National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Statewide AT Program (Information to be listed in national State AT Program Directory)

Lead Agency

Implementing Entity

Program Director and Other Contacts

Person Responsible for completing this form if other than Program Director

Certifying Representative

2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made

3. Loan Type

4. Interest Rates

5. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Financed

6. Defaults

G. Notes:

If a number is reported in E you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:

G. Notes:

I. Notes:

G. Notes:

B. Description of Training Activities

Describe innovative one high-impact assistance training activity conducted during the reporting period:

During FY17, MassMATCH was awarded a 2016 High Impact Innovative Technology Assistance Grant from the Dana and Christopher Reeves Foundation to carry out the Weight and Seating Independence Project (WSIP). The goals & objectives of the project are to improve the independence, autonomy and control of health and wellness by persons with SCI in central and western Massachusetts. The primary objective is to enable knowledge and use of digital pressure mapping technology and wheelchair accessible scales in the least restrictive environment. To improve access to wheelchair accessible scales, MassMATCH has provided roll-on scales for use by wheelchair users at the four Independent Living Center sites (ILCs) serving Central and Western Massachusetts. The scales are durable and large enough to accommodate most power and manual wheelchairs, including those with a bariatric wheelbase. MassMATCH has also equipped two of our AT Regional Center (ATRC) locations in Pittsfield and Worcester with portable wheelchair accessible scales for both demonstrations and short-term loans. To improve access to digital pressure mapping technology, MassMATCH acquired a variety of PMT systems (pediatric,mattress, bariatric, and adult digital pressure mapping systems) for demonstration and short-term loan to individuals. The ATRCs at both UCP Berkshire and Easter Seals MA have become demonstration sites for digital pressure mapping technology. The most innovative feature of WSIP is the series of 4 PMT trainings conducted to build and improve the region’s knowledge of and capacity with these mapping systems (and encourage seating and positioning troubleshooting). The four-hour trainings were provided by veterans of wheelchair seating and positioning, under the leadership of Mary Jo Wagner of the Mass. Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS), who frequently uses pressure mapping technology in her work. Trainees learned about pressure injuries, their stages, causes and risks and how to prevent them, including positioning for sitting and sleeping. They also learned how digital pressure mapping can be used to understand the unique needs of individual wheelchair users. The PMT trainings were targeted at ATRC staff ,health care service networks serving persons with paralysis in their homes and/or outpatient settings; 43 individuals attended the PMT trainings. ATRC staff attended the trainings and have started using the knowledge acquired to provide demonstrations for wheelchair users, family members/caregivers and area professionals interested in borrowing the equipment during and beyond the grant-funded period. 100% of participants were highly satisfied with the trainings and indicated that they would highly recommend them to others.

Breifly describe one training activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:

During FY17, MassMATCH staff collaborated with our partners at the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) to develop and host a series of 12 assistive technology trainings across the state. 10 of them were considered Basic while 2 were classified as Advanced. The Basic training introduced the concept of assistive technology, types of devices available and how they are used, and shared information about AT resources in the state. The Advanced training provided a more detailed exploration of the use of AT, using the Transition Assistance to Community Living Environment (TACLE) assessment tool. This simple tool, developed under MassMATCH, helps consumers and professionals identify areas of independent living in which the consumer may benefit from the use of assistive technology, and help them identify specific devices and resources to acquire the needed AT. 58 individuals attended the trainings, including transition coordinators, waiver case managers, housing transition entities, options counselors and other staff from the 'No Wrong Door' system who assist individuals with disabilities or elders in transitioning to the community and living more independently. There were also staff from other Aging and Disability Resource Consortia Community Partners such as Adult Family Care, Veterans Service Officers, Supported Living Providers, Housing Authorities, Councils on Aging, Home care providers, Community Health Care workers, SHINE staff and others.

Breifly describe one training activity related to Information and Communication Technology accessibility:

Due to its limited in-house capacity, MassMATCH is collaborating with one of our partner agencies to develop a series of in-person trainings that will address a variety of topics dealing with the accessibility of information and communication technology (ICT). These trainings will be offered in spring/summer 2018, and the resulting data reported as part of the FY18 Annual Progress Report.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

Describe Innovative one high-impact assistance activity that is not related to transition:

As stated elsewhere, during FY17, MassMATCH was awarded a 2016 High Impact Innovative Technology Assistance Grant from the Dana and Christopher Reeves Foundation to carry out the Weight and Seating Independence Project (WSIP). The goals of the project are to improve the independence, autonomy and control of health and wellness by persons with SCI in central and western Massachusetts. The primary objective is to enable knowledge and use of digital pressure mapping technology and wheelchair accessible scales in the least restrictive environment. As the digital pressure mapping technology is targeted at the general public - wheelchair users, family members/caregivers, service networks serving persons with paralysis in their homes and/or outpatient settings - MassMATCH staff strongly believed that creating a user manual for the PMTs is critical. Consequently, we provided technical assistance to MA DDS to produce a user-friendly how-to protocol for use and distribution with the PMT system

Breifly describe one technical assistance activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:

During FY17, MassMATCH staff provided technical assistance to three Independent Living Centers in Central and Western Massachusetts in connection with the Weight and Seating Independence Project. MassMATCH staff helped determine the most suitable conditions to ensure the smooth operation of the wheelchair accessible platform scales at their respective locations in Worcester, Springfield, Amherst, and Pittsfield, MA. MassMATCH staff provided advice on issues to consider such as the amount of space needed, the positioning and installation of the platform scales, the mounting of the displays, etc. As a result of the TA provided, all four platform scales are fully operational and serving the needs of people with SCI in Central and Western Massachusetts. The availability of the scales is making it easier for persons with disabilities who need to transition from institutional living into the community to do so, knowing that they can now easily weigh themselves at any of the participating I

C. Notes:

Public Awareness Narratives

Describe in detail at least one and no more than two innovative or high-impact public awareness activities conducted during this reporting period. Highlight the content/focus of the awareness information shared, the mechanism used to disseminate or communicate the awareness information, the numbers and/or types of individuals reached, and positive outcomes resulting from the activity. If quantative numbers are available regarding the reach of the activity, please provide those: however, quantative data is not required.

1. In FY17, in addition to our usual public awareness activities, we embarked on a set of targeted public AT presentations/demonstrations in connection with a new grant award we received from the Dana and Christopher Reeves Foundation. The award is funding our Weight and Seating Independence Project (WSIP), which aims to improve the independence, autonomy and control of health and wellness by persons with SCI in central and western Massachusetts by increasing awareness of and providing access to digital pressure mapping technology and wheelchair accessible scales in the least restrictive environment. To publicize the launch of the project and availability of the scales and PMT system, we carried out a multi-faceted outreach campaign involving electronic and printed flyers, Facebook/blog postings, newsletter and email articles, etc. We also brought examples of both items to some of the larger events we attend, such as the 3-day Abilities Expo, the annual Human Service Providers Conference, and the annual statewide ADA celebration hosted by the Statewide Independent Living Council. At each event, MassMATCH staff gave brief presentations about MassMATCH and the Weight and Seating Independence Project and demonstrated both the PMT and the wheelchair accessible scale. The presentations/demonstrations were very successful as they provided participants with valuable information about available AT resources in the state as well as concrete evidence of the impact of AT. Between the 6 presentation/demonstration events, about 148 people with disabilities tried out the PMT and portable accessible scales first-hand. Overall, these outreach activities reached approximately 2,345 people and contributed a great deal towards the public’s understanding of what is AT and where they can find or learn more about AT in Massachusetts.

Notes: