Provision of Equipment for Children and Young People With SEND

View all results in Provision of Equipment for Children and Young People With SEND

Specialist equipment is available for children and young people with a disability or additional needs, both with or without an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan. Equipment is essential for some children and young people to live their life within their community, home or education setting. It is important to note that not all equipment is funded by statutory sources (e.g. social care, education or health) and some items need to be privately purchased or gained through charitable funds.

An assessment will be undertaken by one or two of a number of professionals depending on the equipment being considered. This assessment will take place either at home, in an education setting or in a specialist clinic depending on the equipment required. There is also a possibility that a representative from the company where the equipment will be purchased from will be present during the assessment to support the process.

More details are available regarding who will do the assessment, under what circumstances your child would need that equipment and once you received it, where you can get it repaired if necessary, when you click further along on this page.

If my child needs help with communication

Some children with severe speech or language problems may need Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to help them communicate. Some may use it all of the time. Others may say some words but use AAC for longer sentences or with people they don’t know well. AAC can help in school, at work, and when talking with friends and family.

What is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a range of strategies and tools to help people who struggle with speech. These may be simple letter or picture boards or battery operated or computer-based systems. AAC helps someone to communicate as effectively as possible, in as many situations as possible.

Different types of AAC

No-tech communication needs no extra equipment - it is sometimes called 'unaided communication' Examples include body language, gestures, pointing, eye pointing, facial expressins, vocalisations and signing.

Low-tech communication systems do not need power to function. They are sometimes called “aided communication” because they use basic equipment. Examples include: pen and paper to write or draw; alphabet and word boards; communication charts or books with pictures, photos and symbols; particular objects that represent what someone needs to understand or say.

High-tech communication systems use batteries or mains power. Most gadgets or software speak and/or produce text. Some are based on familiar equipment such as mobile devices, tablets and laptops and may have simple buttons or pages that speak when touched. Very sophisticated systems use equipment specially designed to support communication. Hi-tech communication is also sometimes called “aided communication” because it uses equipment.

What High technology equipment is available to help?

If my child need help with bathing and showering

If my child needs help with independent living skills and travelling

If my child has difficulty being moved

If my child needs medical equipment

If my child needs support for weakened muscles

Orthotics is a service that provides devices called orthoses (also called braces and splints). These are given to help to prevent, correct or accommodate a deformity and/or improve function. This can be as a result of an injury, disorder or due to the way our bodies alter as we get older.

Orthoses fall into one of the following groups: