[senit] Equipment loan bank

CENMAC too has an extensive loan bank that is part of our assessment and

YES, very relevant.  We don't have the AAC devices but many many trackerballs, joysticks, keyboards and NEOs.  More and more we are supplying the portable computers to pupils.  However, our saviour is Microsoft Access to generate reports, forms, link pupil to euqipment, list schools equipment etc etc.  WE have  it so that one two peole can make alterations to the D/B.  (after I deleted most of it when I was first working for CENMAC).

The biggest problem we have is the manuals nad leads not being returned with devices.  We bill the school for everything now, this is a more recent policy but now they look after all items in their care.  The indemnuty forms generated by Access lists the accessories.  Now we give a link to the manufacturers webiste especially for the manuals for the Neo.  WE used to be generous but now there are forms for everything.  We have a return form so the school has a copy as well and this lists missing items.  Every now and then we rebel and try to stream line the system.
ON the software issue, we ask school to purchase this.  We don't have any tablet computers and have mainly used Ergo computers for the last few years.  Each teacher has a laptop and the peripherals for their own assessment kit.  We will often leave a piece of assessment kit with the pupil then we replenish our kit.  It is worth doing this as you have probably shown them how to use it at the assessment so it is fresh in their minds and often keen to get started.  We put the crib sheets on the website and tell them to download them.  Over my years, I am trying to do less to try to get the adults working with the pupils more proactive rather than doing it for them.  

As you can see, I can go on for ages.  I do believe in loan libraries of equipment and after 40 odd years we do have it pretty well sorted.
Trish

-----Original Message-----
From: sally millar <sally.millar at ed.ac.uk>
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Sent: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11.15am
Subject: Re: [senit] Equipment loan bank

Interesting - Loan Bank operation is a little-discussed issue. Our biggest 
roblem is losing things  - often because we can't control our own generous 
ending habits and poor admin/paperwork (and we  have enough staff resources to 
ounteract this), rather than schools or clients behaving badly.....    We had a 
eally interesting and useful day meeting with the ACE Centre North a couple of 
ears ago to discuss and compare all the details  - loan forms, record keeping 
ystems, database, procedures etc.
In CALL we have a large equipment loan bank. For educational material we find 
hat there are high frequency items that we need many duplicates of, as they are 
lways out on loan eg access devices like different roller balls, joysticks, big 
eyboards, switch interface boxes, switches etc.   The communication /AAC 
quivalents of these are Partner 2 & 4, GoTalks, Techtalks etc. (or 
quivalents).
If we're lending software for trial we would often lend it IN a loan laptop, to 
et around copyright/licencing  issues
e often recommend schools buy/use software such as Clicker or the Grid on a 
chool computer for early skills acquisition (eg of scanning)  before 
ecommending an AAC device but have increasing problems with computer networks 
n schools 'locking out' our users (illegally) so they may have to go straight 
o a laptop or personal device inadvisably early.
We usually use a laptop or tablet with different AAC software for basic AAC 
ssessment.

owever we DO also carry a selection of expensive AAC devices (not all) that we 
se for assessment and extended pre-purchase trial. We loan these out but not on 
n 'open request' basis like the joysticks. We generally only loan them to CALL 
ssessment clients and  accompanied by specialist training (from supplier or 
rom ourselves) and ongoing support. (We MAY occasionally loan them to 
herapists or other AAC services that we know well and who have already had the 
pecialist training).  We have found that we ALSO have to carry and loan out 
ull mounting systems as a child often cannot really have a proper trial of a 
evice without this. (We may sell these on to the client afterwards, when they 
uy their device, if they are customised.) 
Inevitably, some of the AAC devices in the Loan Bank  turn out to be more 
popular' than others and you have to learn to 'second guess' which ones are 
ifferent /worth buying and which are just gimmicky 'me-too' type clones by 
ifferent suppliers (eg the many digitised devices). There tends to be a 'skew' 
owards the devices that the assessment service knows well/trusts/ and likes and 
o new devices can sometimes take a while to get out into use.  We've also 
earned by bitter experience also never to buy a new system or programme when 
t's first released (as some suppliers tend to use their first customers as beta 
esters for their unfinished/undertested systems!).  If you ask, some suppliers 
ill give discounts or provide extra devices or licences for assessment and 
raining purposes, but usually only if you're spending a lot with them anyway. 
t's annoying when you've bought an expensive system for assessment and loan 
and spent time writing crib sheets and support materials etc. ) then the 
upplier brings out a new model.  I personally think that a generous upgrade 
eal should be offered to assessment/loan centres in those conditions as it it's 
n the suppliers' interests for a Centre to be  letting people see and try the 
atest model.
The way we justify expensive AAC items to our Funders is based on the notional 
value' of the loan. If a switch costing £30 goes out 20 times a year it's saved 
cottish education £600. But if an AAC device costing £5,500 goes out twice only 
n the year, it's saved Scottish Education £11,000. ( loosely speaking!)
e also have a remit anyway to have at least some examples of the 'latest' 
ystems available for demonstration and assessment (to keep Scottish education 
ommunity up to date).   Also we have a remit to evaluate systems (for the 
enefit of Scottish education) - which you can't really do if you don't have and 
se them.
The bugbear of AAC Loan Bank operation (especially if you are trying to run a 
raining service alongside loans) is above all the software suppliers that have 
omplicated licence code systems that don't allow transfer from machine to 
achine or that need internet access and downloading facilities. I fully 
ppreciate the need for honesty and respect of licencing conditions,  but some 
uppliers seem to be geared exclusively to one-off purchases by individuals and 
ave no appreciation of how complicated it can get 'out there' working in many 
ifferent schools and authorities (often at a distance)  with an ever-shifting 
et of kit,  dodgy networks, lack of broadband etc., and how flexible services 
ave to be in putting together packages for assessment, training and trials and 
oans.  On the other hand, some suppliers are extremely helpful and generous 
ith technical and training support.
s any of this relevant, Trish?
ally
********

Good point Paul.? I am interested to know how other assessment centres do this.

Trish

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Hawes (Sensory Software) <paul at sensorysoftware.com>
To: senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Sent: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 6.07pm
Subject: Re: [senit] Equipment loan bank

Interest declared

Trish, as all high end AAC devices are now PCs, it has become much easier to
maintain a
comprehensive loan/assessment kit at minimal cost.

A couple of general purpose tablet PCs and a selection of your favourite AAC
software could
set a centre up to assess almost anyone.  Precise selection of rugged equipment
can be
made later - at the time of purchasing for an individual.

Paul

On 11 Sep 2007 at 10:39, cenmac4 at aol.com wrote:

To:                 senit at lists.becta.org.uk
Date sent:          Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:39:56 -0400
From:               cenmac4 at aol.com
Subject:            [senit] Equipment loan bank
Send reply to:      senit at lists.becta.org.uk
    <mailto:senit-request at lists.becta.org.uk?subject=unsubscribe>
    <mailto:senit-request at lists.becta.org.uk?subject=subscribe>

> CENMAC too has an extensive loan bank that is part of our assessment and
review service to subscribing LEAs in the London area. We loan for as long as
the pupil requires the equipment or until an upgrade is needed.? When equipment
is returned from a pupil, it is cleared, cleaned and made ready to go out
again.? Many pieces of equipment have been used for many years.? However, there
is a high write off every year as equipment breaks, is no longer viable or just
too old fashioned.? Some things are requested again and again.? These are
usually low tech devices that have proven to be excellent in the build up of
switch skills and symbol recognition.
> Portable computers do have a very short life expectancy but with falling
prices are now used in more cases where specialist software or access devices
are required.?
>
> However, we do not provide the loan of high tech communication aids for 
upils
(although we would like to) purely due to finanical contraints of the budget 
nd
will pass pupils/schools on to the appropriate services.? CENMAC can provide
'start out' machines to start?building up the communication?skills.? In
mainstream schools, this works well as you can gently break the staff in to the
world of communication and AAC.?
>
> A loan bank does work but the CENMAC loan bank has been going for many years.
>
> I am happy to talk to anyone off list if they want to contact me about how we
manage this amount of equipment.? We presently have 3,400 items and work in
approx. 240 schools.
> I could go on and on about Access but perhaps that is enough information for
now.
>
> Trish
> CENMAC
> ________________________________________________________________________
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- 
Sally Millar FRCSLT, M.Ed,
enior Research Fellow / Joint Coordinator
ALL Centre                    
niversity of Edinburgh           Direct Line +44 131 651 6077        
aterson's Land     Office +44 131 651 6236
olyrood Road                   Fax +44 131 651 6234
dinburgh EH8 8AQ                        
cotland, UK

eb: http://www.callcentrescotland.org.uk/

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