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

Activity 1

2. Geographic Distribution, Number of Individuals Who Acquired AT Devices and Services and Number for whom Performance Measure Data are Collected

3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded

G. Notes:

The Assistive Technology for Independent Living (AT/IL) program receives state funding to make direct AT purchases. The program can assist consumers develop their goals, identify barriers, provide potential AT solutions, and explain the options that the consumer has available to obtain the AT solution. The program’s focus is to support individuals with disabilities to live in their community. The resources can be utilized to provide home access modifications, vehicle modifications, and AT needed for necessary daily living. The program prioritizes consumers who are in need of services to transition from institutional living to the community setting or at high risk of being institutionalized.

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:

Reutilization of AT in Nevada makes huge impacts to those with both limited and no resources available to them. The availability of appropriate used AT prevents a larger waitlist to the statewide Assistive Technology for Independent Living (AT/IL) program. NATC community partners maintained two refurbish/repair/recycle programs in the two largest populated areas within the state. By leveraging state funds we have been able to provide community partners with funding to pay for parts and repairs to various AT that comes in. All consumers accessing the AT/IL program are encouraged to donate AT that is not needed and to list the AT on the Nevada Assistive Technology Exchange (NATE).

I. Notes:

G. Notes:

B. Description of Training Activities

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

NATC partner UNR’s AT Resource Center coordinated a highly innovative training activity and collaboration with Apple. The training was for both Apple and individuals with vision loss, and developed to explore how people with blindness or vision loss could participate in playgrounds involving coding. 6 people who are blind or vision impaired navigated to the Apple Store in Reno, Nevada. Apple staff introduced them to Swift, a powerful programming language created by Apple and used by the pros to build today’s most popular apps. It was successful in a couple ways. First it exposed the Apple Store staff to 6 users of the Voice Over screen reader tool and its functional use in the Swift Playground. Second it trained the Blind user on coding and sparked interest from the group to continue to explore coding as a hobby.

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

NATC partner Easterseals Nevada has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Blind Center of Nevada. Providing multiple device demonstrations monthly and throughout the year. This year the Blind Center began a cooking program bringing in a professional chef to lead the program. Faced with several challenges by individuals in the program an extensive technical assistance was provided to bridge the gap between the knowledgeable chef and teaching a cooking program to persons with disabilities. Most importantly to consumers that require and will be using AT to complete the class. After providing technical assistance and consultation the team was able to outfit the kitchen with talking scales, finger guards for using knives, a PenFriend to identify objects within the kitchen, and a talking thermometer to identify the temperature of items. Through this collaboration, the Blind Center has been able to successfully implement its cooking program with numerous individuals finding success, including these individuals cooking the daily lunches for the rest of the center.

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

Through the Visually Impaired User Group training was provided to individuals regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, the AT Act and other relevant civil rights legislation regarding websites, and access to accessible documents and technology. Participants discussed information on the laws and how it impacted the topic area. The group developed strategies to address the barriers and what characteristics an accessible document must have. From this training members and participants were able to move forward with systems change within several State and local government agencies that they were interacting with. The group reported back about their interactions and that the training received was helpful in the overall process of integrating their accessible technologies into the services they were requesting.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

During the period of performance the project continued its collaboration with the DD ACT partners which include the Nevada Center for Excellence in DD/NATRC, the Governors Council on DD, and the Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center. These partners received on-going technical assistance from the Nevada AT Collaborative in order to establish necessary policies and procedures to improve services regarding accessible information and communication technologies. The project developed materials and a curriculum which lead to a series of trainings, some of which are continuing. It advised on program planning, funding opportunities and how to incorporate the agreed upon strategies into the agencies’ 5 year plan. As a result there have been videos developed and more and more agencies in the state are working toward improving access to accessible technologies.

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

NATC partner Easterseals Nevada worked with B who was facing challenges in the work place and maintaining employment. B had worked in facilities for decades including helping to open several prominent casinos on The Strip and Downtown. Due to a disease B had was not able to access his computer as he would often type the incorrect key or be unable to select the icon on the computer screen due to tremors. He also faced challenges in meetings as recording notes and information was nearly impossible due to his inability to write legibly or type on the computer. In coordination with Easterseals Nevada, B was able to be outfitted with several devices to help him overcome his work place challenges. These devices included a keyboard which had enlarged key sizes so that finding his desired key was an easier task; a mouse with a trackball so that he could use his “good” thumb to navigate the computer screen; a finger print scanner which allowed him to quickly unlock his computer; as well as a

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. NATC partner Easterseals Nevada, NV Disability Advocacy and Law Center (Nevada’s PAAT), and United Way provided a significant outreach to the Hispanic community to demonstrate what assistive technology is, what devices are available, how to access the devices in schools, employment, and community living. The main focus was on school age children and how to access services through the school district. NATEproject was discussed as a resource to demonstrate and trial devices to educate and provide information to the parent when discussing their child’s needs. This event was presented at three different community centers in the community and proved to be a significant public awareness event.

2. NATC partner UNR’s NV AT Resource Center participated in a collaborative effort with the University of Nevada, Reno, local school districts, and the Department of Education. Over 150 k-12 students with disabilities and some parents and staff attended. Information and resources were provided in this public forum as well as several devices and products available for demonstration. Having current and accessible technology services and resources available created an enthusiastic fervor with the young adults and further engagement with some of the participants was established. Many of the students were exposed to AT for the first time, and some in various ways were already using AT as part of their daily routine at school and in the community. It was an opportunity to showcase the most current devices and products that were available to them. There was feedback received that indicated the need for a better way to assist the community in navigating resources that seem to be Silo’s in some areas of the State.

Notes: