Keren Down MBE, Director, Foundation for Assistive Technology (FAST)
The Foundation for Assistive Technology (FAST) is a small dynamic charity that works strategically to provide information, consultancy and thought leadership for the assistive technology (AT) sector in the UK. FAST defines AT as any product or service designed to maximise independence.
FAST was established in 1997 to help develop a thriving market for equipment and services that meet the real needs of disabled and older people. FAST connects people across the market and brings together partners to share learning and develop new services. It is a central force in the sector in the UK, shaping a vision for high quality services and innovative and appealing products. FAST’s key activities are information provision, partnership brokering, project management, market analysis, standards development and project monitoring.
Keren trained as an artist, has experience in user involvement, and health and social care provision in addition to voluntary sector experience of community development and regeneration. Before joining FAST, Keren worked at the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Care and Research Centre at King's College Hospital where she worked with people with MND create the first UK online forum run by people with MND.
Keren became Director of FAST in March 2004 and has steered FAST through an exciting phase of development which has seen the organisation developing its role as the leading standards setting organisation within the AT AT sector. FAST provides an annual report to Parliament that reviews of all the research and development activity being undertaken in the UK. FAST’s website is an invaluable resource for the AT sector, providing a comprehensive database of research and development activity in the UK, jobs and events listings and two monthly newsletters covering the latest developments in the AT sector.
Leading the campaign for investment in workforce development for AT practitioners, FAST has also developed a confidence building course that will support older people to confidently choose and use AT.