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:

During this fiscal year the Assistive Technology Loan Program manager was able to assist 10 individuals in obtaining a total of $187,146.77 in additional funding from grant and state funding programs. This allowed applicants to reduce the amount of their loan request and/or rescind their application.

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:

Data for Reuse is dramatically down this fiscal year, including number of individuals served and costs savings to consumers, due to the fact that the CT AT Act Program contracted partner, the New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center who operates the Equipment Recycling Center (ERC) in partnership with us, closed the ERC program in the Spring / Fall of 2018. NEAT overhauled their program, redefined policies and procedures. They also purged old equipment that could not be reused and established best practices as well as redefined the type of equipment they would accept for reuse. The ERC has a soft reopening in Fall of 2018 via appointment only and towards the end of 2018 they were fully opened and operational. However, as a result of being closed for several months as well as redefining the equipment they could accept, the data is lower than usual, however, we feel strongly that the quality of services and products received by consumers is improved.

I. Notes:

The 24 non-respondents under education are from our computer loan program at Southern CT State University. Loans were provided at the beginning of the Fall semester (Sept) and didn't end until after the the fiscal year ended (Dec). The new University Assistant obtained the performance measures at the end of the loans but it was too late to enter them and therefore they are reported as non-respondents for this year.

G. Notes:

AT Demonstration numbers may be lower than past years as during the fiscal year 2 demonstration centers lost their key staff who oversees the AT demonstrations for the CT Assistive Technology Act Program. The Eastern CT Assistive Technology Center was able to hire someone fairly quickly. Although training has been provided it will take some time for her to get the AT demonstration numbers back up to par. The Western CT Assistive Technology Center lost their key staff person who oversees AT Demos for the AT Act program in January. They hired and we trained a new person who moved to a different program after a few months and they only restaffed the position after the fiscal year ended.

B. Description of Training Activities

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

As part of Disability Employment Awareness month, AT Act Program Director provided training to Human Resource personal of approximately 20 employers in CT on how to create an inclusive workplace via Assistive Technology, Universal Design and accommodations. Real world examples and scenarios were reviewed, there was opportunity for Q&A, and the session was well received. The HR personal planned to take back the resources and information learned to help improve their worksites and make them more inclusive. Several of the HR personal scheduled additional training with Program Director for their HR and management Teams.

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

AT Act partner, CREC, provided a training that focused on the inclusion of Assistive Technology (AT) in Transition Planning including CT Core Transition Skills. Participants were provided with resources to assist them in incorporating AT into their Transition planning, including information on the CT Tech Act Project’s device recycling, device loans, device demonstrations and funding sources to assist students as they transition from school to post-secondary and employment settings.

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

CT AT Act program partner NEAT provided over 10 hours of ICT training to their parent organization Oak Hill - one of the largest non-profit organizations in CT - to review and help Oak Hill staff understand and address accessibility to ensure access for individuals who may utilize adaptive software or AT such as screen reading software. Areas that were addressed included new website solutions adopted by Oak Hill; their social media applications; tablets/apps that are used in group homes for timekeeping; and Camp Brain - a website solution used to accept applications for their two camps Camp Harkness and Camp Hemlocks. Approximately 6 people were included in these services including Development and Marketing, IT, Legal, Project Manager and Senior Management. The training resulted in accessible websites and web-based solutions for Oak Hill programs and they plan to ensure accessibility moving forward.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

AT Act Program Director has been working with CT State University System and state Vocational Rehabilitation agency to assist in creating universal design and accessible materials to all students - as well as a career path for VR consumers to be able to provide this service as a part of a work experience that will lead to competitive employment for consumers while providing faculty the ability to ensure that all materials used are accessible to all students. The impact of this project, if it is successful, could be far reaching as all state community colleges and universities would be able to have a direct line of trained VR consumers who can provide this service and VR consumers come away with real world experience and a formal recommendation to apply to job placement opportunities, if not on the campuses elsewhere in the state.

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

The CT AT Act Program Director continues to provide technical assistance to the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services for their WIOA Pre-Employment Transition Program (known as Level Up), specifically, overseeing the “Level Up Camp.” This camp began in 2015 as an “AT Camp” and only had about five students in attendance the first year. The Level Up Camp, which is a one week sleep away camp at Camp Harkness coordinated in partnership with the NEAT Center, has expanded to 30 students with a wait list and now includes Career Exploration, interview preparedness, introduction to college, job readiness, and work experiences at a variety of employers. Students in attendance can to participate in 3 out of 10 work experiences and continue to learn about Assistive Technology and have access to AT during camp as needed. Next summer 2020, camp will expand to 2 separate sessions of 30 students each and we have no doubt we will be able to fill all the slots.

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. Partner agency, the New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center partnered with AARP to film "Real Possibilities" which aired on WINTV to raise awareness of the Smart Home on Wheels (SHOW) and inform the viewers about smart technology as it relates to independent living for individuals with disabilities, aging adults and their caregivers.

2. 310 attendees participated in the day long CT Achievement Through Assistive Technology conference, which also included 30 exhibitors and 20 break out sessions. The primary focus of this bi-annual conference is to help professionals who work with individuals with disabilities who may benefit from Assistive Technology. Our goal is to raise their awareness of AT, their knowledge, skills and awareness of resources available in our state.

Notes: