Equipment Bank
What is the CALL Equipment Bank?
CALL Scotland offers specialist equipment for communication and learning to individuals with disabilities throughout Scotland.
Loans of equipment are made to allow for extended assessment at home, school or work, and to enable people to evaluate a device or system.
How long can a loan last?
Loans are generally for two months, but it is possible to negotiate an extension provided that equipment is not required by another person.
Who can borrow equipment?
Loans are made to individual users, usually through professions in schools, health care or social work services. Loans are for evaluation and trial use by a named individual and not to supplement school or centre equipment stocks.
How do I know what to borrow?
Sometimes borrowers know exactly what they want as a detailed assessment has already been done. Otherwise contact your local educational psychologist or speech and language therapist to arrange an assessment. The first step is through the Headteacher or, for adults, through the contact social worker or occupational therapist. If in double, please contact the CALL Centre for discussion and advice.
How much does a loan cost?
Loans are free but we ask borrowers to pay delivery charges. These costs can be avoided if borrowers collect and return equipment themselves. Borrowers are responsible for equipment while it is on loan: they may choose to arrange insurance or to be responsible for full replacement costs in case of theft or accident.
How do I find out about new equipment in the Loan Bank?
CALL sends out a newsletter, New in CALL, twice a year which provides information about new acquisitions. It often contains brief reviews of equipment and software available to meet a particular need.
It is not practical to produce a detailed catalogue. You may, however, ask for a listing of specific parts of the inventory, e.g. ‘switches’ or ‘early learning software for the Macintosh’.
How do I find out what’s available in the Loan Bank?
You can search for a particular item using the 'Loan Bank Search' to the right. Where details of a supplier are given in the item description, this usually represents the source from which CALL purchased the item. The same item can often be purchased from other suppliers.
Once you’ve found something you would like to borrow, contact CALL Scotland (on 0131 651 6235 or via the Contact Us page) to arrange loan of the item.
