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. During the year 86 of the AT solutions were provided in a goal with Prevention implications. One AT solution was to aid in the Transition of the consumer from a care facility and back into the community.

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 but making AT available statewide. 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 or for devices provided as open-ended loans. All consumers accessing the AT/IL program are encouraged to donate AT that is no longer needed.

I. Notes:

G. Notes:

B. Description of Training Activities

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

The high impact training described is a result of an initial demonstration to an AT User Group that has been long established in the community. The group wanted to learn more about screen reading technologies for laptops. Of course, as humans we perform different tasks on different devices and of course each with our personal preferences. Further engagement of the AT User Group led to discussion of creating an additional AT User Group and the need for a training. The initial training was successful and also included the lending of laptops to members who did not have a device of their own. More importantly in ignited a series of additional services that would not have been otherwise identified. Following the initial training there was need for a series of trainings which were more refined as skill levels and knowledge increased among the group. The essence of the AT User Group model is that the provide trainings will carry on through the users as peers to others.

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

The Path to Independence Program at UNR is for students transitioning from high school to a post-secondary education experience. There has been a long standing relationship with the Path to Independence Program and providing AT training that is beneficial during their transition to post-secondary education. A Training was conducted that focused on assistive technology, advocacy, basic independent living philosophy as well as expanding and improving the systems they may encounter. As a result of the training there was and expansion of an existing AT User Group that focuses on switch controls and hands-free capabilities by the students from the Path to Independence Program.

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

The program has been conducting an on-going multi-year effort in collaboration with relevant community partners to research, develop, and expand the knowledge base, policies and procedures, and access to resources to improve access to ICT related services within 3 State agencies who engage with people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, and those with speech impairments. As part of those services, the project provided training specifically on technology and other auxiliary aids and services that may be provided to the target population who are or are interested in engaging with the State agencies. These items and services included specific devices used by the population including; TTY’s and other text based communications, video based communication systems and services, web based services, and other communication based services and supports. There were 65 agency professionals and staff members were provided training. The training also included information and recommendations on strategies to develop and revise current policies and procedures to improve service delivery to better serve customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/bind, and speech impaired. During this last period of performance these agencies all revised their policies and procedures, received additional training regarding the implementation of the new policies and acquired recommended ICT to assist them in the delivery of the improved services and supports.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

The project along with its VISTA members have been working with the City of Reno to improve access to street crossings and sidewalks. Staff have discussed and developed a strategy to identify barriers that make it difficult to navigate city sidewalks and street crossings depending on whether you have vision or mobility issues. The information is discussed thoroughly within the project and then it’s brought to the attention of the City in order to improve access. Based on this effort the City has provided numerous audible signal technology at necessary intersections and installed additional sidewalks and curb ramps for better access for people who use mobility devices.

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

The technical assistance provided is an effort to assist the transition of individuals with disabilities from acute care and rehabilitation settings to the most appropriate community-based setting using assistive technology services and supports. The technical assistance was provided to hospital and rehab staff in efforts to promote the importance of mobility, seating and positioning, speech communication, home accessibility, accessible transportation, daily living, recreation, leisure, adaptive equipment, vision and hearing, and home automation. Basic program planning and discharge planning is stressed to these institutions. As a result program staff are invited into hospitals and rehab facilities to engage consumers directly and promote the importance of assistive technology in their everyday lives.

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. The project had the opportunity to host a booth at the Student Leadership Transition Summit put on by the Nevada Department of Education. There were approximately 150 students whose disability primarily involved learning and cognition. Our booth displays technology to assist with things like scheduling and completing tasks like homework, reading out loud, and composing written documents with word prediction and completion. A few students had vision issues and we showed some tools for magnification, scanning, OCR applications and devices. This was a statewide conference that also included school district staff from across the State. This gave us the opportunity to do outreach with school districts statewide and have access to both the students and teachers and offer training, technical assistance, device demonstrations and loans.

2. The project visited an assistive living facility in the Reno area and provided a 2 hour PA of our project and what assistive technology could do for the aging population. AT devices were made available for looking at and trying them as well. Items that were popular were basic and digital magnifiers, reading aloud and talking books, items that assist with hearing issues, as well as a variety of applications using their smartphones and tablets. The project is staying in touch with the residents and will no doubt be back to provide services and supports.

Notes: