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Funding
A good place to start when considering your funding options is your local Assessment Service.
Details of how Assessment Services are organised in the UK can be found at the following link on the Communication Matters website, How Assessment Services are Organised in the UK.
Funding for AAC assessments and equipment has changed significantly in England following NHS England recognising a duty to provide assessments and equipment for those individuals with the most complex communication needs (estimated to be 10% of the AAC population). For more information please see read the Complex Disability Equipment – Communication Aids (Specialised AAC services) Service Specification D01/S/b. A ring-fenced annual budget of £15 million for the provision of specialised AAC services by the 14 NHS Commissioned AAC Hubs has been agreed until 31/03/17.
It has also been stated that local statutory services should continue to fund adequate local provision to meet the needs of those individuals with less complex needs (estimated to be 90% of the AAC population). For more information regarding local AAC commissioning please read the guideance provided by the ACE Centre. Local AAC Commissioning Guidance (March 2015)' ACE Centre.
Hub region | Service | |
---|---|---|
North West | ACE Centre (North) | |
North East | Regional Communication Aid Service | |
Yorkshire and Humber | Barnsley Assistive Technology Service | |
West Midlands | ACT (Access to Communication and Technology) | |
East Midlands | Electronic Assistive Technology Service (EATS) | |
Wessex & Thames Valley | ACE Centre (South) | |
East of England | East of England | |
South West | Bristol Communication Aid Service (BCAS) | |
South West | Dame Hannah Rogers Trust | |
London | Assistive Communication Service (ACS) | |
West London | Compass Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology Service | |
London, (NE and SE) | Guy's and St Thomas' Assistive Communication Service (GSTT ACS) | |
London | Wolfson Neuro-Disability Team - Communication Service | |
Sussex and Surrey | Chailey Heritage Clinical Services | |
Kent and Medway | Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology Service (KM CAT) - Adults | |
Kent and Medway | Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology Service (KM CAT) - Children & Young People |
In addition there are also some very good charities that may be able to assist you with funding AAC equipment.
The Sequal Trust
The Sequal Trust is a registered charity covering the whole of the UK. Our main objective is to provide relief to children and adults who are severely disabled and depend on electronic communication aids and adaptations to alleviate their problems. The Sequal Trust is membership based and open to people of all ages with speech, movement and learning difficulties.
The charity receives no public funding, and relies on donations, legacies, investment income and membership subscriptions for income.
Tel: 01691 624222 / www.thesequaltrust.org.uk
3 Ploughmans Corner, Wharf Road, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0EJ.
Find a Voice
Find A Voice supports children and adults who have a severe speech, language or communication difficulty, and who may require some form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) support. This can include signing, symbols or a communication aid. Support is provided in person, by telephone and via their website.
Tel: 01233 640443 / www.findavoice.org.uk
49 Beaver Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5NU
Aidis Trust
The Aidis Trust is a charity that provides free and impartial advice and support on technology to help disabled people across the UK. It is their aim to empower disabled people and those who support them, through knowledge of and support in using assistive technology, to help them communicate and increase their independence by using technology to help reduce isolation. Services are offered free of charge to those who are unable to receive statutory support in the area.
Tel: 0808 800 0009 / www.aidis.org
10 Ironmonger Lane, London, EC2V 8EY
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association
The Motor Neurone Disease Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning.
They are a membership organisation with nearly 8,000 members forming a powerful national and local network that provides information and support alongside fighting for improved services.
Tel: 01604 250505 / www.mndassociation.org/
PO Box 246, Northampton, NN1 2PR
Dreams Come True Charity
Dreams Come True are a national UK charity that works hard to make dreams come true for children and young people with serious and life-limiting conditions aged between 2 and 21 years old. Fulfilling a dream can help a child or young person to think beyond their illness or disability and focus on something highly positive and empowering. The experience can create amazing memories for entire families and our friendly and knowledgeable team are there to help every step of the way.
Tel: 01730 815000 / www.dctc.org.uk
Knockhundred House, Knockhundred Row, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9DQ
Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK
Make-A-Wish started in 1986 and were formed to grant magical wishes to seriously ill children in the UK. Their volunteers spend nearly every weekend out and about across the country. Regional offices are now taking on even more volunteers so that they can keep granting wishes.
Tel: 01276 24127 / www.make-a-wish.org.uk
329-331 London Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3HQ
Just4Children
Just4Children provides support for families to help their children with disabilities and sickness.
Just4Children is passionate about the relief of sickness and preservation of health of children in the UK and Ireland by providing and assisting in the provision of grants to enable them to obtain medical treatment, therapies, living environments, equipment and holidays which would not otherwise be available to them.
Tel: 01892 710155 / www.just4children.org
12 Sussex Mews, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QJ
Make Them Smile
Make Them Smile are a national children's charity, Providing help and support since 2012. They assist children and young adults in the UK that are below 18 years of age with a wide range of adverse medical conditions including Leukaemia, Cerebral Palsy, the Deaf and Blind, Terminal Illnesses, and all other life hindering conditions.
Tel: 0330 1330 870 / www.makethemsmile.org.uk