assistive technology blogs

Jordyn Zimmerman recently graduated with her bachelors degree in education policy from Ohio University. Diagnosed as autistic, Jordyn did not have access to a communication system until 2014, at the age of 18 years old. She writes for Learning Disability Today about how the world can be made more inclusive of autistic people who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).

Like all frontline services, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provisions are coming under increased financial pressure. But could implementing case management technology leave more time to engage with pupils?

Chancellor Sajid Javid's Spending Review promised to inject £1 billion into social care. Billy Davis, Hft’s Public Affairs and Policy Manager, tells LDT why the sector needs to "save itself". 

Trials are underway for a wristband that monitors physiological changes that may precede aggression. Darren Devine discusses how such technology could change the lives of autistic people, their families, and their carers.

Grainne Eloi, Interim Head of Mental Health Services at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, discusses how new technology reduces unnecessarily long hospital stays.

Chloe Bull from Talkback UK, an advocacy organisation, discusses how taking taxis can be distressing for people with learning disabilities or autism. She highlights the need for greater disability awareness training. 

Chris Rose, director at OLM, which delivers software and services to help care organisations improve efficiencies, explains the benefits of implementing digital solutions for care management in care organisations that support service users with learning disabilities.

Embracing digitisation is part of the journey towards more outstanding care ratings and lower overheads, say OLM Systems.

Technology can play a significant role in empowering people with learning disabilities, with jobs and careers and with everyday living, say software-developers Avail.

It's never too late to learn accessible, inclusive, supportive communication.

The most common barrier to learning you don’t know enough about.

Digital tools are supporting context-based learning and much more besides.

This phone is no about how much money can be made, it is about accessibility, meaning that people with learning disabilities, who can be vulnerable to bullying and such like on the internet and social media, can be safe and still have a reliable way to contact people.

Occupational Therapist Mark Keeble looks at how therapists can support autistic adults with behaviours that challenge to develop techniques to self-regulate their reactions to sensory stimulation.