Game Access by LEPMIS

Services

At LEPMIS, we offer clinical assessments of technology access requirements in your home environment.

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We work to the philosophy that all members of society should be able to benefit by having some access to the advantages that simple technology can bring them.

We believe a broader view must be taken towards the intellectually capable person. There must be greater integration of the currently disparate services of education, social services, wheelchair services and electronic mobility/assistive technology services.

 

With this in mind, we are pleased to offer the following services:

  • An intuitive and empathic assessment approach for vulnerable clients at a location to suit them
  • A full technical report detailing my findings and recommendation for components and switches etc
  • Configuration and supply of the recommended control system, including fitting to the client’s wheelchair
  • Tuning of the drive parameters for the control system to achieve optimum performance with maximum safety
  • Development of bespoke equipment where commercial equipment is unavailable or unsuitable
  • Support to rehab engineers, therapists, teachers, family and other co-workers associated with the client.

 

It is not morally, socially or legally acceptable to discriminate on the type of person who can be provided with certain technology, and we must not forget that our clients are in fact people and not just statistics. What benefit is a powered chair if, for example, the client wishes to go to school or college in it, but cannot access their education effectively and with independence due to the lack of appropriate access technology?

 

Our special systems can be broadly categorised into five sub-divisions.

  • Off axis mounted remote joysticks- These are useful where the client has some limb function but good hand and foot control.
  • Simple multiple switches- These may be useful where the client has good arm control but has little control of the hands.
  • Custom/multiple switches to clients individual requirements- Useful for clients with poor hand/arm control.
  • Scanning type wheelchair controllers and switch systems- For clients with little or no control of the limbs.
  • Extremely limited mobility systems- This is used for young people with severe learning difficulties and/or physical disability. The system may only provide one or two directions and have switch filtering on the inputs.

 

In order for our work to be more personal, we will always make the following observations during each assessment we make:

  • Posture- For effective powered mobility, the client should be in the most relaxed position possible. This is sometimes contrary to the requirements of some of the Physio’s and OT’s who may be looking for a more upright and functional position, but there is always a way that a compromise can be reached, or provision made for both types of posture within the seating.
  • Optimum joystick position- Often, we find that the best position for a remote joystick is with the palm just above the knee, but unfortunately, this is not always possible to achieve. Whichever position is chosen, we will confirm that the client has sufficient strength to operate the joystick fully in all directions. If a client has a particular bias to one direction, it can sometimes be useful to angle the joystick housing so that the client’s easiest movement is in line with forwards on the joystick.
  • Programming- The programming of the control box can make a vast difference to the success of the assessment and the ultimate level of control achieved by the user, particularly for when the client is using switches to control the chair.

For a client who is very new to switch controlled mobility it is sometimes helpful to have the speed set very low, but the acceleration turned up full. This generates immediate feedback that something has happened as a result of pressing the switch, even if they are startled by it in the first instance. They usually become used to it quite quickly. Once the client has become a little more proficient, the speed can be increased and the acceleration decreased to more appropriate levels. With some simple engineering, it is possible to provide solutions for clients who use multiple switches so they can effortlessly and easily transfer those switches from one function to another without having to resort to the expense and complexity of standard solutions offered by some commercial manufacturers.

We are more than happy to come out and assess a person and their needs. Assessments take 1-2 hours at £30 an hour (including travel time), and include a detailed report. For more information or to make a booking, please contact Geoff on 07714958061 or email geoff@lepmis.co.uk.

It is no longer acceptable to continue to complain about the lack of resources available within the NHS. We must make the resource available to address these issues, otherwise there will be a sub section of our society, the most vulnerable, the most incapable of self-help, those with the greatest need for social inclusion, who will be abandoned by society. With a little help, they can become confident, independent members of society who can communicate with anyone they wish, just as we do, who can use the resources and services provided by the Internet, and can have access to employment opportunities, whatever level of physical disability they may have.