Festive Greetings

Here we are again rapidly approaching the Festive Season. For most of my shopping I have taken the easy way out and used the internet, and on occasions taken the even easier option of leaving it to my wife!

One pre-Christmas present was a new electric shaver. It is a Philips Arcitec with a revolutionary design of multi-directional head which follows the contours of your face with the minimum amount of arm movement. A real benefit to those with limited upper body strength. Well done Phillips!

Life has been busy for all at Assist HQ, especially with our Conference at the beginning of November. The Team worked really hard and we have had very positive feedback.

Our connection with the Department of Transport led to a meeting at the DVLA in Swansea when we had discussions on the needs of driving instructors when training disabled customers. There appears to be a general lack of knowledge on hand controls and adaptions, and the requirements of disabled drivers. It appears it is often difficult to obtain driving tuition for people who need to use hand controlled vehicles. I am due to meet with the Driving Standards Agency in January 2009 to take this forward.

We are also working with one of the major airlines and a seating/hoist manufacturer on developing a new project to assist in transferring onto aircraft seats. Many disabled people have difficulty in this area. The prototype worked for me and I am no lightweight.

I was made very welcome at Swindon DLC AGM when I spoke on Transforming Community Equipment Services. I also met with colleagues at Exeter to discuss new ways of working with commissioners and retailers.

We are currently busy finishing off our applications for project funding from DoH Section 64 (now renamed Third Sector Investment Fund). We have made it through to the second round on two applications, one is called “Becoming Fit to Equip” where we are teaming up with Ricability to mystery shop the experiences of disabled people when changing prescriptions for assistive technology products through retailers. The second is called “Effective Consumerism in Assistive Technology” where we wish to arm the prospective disabled customer with knowledge before they are exposed to the High Street. I will keep you informed of progress.

These activities are just a snapshot of our current work at Assist UK.

The weeks leading into Christmas are busy with meetings to progress our work; these are Devices for Dignity, update meeting on Transforming Community Equipment Services with the DoH, meetings with OFT, the Department of Transport and Assistive Technology Information Network.

If you have any news, drop us an e-mail or give us a ring and we will feed it back into the network and share the information with our other members.

From myself and the Team at Assist UK, have a great Christmas and a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year.

Alan Norton
Chief Executive Officer

December 2008