What is Environmental Control (EC)?

What is Environmental Control (EC)?

Environmental Control systems are designed to empower people with significant physical disabilities to interact with and operate certain devices and appliances in their homes. This provides a level of independence for people who cannot use a standard computer keyboard and mouse, or devices such as TV remote controls due to upper limb impairments.

 

Examples of equipment that can be operated include:

• Telephones and mobile phones.
• Alarms.
• Pagers.
• Home entertainment equipment like TVs.
• Smaller electrical appliances such as lamps and fans.
• Some profiling beds and electric powered recliners chairs.

 

Environmental Controls can offer greater autonomy and an improved quality of life for people with long term conditions.

 

Environmental control systems typically consist of three main parts:

• the input device such as a switch, a joystick, eye gaze or other alternative access methods.
• the controller through which devices can be connected.
• the devices to be controlled.

 

When a referral is accepted by ACT, we would do an assessment to determine the most suitable system for the individual to control their home devices. For advice on making a referral for a patient, visit the Referrals Information page.

 

 

Who might use Environmental Controls?

Environmental Controls assessments and provisions are for people who meet the following criteria:

• Profound and potentially complex physical disability, such that they are unable to operate standard (remote) controls for functioning independently in the home.
• Cognitively and physically able to operate EC equipment consistently.
• Able to demonstrate sustained motivation to use the EC equipment.
• Individuals who require multiple control functions integrated into a single means of access and for whom multiple devices, each with separate function, are inappropriate.
• Where individuals have a variable condition (for example, progressive neurological condition), the above criteria can be applied to the person's anticipated, as well as current needs.

 

NHS England specification for Environmental Control System

 

The following exclusion criteria apply to access to the service:

• Where non-specialist solutions to the identified needs of the patient are available and appropriate for the individual.
• Provision of equipment is inappropriate due to social, environmental, or other circumstances.
• Where the referred need is for equipment primarily for educational ICT or, employment ‘access to work’ requirement, then the referral will normally be referred to the relevant agencies for assessment and provision. Collaboration with these agencies may still be appropriate.

 

 

Environmental Controls and the ACT Team

Referrals to the service have four main stages: referral management, assessment, device provision, and equipment management. Members of our multidisciplinary team will be involved throughout the process.
ACT collaborates with the local team to put together a bespoke Environmental Controls package that is suitable for the patient.

 

If the referral is accepted, patients will be assessed at their home, place of residence, hospital, or school as most appropriate.

 

Once equipment has been installed it will be maintained and adapted to suit the needs of the user. Planned preventative maintenance will be carried out annually, where a member of the technical team will complete a home visit to inspect the equipment, to ensure its electrical safety and to confirm that it is in good working order and still meeting the patient’s needs.

 

Not all equipment can be connected to an Environmental Control package from ACT, as this depends on the devices and technology available. For example, not all streaming TV boxes or recliner chairs can be controlled. Devices will be assessed at the appointment or by a technician.

 

For enquiries about repairs and / or maintenance, please contact our main office number, 0121 466 3050, which is open business hours Monday to Friday.

 

Please view our Information and Resources page for additional support including our leaflet on how to continue using devices when hand function is impaired.

ACT is an NHS England funded specialist service focusing on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Environmental Controls (EC) and Computer Access. We cover an area that includes the West Midlands County, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Herefordshire and support patients with needs and conditions who meet the NHSE eligibility criteria as part of our Environmental Controls service. For more information, visit our Referrals Information page.