The Southern Assistive Technology Alliance (SATA) is an alliance between two assessment provider teams with extensive experience in the area of assistive technology, Astech Specialist Rehabilitation Services and Gist Communication Services.

SATA has offices in Christchurch and Blenheim, and provides services in the following areas:

- Marlborough/Nelson/Blenheim

- Canterbury/Christchurch/Ashburton/Timaru

- West Coast (on an intermittent basis)

- Otago/Southland (by arrangement)

SATA providers undertake quality assessments for a range of organisations, ensuring at all times that the clients’ needs are matched with an appropriately skilled assessment team. SATA is also able to minimise travel costs by providing assessments for more than one funding organisation in rural areas.

One of SATA’s primary values is a focus on the identification of local team members and the provision of professional development, advice and expertise to assist them in providing ongoing support to clients who have communication needs which may be met the implementation of assistive technology.

SATA providers are highly experienced Ministry of Health accredited assessors and have contracts with ACC for Assistive Technology Assessments.

Occupational Therapy

Lorraine Grundy has 22 years experience working with people who have complex and multiple disabilities. She has worked in the Health, Education and private sectors.

She has developed expertise in the clinical areas of:

- Assistive technology - from high tech to minor adaptations of everyday equipment.

- Specialised wheelchair seating.

- Hand splinting and upper limb rehabilitation.

 Lorraine has a Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Therapy.

Speech-Language Therapy

Lynda Strathdee is a Speech Language Therapist who is in her 16^th year of practice. 

Lynda is also a registered teacher and has experience in the following areas:

- Communication systems for people with complex and multiple disabilities. 

- Design and setup of communication systems to support face to face communication

- Traumatic Brain Injury; strategies (including technology) to compensate for difficulties.

Alysia Harvey is a Speech Language Therapist who is in her 7^th year of practice. 

She has expertise in the following areas:

- Use of Non Speech Communication systems (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) such as communication books for children whose oral language cannot be understood.

- Use of technology to support face to face communication.

Tricia Dawson has a Diploma in Teaching endorsed in Speech Language Therapy and 22 years experience working as a Speech Language Therapist; the last 12 of which have been focused solely in the area of assistive technology. 

Tricia has extensive experience working in the following areas:

- Assessment and communication programme development for students with profound and multiple disabilities

- Adults with Traumatic Braining injury

- Adults with acquired and degenerative Neurological impairments affecting face to face and written communication

Tricia’s primary area of interest has been in the area of face to face communication using assistive technology and she has been extensively involved in this area as a service provider, trainer and professional leader in the health and education sectors.

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