Telecommunications and disabled people: a rural perspective

In the context of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 this paper focuses on the role of home- and community-based telecommunication services in sustaining the life-style and independence of elderly and disabled people in rural Britain. It draws on findings from a recent survey in the North Cotswolds to evaluate four models of telecommunication support: telephone trees; community alarm systems; community teleservice centres (CTCs); and on-line computer systems. The arguments in favour of a "low-cost-voluntary-care-support-model", a variant of the CTC, are discussed with respect to client need and community setting.