1. Assistive Technology- beyond software
Mary Lockwood and Jane Reynolds

2. History Request from an individual student with particular needs.
Highlighted issues around our obligation to provide adjustable work stations for all students registered to use our service.
Our service has to support students across 10 sites
Our annual Assistive Technology budget is £10,000.

3. Assistive Technology Room
The issues
The process
The results

4. Before One size fits all approach Gap in our service provision
Individual requirements differ widely
Starting point

5. Process Looked critically at our existing provision
Contacted a supplier
Negotiated the loan of furniture to trial
Contacted ATR users
Collected feedback via comments cards
Selected a range of seating based on user feedback

6. After

7. Are you sitting comfortably?
Versatile seating
Greater degree of adjustment
Monitor arms to improve flexibility of desk space.
Foot rests

8. Lumbar and neck support
Versatile lumbar support. Easy to adjust from sitting position.
Intuitive design

9. Comfort and support Wider seat with soft mesh back. Arms /no arms
Automatic adjustments, with self-adjusting recline

10. Chairs with moveable lumbar support

11. Storage facilities
Lockers provide storage for individual’s equipment so that it can be left on site.
Short term and long term allocation.

12. Limited resources-how to manage?
How do we ensure those who will benefit most get access to resources?
Only seven workstations in Assistive Technology room
Referrals from Disability Services
Long term and short term loans (12 lockers)
Alternatives: bookable study space, site licensed software, ergonomic equipment to customise any workstation.

13. Additional facilities 1
Bookable study room 1
PC with Dragon software
Bookable scanning station for support workers to use
Meet with support worker

14. Additional facilities 2
Bookable study room 2
Space for quiet study
Space to work with a support worker
Ergonomic chair
No PC- as requested by students

15. Additional facilities 3
Four individual study rooms
Allocated for long term use

16. Ten branch libraries Pool of equipment
Can be moved to where it is needed

17. How to loan out equipment that isn’t a book
Catalogued equipment- not confined:
Laptops & Digital recorders
What if equipment gets broken/damaged/stolen? You owe us £500!
Non-catalogued equipment- confined to the library:
Ergonomic equipment
Coloured overlays
Labelled and security protected

18. Practical considerations/issues to think about
Who can help adjust the chairs and equipment?
How do we advertise?
More provision across the branches