Use of AT in sheltered homes for persons with cognitive disabilities in Hungary -- conclusions of a survey

Issue title: Bringing AT Professionals Together

Guest editors: Jane Seale and Alan Turner-Smith

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Laki, Tamás^{; *}

Affiliations: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Building Energetics and Building Services, Budapest, Hungary

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: RAMPA (Rehabilitation and Accessibility Projects Foundation) H-6500 Baja, Petőfi S. u. 73., Hungary. Tel./Fax: +36 79 32 64 85; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected].

Abstract: In the frame of the Nest Project 30 sheltered homes were constructed around Hungary in the last 5 years. Now the stress is laid on providing professional support. Within the frame of this subsidy, assistive devices are going to be introduced to promote the improvement of the quality of life and the level of independence. As a first step a survey has been carried out looking at the present conditions at 19 different services provided for persons with mental retardation. Forming ten groups of devices, in 28% equipment was found to be less satisfactory than expected. Therefore, the records are carefully analysed trying to identify the determining factors, such as the type of service, and the service provider. Considering the experiences and the results, lack of knowledge and information was found to be the most impedient factor in improvement of the use of assistive devices.

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2002-14403

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 157-161, 2002