News

First Assistive Technology Training Conference

Aspire’s Assistive Technology programme operates in 10 Spinal Injury Centres in the UK and Ireland, giving all patients, regardless of the level of their injury, the opportunity to independently use a computer. The service makes a huge difference to the lives of many patients, giving them vital contact with the outside world during their time in hospital.

Whilst the Service does a fantastic job, there’s always room to learn more. So last week Aspire hosted a training conference showcasing the latest versions of a range of technologies and giving the Occupational Therapists and volunteer tutors who attended the opportunity to look in detail at some of the intricacies of tools they already use.  The conference also gave the delegates a chance to compare notes, sharing useful ways of working and techniques for overcoming problems. The conference marked the first time charity volunteers and NHS staff from Spinal Centres joined together for training in this important aspect of rehabilitation.

Debs Howells, an Occupational Therapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, found the conference very useful: "There are so many products out there and that makes it difficult to keep up with everything. So this training conference is a great opportunity to get expert information and that can only be good for the patients. Ultimately, what we learn here is going to lead to them having more independence."