Proposal to Establish an EU based group to develop Electronic Assistive
Technology within the member states to support vulnerable groups and their
carers.
(This discussion document is submitted on behalf of EASPD and Hft. A brief
description of the organisations is given in the appendix)
Summary
In response to the economic and demographic pressures there is an opportunity for
the European Union to lead the world in establishing an approach to the use of
Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT) that significantly enhances the quality of life of
vulnerable individuals, and their carers, while reducing the dependence on paid or
family carers. There are many silos in the way but it is time to start thinking outside
the box!!!
Introduction
In 2009 the European Association of Service Providers to People with a Disability
(EASPD) established a Special Interest Group (SIG) in Electronic Assistive
Technology.
The definition of EAT includes telecare, telehealth, environmental controls,
communication and prompting devices and embraces high and low tech devices.
The definition is not restrictive especially at a time of increasing awareness and
development within the context of the digital agenda.
The establishment of the EAT SIG was in response to:

The increasing evidence of impact on quality of life and efficient use of
resources in the personalised use of electronic assistive technology
(highlighted by the success of TATE (Through assistive Technology to
Employment) a second round ‘ESF Funded ‘Equal Project’).
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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
The lack of awareness, information, skills and training in service providers in
the use and provision of EAT.

The confusion in the service chain delivery. The emphasis in the provision of
EAT reflects a medical model of care and focuses on the disability or the
specific vulnerable group. TATE highlighted that using specific technological
solutions to address issues, identified by a more personalised approach or
assessment (such as safety in the bathroom, or anxiety of being left alone etc)
can achieve significant more success than traditional models of, for instance,
telecare. TATE proposed an ethical context that has been further developed
within the UK and is forming part on the initiative within ‘ImPaCT in Europe’,
part of which is looking at how an ethical context is required to underpin a
personalised approach to the use of EAT.
Progress
EASPD EAT SIG receives no structural funding and since 2009 its activities has
been, to a great extent, subsumed by ‘ImPaCT in Europe’ a Leonardo project.
Although there are clear strides being made, particularly by the E-Inclusion
Department and the impact of the Digital Agenda, there is more scope to further
develop an EU, and nationally based, strategies to respond to the possibilities of
using EAT in a personalised way.
Drivers

It is accepted that the provision of support for people identified as part of a
vulnerable group is mainly provided by people, either paid carers, or families.
The appropriate and personalised use EAT can increase the independence of
both the individuals and their carers. It can reduce the need for people to be
dependant on others whilst increasing their independence. This can both
reduce cost and increase health, wellbeing and opportunities for employment.

The economic climate coupled with the growing demographic pressures is
focusing the mind as to how the needs of the vulnerable groups and their
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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carers are going to be addressed in the coming years especially if the
principles of personalisation and rights of individuals are to be maintained.

The UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities puts human rights at
the heart of its desire to see people with disabilities included as part of main
street society. There are many references to the need to increase the
opportunity for people to benefit from assistive technology.

The Digital Agenda places digital competence and skills at the heart of
helping the member states out of the recession. Part of this agenda must be
to ensure that members of vulnerable groups and their carers also benefit
both for them as individuals and to raise their contribution to society.
Barriers to the Market Place

As well as a confused and essentially a medical model of service delivery the
provision and development of EAT is led by manufacturers. The purchasers of
specialist EAT devices are providers of services and not the individual
themselves. This restricts the influence of current and potential users on the
use and development of EAT.

Allowing that the majority of people with disabilities do not live in supported
services access to EAT is consequently limited.

There are many ‘silos’ that inhibit access and development to EAT:
o Lack of policy initiatives
o Health vs. Social sector
o Disability labels and separate structure solutions (rather than an issue
led approach).
o Confused and inadequate funding streams
o Lack of Training or lack of funding for training
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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o Lack of scientific evidence
The Challenge
1. How can the EU ensure that EAT is made available to the majority of its
population in the most appropriate way to ensure maximum benefit to their
quality of life whilst significantly addressing dwindling resources?
2. How can the EU change to focus of the use of EAT from a service delivery
chain based on the medical model of care to a more consumer led market and
consumer responsive market?
Proposal
The EU and EASPD explore how the current EAT SIG could be developed to
support a broader initiative to see how the above challenge can be met. There are
three distinct markets that need to be addressed:
1. The formal service delivery via providers
2. The increasing individual budget market
3. People outside any formal support structure.
It is unclear as to what legal entity would be most appropriate to support such a
development. It is proposed an initial start up fund be sought with a business plan for
the ‘entity’ to become self sufficient in a three year period. The ‘entity’ would be
expected to work in partnership with user groups, carer groups, the statutory sector
and manufacturers.
Financial self sufficiency could be developed from



Evidence based research
Specific Projects (around use and impact of different technologies or
technology platforms)
Pilots of new technologies
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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




Influence design
Getting products to market (scaling up)
Development of an ethical framework
Membership of other organisations
Developing awareness, training (on line and blended) and consultancy (free at
source to individuals but commissioned by purchasers or providers).
The above proposal in consistent with policy initiatives suggested at both an einclusion led stakeholder day and a Digital Agenda stakeholder day both in October
2010. Both policy suggestions that are based on providing a proactive group to take
the use of EAT forward are clearly early initiatives in bringing the EU2020 policy to
life.
Appendix – Description of Organisations
EASPD
EASPD is the EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES and promotes the equalization of opportunities for
people with disabilities through effective and high quality service systems in Europe.
Today, EASPD represents over 8000 service provider organizations across Europe
and across disability. We believe in interdependence and partnership of user
organizations, service providers and authorities at all levels to tackle the challenges
ahead. EASPD plays a key role on a European level as a representative of disability
NGOs and non-profit organisations in working for an inclusive Europe. EASPD wants
to significantly influence European disability & socio-economic policy by having a
permanent presence in Brussels and by working with other European and
international networks.
Hft
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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Hft is a national charity providing local support for people with learning disabilities
and their families. Our creative and resourceful approach supports individuals to
make choices about the life they want. People with learning disabilities and their
families talk to us about all types of support. Working together we find the best
individual solutions. Our flexible approach means we can offer the right support from
as little as two hours a week to twenty four hours a day. We work with over 1,000
people with learning disabilities across the UK and 4,000 family carers through our
Family Carer Support Service.Hft has gained a reputation within the UK and
increasingly across the rest of Europe as leaders in the use of personalized
technology
Steve Barnard, Chair of EASPD EAT SIG
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