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Environmental control systems
What are they? Environmental control systems help people with a severe physical disability by enabling them to operate appliances and equipment in the home from a central control, worked if necessary by switches adapted to their individual requirements. They can be linked with a wide range of equipment such as alarms, door locks, intercoms. telephone, lights, heaters, beds, curtains, radios, televisions, communication aids and computers.
How do you get them? Contact an occupational therapist in the social services or NHS who will be able to tell you about the systems available. Otherwise ask your GP or community nurse. You will then be referred to a medical consultant who acts as the environmental control assessor in your area.
If the assessor decides equipment
would help , an occupational therapist from social services may be asked
to assist with any necessary arrangements for installation. Equipment
is provided on loan and maintained and serviced free of charge.
From the Employment service
See the section on Access to Work to
find out about help with equipment you may need to work.
Your local Jobcentre will put you in touch with a Disability Employment Adviser.
From education and training services See section on Education
From voluntary organisations Some of the groups named in the Addresses section will give you information about obtaining equipment, including what can be found in local shops and pharmacies. Some groups may also help with the supply of equipment.
The Red Cross Medical Loan Service through your local branch (see phone book) can lend equipment including commodes, wheelchairs and walking frames to meet urgent short-term needs. They may sometimes charge a handling fee. St John Ambulance Brigade may also be able to help in some areas.
REMAP may be able to help if you need a specially adapted item outside the range of standard aids and equipment on the market. Tel: 01732 883818
Awear (formerly the National Association of Clothing Workshops) brings together services around the country which may help with the clothing needs of disabled people. Tel: 0115 953 0439
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