The AT Alliance members
Assist UK leads a UK wide network of locally-situated Disabled Living Centres. Most centres include a permanent exhibition of products and equipment that provide people with opportunities to see and try products and equipment and get information and advice from professional staff about what might suit them best. There are over 325 advisors throughout the network who respond to an average ¼ million enquiries made each year. Disabled Living Centres also provide a valuable source of information relating to access, design and equipment for daily living. This can be especially useful to carers, older people and healthcare workers, students and manufacturers.
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) provides information, advice and training to support independent living and choice for those who need assistive technology. Its services include a database of equipment called DLF Data, a national Helpline, free factsheets, one of the largest equipment demonstration centres in the country and a number of online services, including a guided advice tool AskSARA and a free-to-use advice website on daily living equipment, Living made easy.
The Foundation for Assistive Technology (FAST) works with the AT community to support innovation in product development and good practice in service provision. Its aims are to:
- Ensure that development of assistive technology and service delivery is led by the needs and wishes of disabled and older people.
- Bring together the people who use assistive technology, researchers, developers, manufacturers and service providers to build effective partnerships.
- Co-ordinate information sharing and collaboration within the assistive technology community.
- Raise awareness about emerging technologies for disabled and older people.
- Gather and disseminate information about new technologies to users and professionals.
- Provide expert analysis and highlight the issues within the research and development of new assistive technology products and services.
- Get users actively involved in the design and provision of assistive technology solutions.
- Raise the profile of assistive technology service provision at a national level.
- Showcase the latest assistive technology on the market.
Ricability is a national independent consumer research charity that produces free, practical information for older and disabled people. It carries out a range of research, product testing and evaluation, mystery shopping, and information and helpline evaluation. Ricability produces consumer reports, engages people in consumer testing and engages in consultancy to support organisations to provide accessible information about AT for disabled and older people. The organisation also has websites for specific product information and reviews.