Sources of central government funding for assistive technology (AT) in the UK depend on different circumstances and criteria, but are generally grouped into three categories: at work, in education and at home.

At work

When a UK employer employs a disabled person, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the employer is responsible for making any "reasonable adjustments", in order to avoid the disabled employee being put at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled colleagues.

The costs of AT are generally covered under this legislation. However, how the AT is funded differs from employer to employer. Some may choose to fund the AT themselves and others may seek funding from the government's Access to Work scheme via JobCentre Plus.

More details on the Access to Work scheme can be found on the UK Government website. 

In education

Government funding for AT in education operates differently in schools, further education institutions and higher education institutions.

Schools

Funding options vary dependent on the type of school, local education authority (LEA) and the child’s special educational needs (SEN) status. The first points of contact should be the school's special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) or the LEA.

More details about provisions for children with special educational needs in schools can be found on the UK Government website. 

Further education

Institutions in England and Wales receive government funding for costs of providing additional support to disabled students. These funds may be used to provide AT for disabled students. The first point of contact should be the further education institution's additional learning support adviser.

Higher education

Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) are available to all eligible undergraduate students and some postgraduate students in England and Wales.
DSA helps to meet the additional education costs directly resulting from a disability, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), with the aim of helping disabled students study on an equal basis with other students. DSA funding is available from LEAs.

More details on the Disabled Students Allowances can be found on the UK Government website.

At home

From January 2011, the UK Government's Home Access Scheme, which was the only source of public funding for AT for disabled people in their personal lives, has reached its quota and has now closed.

Grants for buying technology

There are many grant giving bodies around the UK. Some have funds allocated to help people with sensory impairments. Most organisations will only provide grants when all possible statutory sources of funding have been declined and may also be dependent on the recipient being on a low income.
Below are some potential sources of grants for those with sensory impairments.

The National Deaf Children's Society

The Freddy Bloom Children’s Equipment Fund offers grants to families on a low income (less than £23,000) who need to buy equipment for their deaf child that cannot be provided by any other means. They will not provide grants for equipment that is available via any other statutory funding. The grants are available for children between 4 and 16 and 16-18 year olds who are in full time education. A successful application will require a letter from a supporting professional and is limited to one grant per family.
Yvonne Tysoe, NDCS, 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR
Tel: 0808 800 8880
Email: www.ndcs.org.uk

SEQUAL - Special Equipment Aids for Living

SEQUAL is an organisation that helps members with speech and/or movement difficulties with the provision of special electronic equipment including computers and speech synthesisers. There are no cash grants available but may assist with fund raising. Once provided, they will also cover the maintenance and repair of any equipment. To become a member of the SEQUAL Trust costs £10 per year or £50 for life.
Apply to: The Sequal Trust, 3 Ploughmans Corner, Wharf Road, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0EJ
Tel: 01691 624 222
www.thesequaltrust.org.uk

Snowdon Awards Scheme

Snowdon Award Scheme helps students with physical disabilities aged 17 – 25 years and in further and higher education or training towards employment. In some cases students older than 25 may be considered. Awards are made for disability related costs including items such as computers and notetakers.
Apply to: Snowdon Award Scheme, 22 City Business Centre, 6 Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5BB
Tel: 01403 732 899
www.snowdonawardscheme.org.uk

Richmond Trust

The Richmond Trust is a small grant-awarding trust for deafblind people and their families. The Trust usually awards grants to individuals of between £50 and £100 but it can award more in specific cases. If the trust is unable to meet the full cost of the item the trust may offer a contribution towards the full cost. The Richmond trust meets twice a year so there may be a delay between application and any communication from the trust . Applications for grants can be made via Sense’s Information and Advice Service or through Krystyna Cieslik.
Tel: 0121 525 9137
Enauk: krystyna.cieslik@sense.org.uk

Action for Blind People

Grants-in-Aid scheme gives one off grants nationally to people who are registered blind/partially sighted, who are UK residents and on a low income. Grants are up to the maximum of £500 and can be used towards education costs, computer equipment and CCTVs.
Apply to: The Grants Officer, Action for Blind People, 14-16 Verney Road, London SE16 3DZ.
Tel: 020 7635 4820
www.afbp.org

Peter Greenwood Memorial Trust

Peter Greenwood Memorial Trust gives grants to students who are deaf or hearing impaired undertaking courses in further or higher education and training in England and Wales only. An application form should be requested and need to be sent in by 1st October for the next academic year.
Apply to: Julie Ralph, Secretary, Morley Street Resource Centre, 124 Morley Street, Bradford BD7 1BB
Tel: 01274 435001

RNIB

RNIB Grants may be made to blind or partially sighted people who are facing financial hardship to buy equipment. Applications must be made by a third party, such as a social worker or a voluntary organisation.
Apply to: The Grants Officer, Welfare Rights Service, RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE
Tel: 0845 766 9999
www.rnib.org.uk

Local Organisations

In many areas there are local organisations that can either help you to identify where funds are available from or provide grants themselves.

Local Council for Voluntary Services

Sometimes called Council for Voluntary Organisations, Community Service Council, or similar, they offer information regarding national and local grant giving organisations.

Local Citizen’s Advice Bureau

Offer information regarding local grant giving organisations.

Local religious organisations

May provide direct funding usually to those who belong to the organisation.

Round Tables, Inner Wheels, Lions and Rotary clubs

Most parts of the country have local branches of theses kinds of clubs. All raise money for causes in their local areas and many are open to applications for grants.

Identifying other possible sources of funding

Your local library should hold copies of several publications containing comprehensive information on grant-giving organisations:

• A Guide to Grants for Individual Needs
• The Educational Grants Directory
• Local Areas Grants Guide

How to apply for a grant from an organisation

AbilityNet have information on how to apply for a grant for technology and what to put in a letter of application. It is contained in their factsheet Funding for an Adapted Computer but is equally applicable to other assistive technology items. It is available to download from their website or by calling 0800 269 545 or 01926 312 847.