Adapted version of an article published in the ALT-N at http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000557461.cfm
, April
2006
1.1 Equipment
Equipment was purchased with funding received from Human Resources, Student
Welfare and the Alumni Association (Martin et al., 2002). The Scheme also subsumed a
small quantity of equipment from the Disability Support Service. The Scheme stocks approximately 400 items of equipment covering a wide range of disabilities and health
impairments (Table I). Many items are restricted for borrowing by referral only and
access to the equipment is restricted for a number of reasons:
 High cost (1);
 Specialist use (2);

Possibility of exacerbating health problems if used incorrectly (3); or

Can only be borrowed if also borrowing a related item (4).
The numbers alongside the restriction information in Table I indicate which of these
four reasons for restriction apply.
Table I. Equipment stocked by the loans scheme in October 2005 showing codes assigned to each item for stock management, the number of each item stocked, and whether any restrictions are in place for the item.
Restrictions codes are 1 – Expensive; 2 – Specialist use; 3 – Could exacerbate health problems if used incorrectly; 4 – Can only be borrowed if also borrowing other specific items.
Quantity Restriction Type
Auxiliary equipment
Battery Charger
USB Cable
Dyslexia-specific
Pocket bookman dictionary & thesaurus
Coloured Overlay
Quicktionary Reading Pen
Pocket Thesaurus
7
10
2
17
1
2
No
No
No
No
No
No
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Adapted version of an article published in the ALT-N at http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000557461.cfm
, April
2006
Footrests
HAG Quickstep
Master Footrest
Hearing Loops
Conference Folder
1
5
No
No
1
40
2
1
Yes – 2
No
No
Yes – 2
LifeLine Pager
Portable Mini Loop
Hearing Loop Radio Aid
Keyboards
Big Keys LX
Ergonomic Keyboard
High visibility keyboard
Laptops
Ergo-Top laptop stand
USB Hub
Regular Keyboard
Regular mouse
Mice
USB touchpad mouse
Trackball mouse
Mouse Trapper
Easytrack mouse
Ergonomic vertical mouse
Whale mouse
Monitor & Desk Blocks
Adjustable monitor arm
Posture blocks for CRT monitors
Desk feet
Posture blocks for flat screens
Posture Supports
4" D Roll back support
4" Roll back support
5"D roll back support
Ergo Arm Rest with mouse pad
Back friend
Posture Curve back rest
Coccyx support
Slimline Wedge
Winged roll back support
1
11
2
12
9
8
8
3
13
3
8
3
4
12
6
3
5
3
3
3
7
11
3
2
4
3
Yes - 2
Yes – 2
Yes – 2
Yes - 2
Yes – 4
Yes – 4
Yes – 4
Yes – 2
No
Yes – 2
No
Yes - 2
No
No
No
No
No
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
2

Adapted version of an article published in the ALT-N at http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000557461.cfm
, April
2006
Recorders
Boundary Microphone
Digital Recorder
Headphones
Minidisc recorder
Compact Cassette recorder
RSI supports
Mouse rest
Wrist rest
Vision Equipment
CRT Monitor
Hands Free Magnifying glass
Illuminated magnifying glass
Large Magnifying glass
Necklace magnifying glass
Pocket magnifying glass
Strix Digital Magnifier
TFT Monitor
Writing Boards
A3 Acrylic adjustable board
Angle writing board
Bookchair
Copyholder
Dual purpose book holder
Freestander copyholder for heavy books
Landscape Copyholder
Mini writing slope
Portrait Copyholder
Reference holder for use with writing board
11
19
2
5
6
20
25
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
11
9
5
2
3
8
4
2
Yes – 1
Yes – 1
No
Yes – 1
Yes – 1
No
No
Yes – 1
No
No
No
No
No
Yes – 2
Yes – 1
Yes – 3
Yes – 3
No
No
Yes – 3
No
No
Yes – 3
No
Yes – 4
1.2 Becoming a borrower
Borrowers of the Scheme must register and agree to the terms and conditions of the
Scheme before they may borrow any equipment. Once a borrower is registered, referrers can add restricted equipment to the borrower record if necessary. These processes were transferred from paper-based to online forms in August 2005 and can be completed at any time prior to borrowing.
3

Adapted version of an article published in the ALT-N at http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000557461.cfm
, April
2006
1.3 Borrowing equipment
Equipment can be borrowed for a variety of durations, including a day, 4 weeks, term and academic year or vacation. This enables equipment to be used by borrowers for a period which best reflects their requirements.
Equipment can be renewed by borrowers but to manage resources, encourage staff to purchase equipment through their school or service and prevent equipment from being used unnecessarily we restricted the number of renewals to three: following this the borrower must seek professional advice.
The Scheme has the authority to charge fines and costs to a borrower’s account should equipment be returned late without reasonable excuse. This was agreed with the
Academic Registrar before launch and has not yet been required.
1.4 Management
I manage the Scheme in close liaison with staff from Disability Support, Occupational
Health and Reception. We report annually to a group of senior University managers including the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning.
Martin, S., Fortune, J., Hill, M., Galliford, S., Porter, T. and Strachan, J. (2002) 3rd
Annual Skills Conference: Skills Development in Higher Education: Forging Links.
Hertfordshire University. Available at: http://www.herts.ac.uk/envstrat/HILP/conferences/3rd/PAPERS/Martin.doc
.
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