National Assistive Technology Act Data System
Annual Progress Report - Full Report
Maryland 2019
General Information
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
State Financing
| Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include any State Financing? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include conducting a Financial Loan Program? | Yes |
| Area of Residence | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Metro RUCC 1-3 |
Non-Metro RUCC 4-9 |
||
| Approved Loan made | 51 | 01 | 52 |
| Approved Not made | 29 | 02 | 31 |
| Rejected | 47 | 01 | 48 |
| Total | 127 | 04 | 131 |
2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made
| Lowest Income: | $10,272 | Highest Income: | $213,624 |
|---|
| Sum of Incomes | Loans Made | Average Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| $4,352,214 | 52 | $83,696 |
| Income Ranges | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 or Less |
$15,001- $30,000 |
$30,001- $45,000 |
$45,001- $60,000 |
$60,001- $75,000 |
$75,001 or More |
||
| Number of Loans | 01 | 08 | 08 | 05 | 04 | 26 | 52 |
| Percentage of Loans | 1.92% | 15.38% | 15.38% | 9.62% | 7.69% | 50% | 100% |
3. Loan Type
| Type of Loan | Number of Loans | Percentage of loans |
|---|---|---|
| Revolving Loans | 00 | 0% |
| Partnership Loans | ||
| Without interest buy-down or loan guarantee | 02 | 3.85% |
| With interest buy-down only | 00 | 0% |
| With loan guarantee only | 47 | 90.38% |
| With both interest buy-down and loan guarantee | 03 | 5.77% |
| Total | 52 | 100% |
| Type of Loan | Number of Loans | Dollar Value of Loans |
|---|---|---|
| Revolving Loans | 00 | $0 |
| Partnership Loans | 52 | $1,649,064 |
| Total | 52 | $1,649,064 |
4. Interest Rates
| Lowest | 3% |
|---|---|
| Highest | 4.25% |
| Sum of Interest Rates | Number of Loans Made | Average Interest Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 159 | 52 | 3.0625% |
| Interest Rate | Number of loans |
|---|---|
| 0.0% to 2.0% | 00 |
| 2.1% to 4.0% | 51 |
| 4.1% to 6.0% | 01 |
| 6.1% to 8.0% | 00 |
| 8.1% - 10.0% | 00 |
| 10.1%-12.0% | 00 |
| 12.1%-14.0% | 00 |
| 14.1% + | 00 |
| Total | 52 |
5. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Financed
| Type of AT | Number of Devices Financed | Dollar Value of Loans |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | 01 | $2,075 |
| Hearing | 02 | $4,398 |
| Speech communication | 00 | $0 |
| Learning, cognition, and developmental | 00 | $0 |
| Mobility, seating and positioning | 00 | $0 |
| Daily living | 00 | $0 |
| Environmental adaptations | 02 | $24,650 |
| Vehicle modification and transportation | 47 | $1,617,941 |
| Computers and related | 00 | $0 |
| Recreation, sports, and leisure | 00 | $0 |
| Total | 52 | $1,649,064 |
6. Defaults
| Number Loans in default | 05 |
|---|---|
| Net loss for loans in default | $39,755 |
B. State Financing Activities that provide consumers with resources and services that result in the acquisition of AT devices and services
1. Overview of Activities Performed
| How many other state financing activities that provide consumers with access to funds for the purchase of AT devices and services were included in your approved state plan? | 01 |
|---|
Activity 1
| How would you describe this state financing activity? | telecommunications distribution |
|---|
2. Geographic Distribution, Number of Individuals Who Acquired AT Devices and Services and Number for whom Performance Measure Data are Collected
| County of Residence | Individuals Served |
|---|---|
| A. Metro (RUCC 1-3) | 54 |
| B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9) | 03 |
| C. Total Served | 57 |
| Performance Measure | Number |
|---|---|
| D. Excluded from Performance Measure | 00 |
| E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures | 57 |
If a number is reported in D you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:
3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded
| Type of AT Device / Service | Number of Devices Funded |
Value of
AT Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | 28 | $10,869 |
| Hearing | 25 | $6,913 |
| Speech communication | 02 | $3,050 |
| Learning, cognition, and developmental | 00 | $0 |
| Mobility, seating and positioning | 09 | $6,644 |
| Daily living | 00 | $0 |
| Environmental adaptations | 00 | $0 |
| Vehicle modification and transportation | 00 | $0 |
| Computers and related | 00 | $0 |
| Recreation, sports, and leisure | 00 | $0 |
| Total | 64 | $27,476 |
C. State Financing Activities that Allow Consumers to Obtain AT at Reduced Cost
1. Overview of Activities Performed
| How many state financing activities that allow consumers to obtain AT at a reduced cost were included in your approved state plan? | 01 |
|---|
Activity 1
| How would you describe this state financing activity? | cooperative buying activity |
|---|
2. Geographic Distribution and Number of Individuals Served
| County of Residence | Individuals Served |
|---|---|
| A. Metro (RUCC 1-3) | 163 |
| B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9) | 05 |
| C. Total Served | 168 |
| Performance Measure | Number |
|---|---|
| D. Excluded from Performance Measure | 105 |
| E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures | 63 |
If a number is reported in D you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:
Excluded clients were the school systems which are required to provide the AT regardless of the method by which they access it but which utilize the cooperative buying program to access the devices at low cost.
3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded
| Type of AT Device / Service | Number Provided | Total Estimated Current Retail Purchase Price |
Total Price for Which Devices Were Sold |
Savings to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision | 182 | $31,208 | $28,439 | $2,769 |
| Hearing | 15 | $3,387 | $2,761 | $626 |
| Speech communication | 674 | $98,598 | $85,836 | $12,762 |
| Learning, cognition, and developmental | 280 | $31,409 | $28,191 | $3,218 |
| Mobility, seating and positioning | 20 | $3,713 | $3,214 | $499 |
| Daily living | 68 | $4,278 | $3,738 | $540 |
| Environmental adaptations | 42 | $10,572 | $9,774 | $798 |
| Vehicle modification and transportation | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Computers and related | 28 | $2,238 | $2,006 | $232 |
| Recreation, sports, and leisure | 43 | $4,101 | $3,640 | $461 |
| Total | 1,352 | $189,504 | $167,599 | $21,905 |
D. Anecdote
The Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program recently provided a loan to a family in need of home modifications for their 9-year-old son who is autistic with multiple co-occurring conditions including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and epilepsy. The family lives in a home with no accessible entrances and with uneven access into the home. Thus, they requested to borrow $10,000 to build an attached garage with an entry room level for wheelchair accessibility. The family borrowed the maximum amount the ATLP can guarantee in non-secured home modifications, and financed the rest of the project through outside sources. Ultimately, the ATLP funding allowed them to create a fully accessible entrance/exit for their son, maximizing his independence and access into and out of the home.
AT Discount Sales & Services LLC provided a quote to a parent of an adult individual with a communication disability. The family was trying to obtain funding for a NovaChat that had been recommended to them. It took almost a year for them to finally get approval, then they were told funding approved but they had to have proof of purchase within two days. The parent called the manufacturer directly as she felt that was the only way to get it so quickly but was told they could not accept their order or give them proof of payment as their system was being updated. So the parent called the AT cooperative buying program for help. AT Discount Sales was able to take the order and provide the required proof of payment so the family could get the device with the available funding. Additionally, by purchasing the communication device through AT Discount Sales, the family saved saved $239.50 off the standard purchase price.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 15 | 22 | 105 | 142 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 00 | 02 | 16 | 18 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 4. Subtotal | 15 | 24 | 121 | 160 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 6. Subtotal | 15 | 24 | 122 | 161 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 11 | 11 |
| 8. Total | 15 | 24 | 133 | 172 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | 100% | 90.98% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 217 | 78.34% |
| Satisfied | 40 | 14.44% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 01 | 0.36% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 19 | 6.86% |
| Total Surveyed | 277 | |
| Response rate % | 93.14% |
G. Notes:
Reutilization
A. Number of Recipients of Reused Devices
| Activity | Number of Individuals Receiving a Device from Activity |
|---|---|
| A. Device Exchange | 07 |
| B. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassign and/or Open Ended Loan | 134 |
| C. Total | 141 |
| Performance Measure | |
|---|---|
| D. Device Exchange - Excluded from Performance Measure | 00 |
| E. Reassignment/Refurbishment and Repair and Open Ended Loans - Excluded from Performance Measure because AT is provided to or on behalf of an entity that has an obligation to provide the AT such as schools under IDEA or VR agencies/clients | 00 |
| F. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures | 141 |
If a number is reported in E you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:
B. Device Exchange Activities
| Type of AT Device | Number of Devices Exchanged | Total Estimated Current Purchase Price | Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Exchanged | Savings to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision | 01 | $2,500 | $200 | $2,300 |
| Hearing | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Speech Communication | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 02 | $20,040 | $0 | $20,040 |
| Daily Living | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 03 | $6,500 | $1,000 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 01 | $1,000 | $450 | $550 |
| Computers and Related | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | 07 | $30,040 | $1,650 | $28,390 |
C. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassignment and/or Open Ended Loan Activities
| Type of AT Device | Number of Devices Reassigned/Refurbished and Repaired | Total Estimated Current Purchase Price | Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Sold | Savings to Consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision | 02 | $60 | $0 | $60 |
| Hearing | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Speech Communication | 13 | $11,560 | $0 | $11,560 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 08 | $14,915 | $0 | $14,915 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 112 | $348,285 | $0 | $348,285 |
| Daily Living | 40 | $16,498 | $0 | $16,498 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 13 | $14,588 | $0 | $14,588 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Computers and Related | 05 | $3,872 | $0 | $3,872 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 07 | $7,622 | $0 | $7,622 |
| Total | 200 | $417,400 | $0 | $417,400 |
D. Anecdote
Mr. S. has a son with Muscular Dystrophy. He requested a wheelchair van in 2017 but there was not one available at that time. Information was sent to him each time a van was listed on the Maryland Assistive Technology Reuse (MATR) Facebook page but he couldn’t afford any of the vehicles posted. In late October of 2018 staff received information on a donated wheelchair van and contacted M. S. He was able to obtain this for his son at no cost. He is now able to take his son to doctor’s appointments and social activities with much less effort. This was a savings to him of about $20,000.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 09 | 00 | 92 | 101 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 00 | 00 | 11 | 11 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 03 | 00 | 22 | 25 |
| 4. Subtotal | 12 | 00 | 125 | 137 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 04 | 04 |
| 6. Subtotal | 12 | 00 | 129 | 141 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 8. Total | 12 | 00 | 129 | 141 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | NaN% | 96.9% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 140 | 99.29% |
| Satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 00 | 0% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 01 | 0.71% |
| Total Surveyed | 141 | |
| Response rate % | 99.29% |
G. Notes:
Device Loan
A. Short-Term Device Loans by Type of Purpose
| Primary Purpose of Short-Term Device Loan | Number |
|---|---|
| Assist in decision-making (device trial or evaluation) | 196 |
| Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding | 28 |
| Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation | 34 |
| Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity | 19 |
| Total | 277 |
B. Short-Term Device Loan by Type of Borrower
| Type of Individual or Entity | Number of Device Borrowers |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 135 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 46 |
| Representative of Education | 44 |
| Representative of Employment | 13 |
| Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 14 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 18 |
| Representatives of Technology | 07 |
| Total | 277 |
C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans
| Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days | 30 |
|---|
D. Types of Devices Loaned
| Type of AT Device | Number |
|---|---|
| Vision | 107 |
| Hearing | 43 |
| Speech Communication | 63 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 41 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 18 |
| Daily Living | 44 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 39 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 00 |
| Computers and Related | 29 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 04 |
| Total | 388 |
E. Anecdote
A. Miller is a high-school senior with very low vision. She didn’t have success receiving proper assistive technology through school to help her in classes and was concerned about future technology needs when transitioning into college. She and her patents visited MDTAP and participated in a demonstration of some potential technology solutions. A. Miller borrowed a document camera and software (among other items). The camera proved to be very helpful in homework completion and A. plans on purchasing this device before graduation.
F. Access Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 42 | 27 | 56 | 125 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 06 | 13 | 36 | 55 |
| Subtotal | 48 | 40 | 92 | 180 |
| Have not made a decision | 04 | 01 | 05 | 10 |
| Subtotal | 52 | 41 | 97 | 190 |
| Nonrespondent | 01 | 00 | 05 | 06 |
| Total | 53 | 41 | 102 | 196 |
| Performance on this measure | 92.31% | 97.56% | 94.85% | |
G. Acquisition Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 23 | 02 | 38 | 63 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 01 | 02 | 02 | 05 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 4. Subtotal | 24 | 04 | 41 | 69 |
| 5. None of the above | 09 | 00 | 01 | 10 |
| 6. Subtotal | 33 | 04 | 42 | 79 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| 8. Total | 34 | 04 | 43 | 81 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 72.73% | 100% | 97.62% | |
H. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 228 | 82.31% |
| Satisfied | 36 | 13% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 03 | 1.08% |
| Not at all satisfied | 02 | 0.72% |
| Nonrespondent | 08 | 2.89% |
| Total Surveyed | 277 | |
| Response rate % | 97.11% |
I. Notes:
Device Demonstration
A. Number of Device Demonstrations by Device Type
| Type of AT Device / Service | Number of Demonstrations of AT Devices / Services |
|---|---|
| Vision | 51 |
| Hearing | 17 |
| Speech Communication | 14 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 05 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 07 |
| Daily Living | 51 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 01 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 00 |
| Computers and Related | 07 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 01 |
| Total # of Devices Demonstrated | 154 |
B. Types of Participants
| Type of Participant | Number of Participants in Device Demonstrations |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 135 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 63 |
| Representatives of Education | 19 |
| Representatives of Employment | 02 |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 08 |
| Representative of Community Living | 10 |
| Representative of Technology | 00 |
| Total | 237 |
C. Number of Referrals
| Type of Entity | Number of Referrals |
|---|---|
| Funding Source (non-AT program) | 37 |
| Service Provider | 35 |
| Vendor | 44 |
| Repair Service | 00 |
| Others | 00 |
| Total | 116 |
D. Anecdote
On 8/15/2019, one of our clients who is a school aged child from Baltimore City with multiple disabling conditions came into our lab with his parents for an eye-gaze device demo. Our client has significant pentaplegia Cerebral Palsy impacting his gross and fine motor movements across all five limbs that is comorbid with seizure disorder. The device’s demoed were the Microsoft Surface with the Tobii PC Eye and a range of games from Microsoft titled 'Eyes First' for use with eye control. Our client was able to interact with the device to play several simple video games using his eyes as the input control. The family were excited at the possibility of these particular devices and then borrowed them from the MDTAP library. They utilized the Microsoft Surface at both school and home to gauge the effectiveness of the system as he interacted with classmates, teachers, and his parents.
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 05 | 01 | 60 | 66 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 03 | 02 | 09 | 14 |
| Subtotal | 08 | 03 | 69 | 80 |
| Have not made a decision | 10 | 10 | 53 | 73 |
| Subtotal | 18 | 13 | 122 | 153 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| Total | 18 | 13 | 123 | 154 |
| Performance on this measure | 44.44% | 23.08% | 56.1% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 174 | 73.42% |
| Satisfied | 53 | 22.36% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 06 | 2.53% |
| Not at all satisfied | 01 | 0.42% |
| Nonrespondent | 03 | 1.27% |
| Total | 237 | |
| Response rate % | 98.73% |
G. Notes:
Overall Performance Measures
Overall Acquisition Performance Measure
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| 1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. | 47 | 24 | 235 | 306 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 01 | 04 | 29 | 34 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 03 | 00 | 23 | 26 |
| 4. Subtotal | 51 | 28 | 287 | 366 |
| 5. None of the above | 09 | 00 | 06 | 15 |
| 6. Subtotal | 60 | 28 | 293 | 381 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 01 | 00 | 12 | 13 |
| 8. Total | 61 | 28 | 305 | 394 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 80% | 100% | 86.84% | 86.73% |
| ACL Performance Measure | 85% | |||
| Met/Not Met | Met | |||
Overall Access Performance Measure
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 47 | 28 | 116 | 191 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 09 | 15 | 45 | 69 |
| Subtotal | 56 | 43 | 161 | 260 |
| Have not made a decision | 14 | 11 | 58 | 83 |
| Subtotal | 70 | 54 | 219 | 343 |
| Nonrespondent | 01 | 00 | 06 | 07 |
| Total | 71 | 54 | 225 | 350 |
| Performance on this measure | 80% | 79.63% | 73.18% | 75.58% |
| ACL Performance Measure | 90% | |||
| Met/Not Met | Not Met | |||
Overall Satisfaction Rating
| Customer Rating of Services | Percent | ACL Target | Met/Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied and satisfied | 98.56% | 95% | Met |
| Response Rate | 96.67% | 90% | Met |
Training
A. Training Participants: Number and Types of Participants; Geographical Distribution
| Type of Participant | Number |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 78 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 15 |
| Representatives of Education | 198 |
| Representatives of Employment | 16 |
| Rep Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 81 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 11 |
| Representatives of Technology | 14 |
| Unable to Categorize | 26 |
| TOTAL | 439 |
| Metro | Non Metro | Unknown | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 392 | 40 | 07 | 439 |
B. Training Topics
| Primary Topic of Training | Participants |
|---|---|
| AT Products/Services | 159 |
| AT Funding/Policy/ Practice | 07 |
| Combination of any/all of the above | 230 |
| Information Technology/Telecommunication Access | 18 |
| Transition | 25 |
| Total | 439 |
B. Description of Training Activities
Describe innovative one high-impact assistance training activity conducted during the reporting period:
MDTAP provided an assistive technology training on 4/4/19 at MedStar Hospital for a stroke support group. Hospital staff, support professionals, patients, and their families attended. Information on how AT could help them regain Independence after suffering a stroke was disseminated and various types of AT was demonstrated including aids for daily living, augmentative alternative communication devices, and smart home technology. The training provided specific guidance on the use and implementation of the devices, while the overall goal of the training was to provide tangible solutions for patients and their family members so that they could better navigate their homes, daily activities, and re-establish independence.
Breifly describe one training activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
MDTAP hosted a transition training on 2/18/19 focused on an overview of how Alexa and/or Google Home can help individuals with disabilities be more independent. The training was hosted for the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) students and their vocational rehabilitation counselors. The intended impact was that the students who attended could identify ways in which technology could help them to live more independently, transitioning from living with parents to living by themselves. The training covered smart home technology solutions and was provided to 20 students and 5 VR counselors.
Breifly describe one training activity related to Information and Communication Technology accessibility:
A web accessibility training on 5/22/2019 was held in Baltimore, MD. The company was the Berndt Group that specializes in creating digital content for small and medium sized businesses. Their UX designer had identified an issue their staff was really good at creating aesthetically pleasing websites but did not have much context regarding creating accessible content. I provided a presentation that reviewed how different disabilities can impact access the web, showed off a variety of alternative access methods such as screen reading technology and demonstrated adaptive devices that individuals with disabling conditions may utilize as an input method for computer access. The feedback from the group was they would utilize this new information to change how they work and attempt to code in more accessible manner to increase the inclusivity of the digital products. Attendees were from Baltimore City (5) and Baltimore County (3), respectively.
D. IT/Telecommunications Training Performance Measure
| Outcome/Result From IT/Telecommunications Training Received | Number |
|---|---|
| IT and Telecommunications Procurement or Dev Policies | 11 |
| Training or Technique Assistance will be developed or implemented | 02 |
| No known outcome at this time | 05 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 |
| Total | 18 |
| Performance Measure Percentage | 72.2% |
| ACL Target Percentage | 70% |
| Met/Not Met | Met |
E. Notes:
Technical Assistance
A. Frequency and Nature of Technical Assistance
| Education | 50% |
|---|---|
| Employment | 0% |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 0% |
| Community Living | 0% |
| Technology (IT, Telecom, AT) | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
B. Description of Technical Assistance
Describe Innovative one high-impact assistance activity that is not related to transition:
The Maryland Technology Assistance Program has worked directly with Maryland State Archives (MSA) to assess the physical accessibility of workstations and to provide an accessibility review of the MSA website and documents. MDTAP has provided consultation and recommendation on best practices for accommodating requests for accessible documents (MSA maintains over 1 million state documents in its archives), has advised on best practices for supporting constituents with disabilities who need to navigate multiple archive documents, and provided guidance on the development of an accessible website. This support has included consulting with MSA IT staff and their archivist to determine a method for individuals with blindness and low vision to gain access to content that would be otherwise inaccessible. Through the consultative process, it was determined that the agency would create an accessible form and a request button/link so individuals can request an accessible copy of a respective docu
Breifly describe one technical assistance activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
The Maryland Technology Assistance Program is a member of the Governor's Inter Agency Transition Council (IATC) and simultaneously partners with the National Federation of the Blind, which is actively running the Inclusive Transportation Planning Framework Grant, which, in part, is charged with developing a Transportation Toolkit for transitioning youth. This Transportation Planning Steering Committee is also developing a survey to assess current conditions and needs of transitioning youth and transportation. As an initiative of MDTAP, we have engaged the IATC and the NFB so that both groups can collaborate to assess the transportation needs, identify key questions for the assessment tool, and finalizing & distributing the Transportation Toolkit. The first meeting related to this initiative occurred in July 2019, and a future presentation to the IATC will occur in early 2020.
C. Notes:
Public Awareness
Public Awareness Activities
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 Maryland Technology Assistance Program hosted the AT Talks & Tours event on July 25, 2019. We had nearly 40 constituents in attendance along with nine vendors and organizations offering cutting edge assistive technology including virtual reality devices, customized AT, smart home technology, and product development focused on vision, communication, and hearing technologies. Vendor's hosted "AT talks" on the work they're doing in the AT field, while additionally, attendees had an opportunity to tour the MDTAP AT library, have hands-on experiences with the vendor devices, and work directly with vendors to discuss needs, challenges and expectations.
2. MDTAP hosted an Accessible Gaming Night on July 24, 2019, where we provided 5 different gaming workstations equipped with adapted controllers, games, switches, and eye gaze for attendees. We had 20 young adults attend, all with different disabilities. Some students utilized the adapted equipment while others used standard gaming technology. MDTAP was provided resources, freebies, and additional adapted equipment from AbleGamers. As a result, MDTAP created an Accessible Gaming Event Playbook, which will serve as a guide to creating, advertising, and running an accessible gaming event. This is now available on the MDTAP website.
Information And Assistance
| Types of Recipients | AT Device/ Service |
AT Funding | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 285 | 14 | 299 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 135 | 20 | 155 |
| Representative of Education | 151 | 165 | 316 |
| Representative of Employment | 09 | 36 | 45 |
| Representative of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 29 | 03 | 32 |
| Representative of Community Living | 82 | 24 | 106 |
| Representative of Technology | 05 | 00 | 05 |
| Unable to Categorize | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 696 | 262 | 958 |
Notes:
State Improvement Outcomes
| State improvement outcomes are not required. You may report up to two MAJOR state improvement outcomes for this reporting period. How many will you be reporting? | 01 |
|---|
A. State Improvements
1. In one or two sentences, describe the outcome. Be as specific as possible about exactly what changed during this reporting period as a result of the AT program's initiative.
The Maryland Technology Assistance Program, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Disabilities, has been working on a multi-year implementation of the Information Technology Accessibility Initiative. During FY19, MDTAP was instrumental in hiring an IT Accessibility Coordinator, developing a two-year work plan, and establishing a written report to the joint chairman's commission on the implementation of a state-level plan to oversee and implement accessibility best practices into procurement and development within the state. This new position, housed within MDTAP, is responsible for providing statewide education and policy development on information technology procurement and implementation, providing consultation, and providing direct remediation.
2. In one or two sentences, describe the written policies, practices, and procedures that have been developed and implemented as a result of the AT program's initiative. Include information about how to obtain the full documents, such as a Web site address or e-mail address of a contact person, but do not include the full documents here. (If there are no written polices, practices and procedures, explain why.)
MDTAP has completed the Joint Chairman's Commission report which provides a legislative update on the creation and implementation of this position. A website, training modules, and best practices are currently in development. The new IT Accessibility Coordinator is Andrew Drummond, and can be reached at adrummond@mdtap.org or andrew.drummond@maryland.gov or 410-554-9552.
3. What was the primary area of impact for this state improvement outcome?
Technology (ICT accessibility and AT
B. State Improvements
1. In one or two sentences, describe the outcome. Be as specific as possible about exactly what changed during this reporting period as a result of the AT program's initiative.
2. In one or two sentences, describe the written policies, practices, and procedures that have been developed and implemented as a result of the AT program's initiative. Include information about how to obtain the full documents, such as a Web site address or e-mail address of a contact person, but do not include the full documents here. (If there are no written polices, practices and procedures, explain why.)
3. What was the primary area of impact for this state improvement outcome?
Additional And Leveraged Funds
Additional and Leveraged Funds
| Did you have Additional and Leveraged Funding to Report? | Yes |
|---|
A. Leveraged Funding for State Plan Activities
| Fund Source | Amount | Use of Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Public/State Agency | $19,292 | State Financing |
| Amount: $19,292 |
B. Leveraged Funding for Activities Not in State Plan (data not previously reported in other activity sections)
| Fund Source | Amount | Use of Funds | Individuals Served | Other Outcome |
|---|
C. Describe any unique issues with your data in this section (e.g., the reason why you were unable to report the number of individuals served with additional or leveraged funds).
Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance . Saved: Mon Mar 09 2020 08:42:32 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)