solution

Assisitive technology as well as telecare.

Main results, benefits and impacts

HFT, a UK national charity and NGO, acted as lead partner in bringing stakeholders from the public sector (learning disability) into contact with manufacturers of assistive technology and telecare. This relationship encouraged the manufacturers to change their approach from a service led approach to the development of what is now referred to as "person centred technology". By ensuring the interoperability of the two technologies the manufacturers have increased their prospective market while encouraging a much wider spectrum of uses for people with a learning disability and their family carers. However, HFT was anxious that the use of assistive technology and telecare should be primarily for the benefit of users, as well as supporting the efficient and effective uses of resources. The project, therefore, developed an ethical framework that ensures that all issues involved in the use of this new approach to supporting people with a learning disability, are addressed. The development of practical uses of assistive technology and telecare to support people with a learning disability is supported by the development of: - An implementation handbook which includes an ethical framework - Commercial software (5 separate modules) - Training for staff, family carers and people with a learning disability - A user friendly database of assistive technology devices - A guide for involving users in projects - A DVD with an overview of the project highlighting uses and showing some case studies. A major requirement for TATE by "Equal" was to be a part of a separate transnational programme. A separate project called "Workability" was created working with partners from Spain, Hungary and Latvia, which produced additional outputs. However, the partners from the other European countries were very impressed with the work of TATE and there has been some real transfer of knowledge in the work that HFT has been leading on in the use of computers by people with learning disability. This has also led to a developing understanding that the use of assistive technology and telecare could be of benefit to all people in Europe with a disability, formal and family carers, providers, purchasers and policy makers. It is hoped that the model created by TATE whereby an NGO brings together manufacturers, social policy makers, providers, purchasers to ensure the best results for users.

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - That in order that assistive technology provides maximum benefits to adults with a learning disability the end user must be consulted at every stage and be the focus of the delivery rather than the technology being provided by a manufacturer, supplier or provider without full assessment and consultation. Lesson 2 - Ethics are really important and must be taken into account for each individual – even when EAT is being introduced into shared accommodation settings. Lesson 3 - You need to budget for ‘hidden costs’ – these include high annual maintenance charges, electrical and carpentry work on installation, pager licenses and replacement of equipment and batteries. Scope: National