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:

Due to hurricanes Irma and Maria that devastated the entire territory in September of 2017, operation of all program activities were affected. The office and all of its contents were destroyed and staff was relocated to a temporary space for 9 months. There was also no phone or internet connection. This has resulted in severely decreased program activities

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:

The program has been seeking ways to engage in an promote a viable re-use program. One of the recommendations were to collaborate with one of the agencies that serve individuals with disabilities and draw up a Request for Proposal which would offer a small amount of funds (less than $5000) that would be used to house, maintain and conduct open-ended device loans to individuals who needed them. Program staff also have been in discussions with the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and one of the speech language pathologists of Island Therapy Solution to help facilitate how to implement the reuse program that would benefit the disability community. Various possibilities are being explored. The program received several communication boards which would be ideal for children in head start with language deficiencies. Training for head start teachers and administrator is being scheduled in St. Croix.

I. Notes:

While our device loan inventory was limited, the impact of the 2017 hurricanes which destroyed the center left us with equipment, some of which that were no longer usable. The low numbers reported are a direct reflection of the severe impact to our program resources.

G. Notes:

B. Description of Training Activities

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

Training activities designed to assist deaf-blind consumers with the use and fluency of their devices were provided. Through the iCanConnect program individuals who received equipment primarily related to distant communication were provided with training on different devices and software. These devices included iPhones, ZoomText Large-Print key board, and JAWS. The training topics were, installation and connection of services, use of Siri and voice-over, making and receiving a call, retrieving voice and text messages, and text to speech. This activity is ongoing as consumers or on different level training modules,.

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

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

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

The Virgin Islands has lost many of its disability community members. However I was able to provide TA to director at the VI Association for Independent Living. Technical assistance in way of providing information in regard to AT devices for the use of consumers during the weekly group meeting. Low tech devices such as handheld magnifiers, white cane, signalers and large-print keyboards were recommended. Ongoing TA is being provided.

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

Although plans to provide TA to head starts teachers and assistants were planned for the beginning of the school year, those activities did not materialized. A request was made by the St. Croix head start outreach coordinator for TA of all centers. However the infrastructure of these facilities, including phone and Internet were destroyed and such activities could not happen. More than one year after the storm, the VI is still reeling from the devastation, changing the live and livelihood of many residents. Families had to relocated, some by choice, others by force to regain some level of normalcy. VIUCEDD will continue to pursue opportunities for TA with the Department of Education, once schools are on regular session,

C. Notes:

There is not TA activity related to transition to report during this fiscal period. As previously mentioned, the logistics of the Virgin Islands drastically changed in September 2017 when the entire territory was directly hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria. Although plans to provide TA to head starts teachers and assistants were planned for the beginning of the school year, those activities did not materialized. A request was made by the St. Croix head start outreach coordinator for TA of all centers. However the infrastructure of these facilities, including phone and Internet were destroyed and such activities could not happen. More than one year after the storm, the VI is still reeling from the devastation, changing the live and livelihood of many residents. Families had to relocated, some by choice, others by force to regain some level of normalcy. VIUCEDD will continue to pursue opportunities for TA with the Department of Education, once schools are on regular session,

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. During this fiscal year, the opportunities for public awareness have been very limited due to the major destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. With little or no access to Internet, public facilities, or means to gather people, this activity was also impacted. However, I was able to attend a major activity held by the VI Association for Independent Living. One such event was the annual Mutual Assistance Self Help (MASH) Appreciation luncheon meeting held on March 18, 2018. Over 80 individuals with disabilities attended along with service providers, FEMA and Department of Homeland Security officials and government agencies. Since the community was still deep in recovery mode, I took the opportunity to share with the audience information on resources available for persons with disabilities, to include contact information for local and federal agencies who were helping with the recovery. FEMA also provided ASL interpreters to serve the deaf and hard of hearing population. The VIUCEDD Spring 2018 newsletter Harambee, included an article titled AT and Preparedness" was shared to our consumers, stakeholders, service providers and colleagues locally and nationally.

2.

Notes:

On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a stakeholder session on St. Croix, which VIUCEDD attended. The purpose of this session was to bring the disability community together to discuss a variety of issues directed related to the impact of hurricane Maria. FEMA's Office of Disability integration and Coordinator and its director of the Office of Equal Rights were also in attendance. Areas of discussion included: Communication Access for People with Disabilities; Evacuation; Sheltering; Access to FEMA Resources and Programs; and Services and Supports for Recovery. Members of the disability community was able to relay the daily challenges that they continue to face after the storm and provide feedback for improved preparedness. During this session, I was also able to provide information to those in attendance about the ongoing efforts to ensure that persons in need of DME and other AT resources receive them.