Assistive Technology for Kansans

Transcription

1 Assistive Technology for Kansans

2 State Financing Activities State financing activities increase access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services. Programs assist individuals with disabilities with funding AT devices and services by administering and/or supporting financial loan programs and/or other systems that make funding available or reduce costs to acquire devices. Financial Loan Program This Year... Made 29 loans this year to enable borrowers to purchase needed AT Average income of borrowers approved for a financial loan was $31, Average interest rate of approved loans was 5.50 Total amount loaned was $123,357 with 29 devices acquired Type of AT # of Devices Financed Device Dollar Value of Loans Dollar Vision $ Hearing $25, Speech $ Learning/Cognition/Developmental $ Mobility/Seating/Positioning $15, Daily Living $6, Environmental Adaptations $ Vehicle modifications, Transportation $75, Computers and Related $ Recreation/Sports/Leisure $ Total $123, Acquisition State Financing Program This Year... Served 749 individuals A total of 765 devices/services were funded with a value of $423,036 Type of AT # of Devices Acquired Device Dollar Value of Devices Savings Vision $52, Hearing $15, Speech $50, Learning/Cognition/Developmental $17, Mobility/Seating/Positioning $17, Daily Living $110, Environmental Adaptations $94, Vehicle modifications, Transportation $18, Computers and Related $38, Recreation/Sports/Leisure $7, Total $423, Consumer Satisfaction for All State Financing Activities This Year for the ratings of highly satisfied and satisfied. 2

3 Assistive Technology for Kansans collaborated with the United HealthCare Foundation to provide electronic tablets to people with disabilities to teach them digital technology skills needed in employment settings. Seventy-four of 75 individuals completed the four-week workshop; three months later, 14 individuals were employed in part-time or full-time positions. One woman with mental health and memory disabilities set up her own housecleaning service after completing the workshop. She completed a business plan that included social networking to promote her service, sets her appointments, and uses electronic reminders to maintain her schedule. At this time she has 12 customers. Four individuals with mental health conditions and physical limitations used the skills they learned to obtain second and third shift positions expediting shipping for commercial carriers and manufacturers. These individuals used their tablets to keep their schedules, send themselves electronic reminders to complete to do lists, take medication, and use relaxation apps on break. One participant is a veteran with a physical disability and post-traumatic stress. He enrolled in EMT training made possible since he needed to master use of digital technology to take the required online exams and participate in study groups. At this time, he is completing the ride along component of the EMT training and has a job waiting for him when he passes his final examination. 3

4 Reuse Activities Reassignment Program This Year... Reassignment programs refurbish assistive technology devices and provide them as a permanent reassignment, at reduced or no cost, to individuals who need the devices or repair devices for individuals who would otherwise have non-functional devices. Served 810 individuals received 861 refurbished or repaired devices Total amount saved by consumers was $748,027 Type of AT Device # Device Savings Savings $ Vision $42, Hearing $ Speech $7, Learning/Cognition/Developmental $ Mobility/Seating/Positioning $437, Daily Living $255, Environmental Adaptations $ Vehicle modifications, Transportation $ Computers and Related $1, Recreation/Sports/Leisure $3, Total $748, Consumer Satisfaction for Reuse Activities This Year for the ratings of highly satisfied and satisfied. A preschooler and his educational team requested a prone stander from Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK). ATK staff worked with the physical therapist to select the correct model and determine the needed supports to fit him so he could safely use the stander. Team members report that obtaining the prone stander provided him an additional position so he could participate in activities. The standing position improved his circulation and allowed him to weight bear on his legs, which helps hip development. The removable tray with bowl provided him with the opportunity to play and learn from different media. Perhaps the best part from his perspective was that he is now at eye level with his peers. 4

5 Device Loan Activities Short-term device loans enable individuals or entities to borrow and try-out devices. A short-term device loan is not a permanent reassignment, but enables individuals to have direct access to devices, often in the environment where they will be used. Device Loan Program This Year... Provided equipment to 469 borrowers Total of 605 devices were borrowed Purposes were to assist in decision-making.43 to serve as a loaner during device repair or while waiting for funding to provide a short-term accommodation for other purposes Type of Individual or Entity Number of Borrowers Individuals with disabilities Family Members, Guardians, Authorized Representatives Representatives of Education Representatives of Employment Representatives of Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation Representatives of Community Living Representatives of Technology TOTAL Type of AT Device Number Vision Hearing Speech Communication Learning/Cognition/Developmental Mobility/Seating/Positioning Daily Living Environmental Adaptations Vehicle Modifications, Transportation Computers and Related Recreation/Sports/Leisure Total # of Devices Loaned Consumer Satisfaction for Device Loan Activities This Year for the ratings of highly satisfied and satisfied. 5

6 Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) staff worked with a man in his thirties who has a significant hearing loss. He was trying to obtain employment in sales and marketing which requires him to meet the public, talk on the telephone, and participate in staff-client meetings. ATK staff arranged for a loan of three assistive listening devices that could be used in individual and group settings. He selected the device that worked best across all settings and Kansas Rehabilitation Services purchased the device. He is currently employed fulltime for a sales and marketing firm. 6

7 Device Demonstration Activities Device demonstrations provide individuals a guided experience with assistive technology devices with the assistance of someone who has technical expertise related to the device. Device demonstrations support an informed decision about assistive technology by comparing the features and benefits of assistive technology. Referrals to AT vendors, professionals, and funding sources are often made following the demonstration. Device Loan Program This Year... Provided 251 demonstrations with 280 individuals participating Total of 7,438 referrals were made to a funding source to a service provider to a vendor 5.23 to a repair service Type of AT Device Number of Demonstrations Vision Hearing Speech Communication Learning/Cognition/Developmental Mobility/Seating/Positioning Daily Living Environmental Adaptations Vehicle Modifications, Transportation Computers and Related Recreation/Sports/Leisure Total Type of Individual or Entity Number of Participants Individuals with disabilities Family Members, Guardians, Authorized Representatives Representatives of Education Representatives of Employment Representatives of Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation Representatives of Community Living Representatives of Technology TOTAL Consumer Satisfaction for Device Demonstration Activities This Year for the ratings of highly satisfied and satisfied. 7

8 A six-year-old girl who is deaf and blind and her family requested device demonstrations for telecommunications access from Assistive Technology for Kansans staff. The girl wanted to be able to communicate with family who lived out of state and access the Internet like her siblings and peers. After demonstrations of tablets and magnifiers, the family selected a tablet and a large screen magnification device (CCTV). After using these devices successfully, she told her mother she wanted to learn Braille. ATK staff demonstrated two braille devices that would allow her to expand her Internet and capabilities. Even though her grandmother lives in another community, they communicate frequently, read books together by distance, and share ideas. 8

9 Training and Information & Assistance Activities Training is conducted to increase knowledge, skills and competencies regarding assistive technology. Information and assistance responds to requests by telephone, or other means for information about assistive technology products, policies, and funding and provides referrals to appropriate entities for additional support. Training This Year... A total of 3,415 individuals participated in training activities Training Type of Individual or Entity Number of Participants Individuals with disabilities Family Members, Guardians, Authorized Representatives Representatives of Education Representatives of Employment Representatives of Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation Representatives of Community Living Representatives of Technology Unable to categorize TOTAL 3, Training Example: Assistive Technology for Kansans staff conducted a series of regional workshops for infant toddler providers and families of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Infant toddler providers and ATK staff selected topics that were most relevant to the needs of the local provider network. Topics addressed Assistive technology solutions for switch access, Learning literacy and math concepts, Communication device selection, Communication device programming, How to include assistive technology on the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), and Public and private funding of assistive technology. 9

10 Information & Assistance This Year... A total of 10,190 individuals were served by information and assistance activities. An additional 20,514 participated in public awareness activities. I&A Type of Individual or Entity Number of Recipients Individuals with disabilities Family Members, Guardians, Authorized Representatives Representatives of Education Representatives of Employment Representatives of Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation Representatives of Community Living Representatives of Technology TOTAL 9, Transition ATK staff participated in Families Together Inc. s Family Employment and Transition (FEAT) workshops. In their presentations, ATK staff addressed technology relevant to common employment barriers, highlighted successful assistive technology solutions for small business, and provided information on how to access ATK program services to decide if assistive technology should be a consideration in your business plan. ATK staff set up a range of assistive technology devices for information and demonstrations. As a result of this effort, ATK staff referred two students to Kansas Rehabilitation Services for technology acquisition and staff are also working with three other transition age students on possible assistive technology solutions. Alternative formats are available upon request by contacting Assistive Technology for Kansans management office at or ssack@ku.edu. The data in this report is for the federal fiscal year of October 1 through September 30 as reported in the State Grant for Assistive Technology Progress Report through the Management Information System of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. This program receives funding under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended (P.L ) administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. Any opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Education and no official endorsement by the department should be inferred. 10