Consumer Reports

chairAids and equipment

What's available?
Getting equipment
Social services
Health services
Buying privately
Second hand
Specialist equipment for adults and children
Re-using and recycling
Maintenance contracts and extended guarantees


 


There is more equipment around to help disabled people than you might expect - several thousand separate items. Don't be daunted - there's a lot of good information around about them.

What's available?

Get an assessment
An expert who knows what exists and who it might be suitable for will talk to you about what might help. If you get equipment through the social or health services you will probably get an assessment automatically. Or you can pay for a private one. For more information go to assessments.

Read about them

  • Catalogues from manufactures and suppliers are well illustrated and free - see Catalogues below.

  • Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has comprehensive, independent and free information on paper, by telephone and online at www.dlf.org.uk

  • Disability Now and other publications have articles and ads.  Specialist publications have articles about equipment and ads for them. Some have ads for secondhand equipment too. Most large disability organisations and some local ones have newsletters or magazines.  Contact them direct to find out what information they provide. To find contact details of national disability organisations see More information, go to the DLF, your nearest DIAL or online to Directgov and follow links from contacts www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople

  • The internet. Many manufacturers have online catalogues. It would be impossible to list all of them here, but a search with Google or other search engine will bring up lists. Try searching for assistive technology catalogues, mobility aids and disability aids. 

  • Ableize is a website run by disabled people for disabled people. It has information on a wide range of subjects including equipment www.ableize.com

  • Youreable.com is a large website which includes information about equipment and provides an online shop www.youreable.com

 

See products at your local DLC
Visit a Disability Living Centre or DLC (called Independent Living Centres in some places).
They give unbiased advice about equipment and living independently. They are friendly and expert.
They have a wide range of equipment on show and experienced staff on hand to give information and advice. When you go you can try out equipment to help you with everyday tasks, including:

  • cooking, cleaning and other household tasks
  • eating and drinking
  • bathing, showering, using the toilet and personal care
  • seats, beds and dressing
  • mobility and moving around
  • hobbies and interests including gardening
  • alarms that call for help automatically in an emergency
  • controls that allow you to do simple things without getting up from your chair such as answer the door, draw the curtains, switch on lights, the radio or TV.

Some centres also sell equipment. They are independent of any commercial or other interest so you can rely on the information they give and they will not put you under any pressure to buy. They will tell you about any local or national services that you might find useful.

To find your nearest DLC contact Assist UK, the national co-ordinating body.

  • Go to an exhibition of equipment. There are about four a year up and down the country. The DLF has details. The main one is NAIDEX.
  • Go to a specialist shop. These suppliers have a range of products on display. There are specialist shops in most areas. They range from small individual firms to national chains. They sell a range of equipment for disabled or older people. They are listed under disability equipment, medical supplies and mobility equipment in classified phone books. Or ask a local DIAL or Disabled Living Centre for addresses.

BHTA members. The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is the trade association for the healthcare industry. It has a national membership of manufacturers and suppliers of the range of assistive technology products.  Members sign up to a Code of Practice that sets out standards that must be met it basically means that its members trade ethically and professionally.
For a list of BHTA suppliers go to their website www.bhta.net - they do not have a telephone information service for non-members.

Accredited retailers. Many local authorities now give prescriptions for equipment rather than provide it directly. You can exchange the prescription at any local accredited shop. Even if you are buying privately it may be worth seeking out an accredited shop as they have all signed up to provide a certain standard of service.  For example they may:

  • have a training programme for staff
  • give impartial advice
  • allow you to try out the equipment in the shop
  • help with installation if necessary
  • deliver if necessary
  • have parking nearby

Get in touch with your local authority to see if they use prescriptions and can give you a list of accredited retailers.

Talk to other people
Talk to other people in similar situations to find out what they have done - there's no substitute for this. You can ask questions and compare notes. To find them, try:

  •  Social Services. In some areas they arrange for people who have been provided with equipment to get together. These meetings should be worth going to.
  •  a Disability Living Centre. They may arrange for information sessions, or know of any that go on in the area.
  •  a disability organisation, who should be able to put you in touch with people in a similar situation. Whatever your impairment, there is likely to be an organisation to represent you. Some of their staff are likely to have personal experience of using equipment or may be able to put you in touch with members who have. Find out more about how to track them down. See specific information for children and adults.
  • Ricability's product review website www.product-reviews.org.uk
  •  visit an internet forum. Good starting points are:
    The UK Disability Forum
    www.ableize.com/forum/index.php
  • The Age Concern Forum
    www.ageconcern.org.uk/discuss/

 

Catalogues
Many firms sell a wide range of equipment through catalogues. All these catalogues are free and well illustrated. Just looking at the photos might give you a good idea of what might be helpful, as well as providing an easy way to buying by mail order. Some catalogues are listed below.

Getting equipment

You can get equipment through

  •  social services
  •  health authorities (who often work with social services)
  •  by buying privately

Social Services

Local councils are required by law to provide certain services to disabled people.  These include:

  • practical help at home
  • aids and equipment
  • adaptations at home
  • providing meals
  • help in getting a telephone or any equipment necessary to make it possible to use one
  • help you need to use educational or recreational facilities, including help with transport

You have a right to services if you have a substantial and permanent disability, are blind or partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing, mentally ill, or have a mental disability. You do not need to be registered as disabled to get them. But the council does have to accept that you really need them.

Assessments

The first step is to get an assessment.
Someone will come and talk to you about the things you do and any difficulties you have.  To set the ball rolling get in touch with social services.  Look under social services (Social Work in Scotland,  Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland) under the name of your council in the phone book, or contact a Citizens Advice Bureau or DIAL.

What will be provided, and how it will be arranged, varies from area to area. You may be asked to contribute towards costs (in which case the Council will ask for details of your financial circumstances).  Read our section: assessments to find tips on how to get the best from your assessment.


Health services

Equipment is provided by hospitals and through community health services, through the health workers who visit you at home. 

If you are being treated in hospital and need equipment they should arrange for an assessment automatically. If the assessment shows you need equipment the NHS should provide it free. Health and social services often work together to provide equipment so that there is no gap between what the hospital provides and what can be provided by social services.

As well as equipment to make everyday life easier, hospitals and health staff who visit you at home can provide specialised health equipment. These include such things as bedpans, pressure relief mattresses, commodes, continence products and nursing equipment. All equipment provided by the health services is free. The NHS will also pay for servicing and repairs providing any faults are not due to misuse or neglect. Health service staff who advise on equipment include:

    • Physiotherapists advise on mobility aids, such as walking frames and wheelchairs
    • District nurses advise on the kind of equipment needed for nursing someone at home.
    • Continence advisers advise on problems relating to incontinence and gives
      information on a range of aids.
    • Tissue viability nurses advise on pressure sores and how to avoid them.
    • Occupational therapists advise on equipment needed to carry out everyday
      tasks.

Specialised equipment that is provided directly through the health services include wheelchairs, environmental controls (devices that allow you, for example, answer the door, draw curtains, control lights without getting up).

Buying privately

There is nothing to stop you going out and buying equipment like any other product. However to be able to choose wisely you need to be armed with information.  See Finding out what's available at the beginning of this section for tips on how to do this and for information on how to find a local shop that sells equipment. 

VAT
You do not pay VAT for products designed and made specifically for disabled people.  This shouldn't be a problem as specialist shops wont charge you. More details are in VAT Notice 701/7 VAT relief for people with disabilities from:

Second hand

Disability equipment is advertised second hand in mainstream publications such as Exchange and Mart. Also check newsletters produced by disability organisations, such as the ones found in More information, and the publications and websites listed below. The Disabled Living Foundation has a list of sources of second hand equipment.

  • Access-ability
    Wide ranging and general information applicable to all disabilities.  It has classified ads for equipment.
    www.access-ability.info

  • Ask Des
    The Disability Equipment Service lists second hand disability equipment being sold by individuals in south east England.
    www.askdes.org.uk

  • DisabledGear.com
    DisabledGear.com is a website with free classified advertisements for second hand equipment. Entries give information about the equipment on offer, and have a webform to allow you to contact the seller. Placing an advertisement is simple, once you have registered on the site.
    www.DisabledGear.com

  • Disability Equipment Register
    The Disability Equipment Register (DER) is an internet-only based service of specialist equipment which is either for sale or wanted by a disabled person or members of a disabled person's family. Products are online with contact numbers for direct one-to-one buying and selling. Each list contains advertisements for equipment available or wanted and a contact telephone number.
    4 Chatterton Road
    Bristol BS37 4BJ
    Tel: 01454 318818
    disabreg@blueyonder.co.uk
    www.disabilityequipment.org.uk

  • Disability Now
    A monthly magazine available in print and online. It's classified ads are updated every day on their website.
    www.disabilitynow.org.uk

  • eBay is the best known online marketplace, with huge numbers of items for sale. Go to www.ebay.co.uk and search from there.

  • The Mobility Market
    mainly lists mobility aids but has ads for other disability equipment too.
    www.themobilitymarket.co.uk

  • Legal rights
    If you buy disability equipment, you have the same consumer rights as you do when you buy any other product.  See Consumer rights for details.

Specialist equipment for adults and children

  • Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has comprehensive information about equipment and where to get them. They have publications, a telephone information service, a products website and an online self assessment tool (SARA)
    380-384 Harrow Road
    London W9 2HU
    Local rate Helpline: 0845 130 9177
    (10am to 4pm)
    Fax: 020 7266 2922
    Textphone: 020 7432 8009
    advice@dlf.org.uk
    www.dlf.org.uk
    www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk
    www.asksara.org.uk


  • MERU is a charity that aims to improve life for children and young people with disabilities, by designing and custom-making specialist equipment. They only help kids in London and the South East and when no ready made solution exists already on the market.
    Unit 2, Eclipse Estate
    30 West Hill
    Epsom
    Surrey KT19 8JD
    Tel: 01372 725203 
    Fax: 01372 743159
    info@meru.org.uk
    www.meru.org.uk

  • Foundation for Assistive Technology (FAST) has information on product research and development and new products and services in assistive technology.
    12 City Forum
    250 City Road
    London EC1V 8AF
    Tel: 020 7253 3303
    Fax: 020 7253 3304
    info@fastuk.org
    www.fastuk.org

  • Remap has a nationwide network of volunteers who design and make individual items of equipment for disabled people.  They have 85 panels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  If you have a problem and no equipment exists to help you solve it, contact your local panel.  To find it get in touch with:
    REMAP England, Wales & N.Ireland
    D9 Chaucer Business Park
    Kemsing
    Kent TN15 6YU
    Tel: 0845 130 0456
    Fax: 0845 130 0789
    www.remap.org.uk

    REMAP Scotland
    Contact: David Reid
    Forgue House
    Forgue
    Huntly AB54 6DA
    Tel: 01466 730736
    Fax:01466 730705
    Mobile:07736 796637
    Email: davidreid@forgue.freeserve.co.uk
    www.remap-scotland.org

 

Re-using and Recycling Equipment


Reusing


You may want to pass on equipment to someone else. However, it may need

  • servicing or repair if it does, arrange it with the supplier or manufacture
  • cleaning
  • cleaning and disinfection. Equipment that that may have come into contact with blood or other body fluids need disinfecting.

Check with your local health or social services if there is a cleaning and reconditioning services in your area.

If not it may be worth trying local charities such as Age Concern or a disability organisation to see if they have any ideas or can help.
If you have a large piece of equipment such as a stairlift contact the manufacturer.

Recycling

If the equipment cannot be used by anyone else, it may be possible to recycle its materials. Contact your local council to find out about the local recycling facilities.

Maintenance contracts and extended guarantees

Retailers or manufacturers will often offer you a maintenance contract or extended guarantee.  You need to think carefully about these.  Much depends on how much of a risk taker you are. 

Some points to consider:
 

  • think about how likely the product is to go wrong. Most electronic products are pretty reliable these days.  If the risk of breakdown is small you will probably spend less if you pay for repairs as they happen 
  • you may think peace of mind and having no unexpected expenses are worth paying extra for

  • to make comparison ask the supplier what they charge for repairs outside the contract and if the agreement includes free regular service visits

  • also ask if you would get a priority or faster service this might be worth having. A maintenance contract or extended guarantee may be a better proposition for equipment on which you are dependant and which would seriously disrupt your life if it was out of action for a long period. 

 

 
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