National Assistive Technology Act Data System
Annual Progress Report - Full Report
Mississippi 2020
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? | No |
|---|---|
| Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include conducting a Financial Loan Program? | No |
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? | 00 |
|---|
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? | 00 |
|---|
D. Anecdote
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. | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 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 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 6. Subtotal | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 8. Total | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | NaN% | NaN% | NaN% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 00 | NaN% |
| Satisfied | 00 | NaN% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 00 | NaN% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | NaN% |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | NaN% |
| Total Surveyed | 00 | |
| Response rate % | NaN% |
G. Notes:
Reutilization
A. Number of Recipients of Reused Devices
| Activity | Number of Individuals Receiving a Device from Activity |
|---|---|
| A. Device Exchange | 00 |
| B. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassign and/or Open Ended Loan | 113 |
| C. Total | 113 |
| 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 | 113 |
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 | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hearing | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Speech Communication | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Daily Living | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Computers and Related | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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 | 06 | $11,600 | $0 | $11,600 |
| Hearing | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Speech Communication | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 01 | $40 | $0 | $40 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 02 | $7,047 | $0 | $7,047 |
| Daily Living | 01 | $289 | $0 | $289 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Vehicle Modification & Transportation | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Computers and Related | 103 | $46,210 | $0 | $46,210 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | 113 | $65,186 | $0 | $65,186 |
D. Anecdote
Client has been a resident of Moss Point, MS his entire life. A terrible accident 17 years ago resulted in a coma which changed his life forever. His mobility and community interactions are dependent upon a wheelchair, and it needed to be a power wheelchair that enabled him to ride down the road to do his own shopping, make his rounds to visit life long friends, businesses and attend church. His old chair had fallen apart, and he had been confined to his home for a number of months. Obtaining a new chair had been impossible as his MCO provider did not cover wheelchairs. Project START stepped in and provided this client with a wheelchair just like he had been used to except in "excellent condition."
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. | 29 | 04 | 07 | 40 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 69 | 00 | 01 | 70 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 02 | 00 | 01 | 03 |
| 4. Subtotal | 100 | 04 | 09 | 113 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 6. Subtotal | 100 | 04 | 09 | 113 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 8. Total | 100 | 04 | 09 | 113 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 112 | 99.12% |
| Satisfied | 01 | 0.88% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 00 | 0% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 0% |
| Total Surveyed | 113 | |
| Response rate % | 100% |
G. Notes:
The majority of our data in this category is a result of our refurbished computer program where single clients are served.
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) | 53 |
| Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding | 12 |
| Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation | 29 |
| Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity | 19 |
| Total | 113 |
B. Short-Term Device Loan by Type of Borrower
| Type of Individual or Entity | Number of Device Borrowers |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 74 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 18 |
| Representative of Education | 20 |
| Representative of Employment | 00 |
| Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 01 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 00 |
| Representatives of Technology | 00 |
| Total | 113 |
C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans
| Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days | 45 |
|---|
D. Types of Devices Loaned
| Type of AT Device | Number |
|---|---|
| Vision | 40 |
| Hearing | 02 |
| Speech Communication | 31 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 17 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 29 |
| Daily Living | 13 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 00 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 00 |
| Computers and Related | 14 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 |
| Total | 146 |
E. Anecdote
A 7 year old boy diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia and a Language Delay was assessed by a speech and language pathologist. He was adopted from China in 2017 by his parents who took him to UMMC Center for Advancement of Youth for a speech and language evaluation in October 2019 because they were interested in an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device. He had been utilizing a device at his previous therapy center, but when the family had to move, they no longer had access to the device. He was primarily communicating with gestures, some sign language, vocalizations and a few intelligible single words. He struggled to communicate his wants, needs, thoughts and feelings with his family, peers and teachers. A trial with the Accent 800 device with LAMP WFL vocabulary system began, and he loved the device and learned the vocabulary very quickly. The family's insurance company made it challenging to receive approval for his own device in a timely manner which would leave him at home with no communication device except when he was being seen at therapy. Project START was contacted by the child's therapist for a loaner device until his was approved with insurance, and he was able to communicate with his brother, sister, cousins, parents, teachers etc. at home and continue to grow as a sweet, funny smart little boy without the extreme frustrations a child faces being non-verbal.
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 | 12 | 01 | 17 | 30 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Subtotal | 13 | 01 | 17 | 31 |
| Have not made a decision | 05 | 00 | 17 | 22 |
| Subtotal | 18 | 01 | 34 | 53 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 18 | 01 | 34 | 53 |
| Performance on this measure | 72.22% | 100% | 50% | |
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. | 05 | 01 | 16 | 22 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 02 | 01 | 03 | 06 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 20 | 00 | 11 | 31 |
| 4. Subtotal | 27 | 02 | 30 | 59 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 6. Subtotal | 27 | 02 | 30 | 59 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 8. Total | 27 | 02 | 31 | 60 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
H. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 107 | 94.69% |
| Satisfied | 03 | 2.65% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 00 | 0% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 03 | 2.65% |
| Total Surveyed | 113 | |
| Response rate % | 97.35% |
I. Notes:
We work closely with local school districts by loaning augmentative alternative communication devices, so many of our referrals result in providing an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation. Students are often waiting on their personal device so the therapist borrows a device from us to use in the classroom. During the national pandemic our loaner program wasn't extremely affected negatively. We continued to mail devices as we could after proper sanitation was performed. We also shortened our loaner period to 45 days from 90 days as it had been for the last several years.
Device Demonstration
A. Number of Device Demonstrations by Device Type
| Type of AT Device / Service | Number of Demonstrations of AT Devices / Services |
|---|---|
| Vision | 07 |
| Hearing | 01 |
| Speech Communication | 25 |
| Learning, Cognition and Developmental | 01 |
| Mobility, Seating and Positioning | 00 |
| Daily Living | 00 |
| Environmental Adaptations | 00 |
| Vehicle Modification and Transportation | 00 |
| Computers and Related | 01 |
| Recreation, Sports and Leisure | 00 |
| Total # of Devices Demonstrated | 35 |
B. Types of Participants
| Type of Participant | Number of Participants in Device Demonstrations |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 25 |
| Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives | 30 |
| Representatives of Education | 10 |
| Representatives of Employment | 00 |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 02 |
| Representative of Community Living | 00 |
| Representative of Technology | 00 |
| Total | 67 |
C. Number of Referrals
| Type of Entity | Number of Referrals |
|---|---|
| Funding Source (non-AT program) | 00 |
| Service Provider | 00 |
| Vendor | 00 |
| Repair Service | 00 |
| Others | 00 |
| Total | 00 |
D. Anecdote
Client is a young man with cerebral palsy who is non ambulatory and nonspeaking. He was seen at Project START's sub-grant center, Technology Assistive Device (TAD) Center in North MS. He was not using any form of symbolic communication and desperately needed possible communication supports. Because he is severely involved motorically accessing any communication device was extremely difficult for him. Scanning appeared to the be the best option. Initially, a loaner device with scanning as an access method, provided through Project START, was provided to use; however, he was determined to use his hands. His private SLP and physical therapist felt he would be more successful directly accessing the device with his hands. Several vocabulary and access changes were made, and he was provided a second loaner device. Although he continued to be somewhat inconsistent in being able to access messages, his father reported he was making progress and was extremely motivated to use the communication device. A funding submission was written by the TAD Center, and the client received his own communication device. He continues to to improve in using his communication device and particularly enjoys requesting "turn" in play activities and has his dad to "turn" the tv channel or his music. Too often assessment for AT has to be done in insufficient time to determine outcomes which results in abandonment of AT that was obtained prematurely or perhaps inappropriate for the user. Through our Demo activities we were able to pair him with the perfect device!
E. Performance Measures
| Response | Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Employment | Community Living | ||
| Decided that AT device/service will meet needs | 25 | 00 | 07 | 32 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Subtotal | 26 | 00 | 07 | 33 |
| Have not made a decision | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Subtotal | 28 | 00 | 07 | 35 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 28 | 00 | 07 | 35 |
| Performance on this measure | 92.86% | NaN% | 100% | |
F. Customer Satisfaction
| Customer Rating of Services | Number of Customers | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Highly satisfied | 42 | 62.69% |
| Satisfied | 20 | 29.85% |
| Satisfied somewhat | 05 | 7.46% |
| Not at all satisfied | 00 | 0% |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 0% |
| Total | 67 | |
| Response rate % | 100% |
G. Notes:
Device Demonstrations were affected by the national pandemic as we didn't conduct in-person appointments as frequently; however, we did offer virtual demos.
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. | 34 | 05 | 23 | 62 |
| 2. AT was only available through the AT program. | 71 | 01 | 04 | 76 |
| 3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. | 22 | 00 | 12 | 34 |
| 4. Subtotal | 127 | 06 | 39 | 172 |
| 5. None of the above | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 6. Subtotal | 127 | 06 | 39 | 172 |
| 7. Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 01 | 01 |
| 8. Total | 127 | 06 | 40 | 173 |
| 9. Performance on this measure | 82.68% | 100% | 69.23% | 80.23% |
| ACL Performance Measure | 85% | |||
| Met/Not Met | Not 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 | 37 | 01 | 24 | 62 |
| Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Subtotal | 39 | 01 | 24 | 64 |
| Have not made a decision | 07 | 00 | 17 | 24 |
| Subtotal | 46 | 01 | 41 | 88 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 46 | 01 | 41 | 88 |
| Performance on this measure | 84.78% | 100% | 58.54% | 72.73% |
| 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 | 98.28% | 95% | Met |
| Response Rate | 98.98% | 90% | Met |
Training
A. Training Participants: Number and Types of Participants; Geographical Distribution
| Type of Participant | Number |
|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 17 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 00 |
| Representatives of Education | 15 |
| Representatives of Employment | 137 |
| Rep Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 14 |
| Representatives of Community Living | 00 |
| Representatives of Technology | 29 |
| Unable to Categorize | 48 |
| TOTAL | 260 |
| Metro | Non Metro | Unknown | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 246 | 00 | 260 |
B. Training Topics
| Primary Topic of Training | Participants |
|---|---|
| AT Products/Services | 112 |
| AT Funding/Policy/ Practice | 00 |
| Combination of any/all of the above | 48 |
| Information Technology/Telecommunication Access | 00 |
| Transition | 100 |
| Total | 260 |
C. Description of Training Activities
Describe innovative one high-impact assistance training activity conducted during the reporting period:
Project START partnered with PRC to conduct training on augmentative alternative communication devices to educators, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, parents and assistive technology professionals. Basic strategies were learned to interact with non-verbal individuals using a communication device. The devices are the most commonly requested equipment in our loaner program.
Briefly describe one training activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
T.K. Martin Center, Project START sub-grantee, conducted training on several software programs available for educational use. They are located on a college campus, and this high impact training activity allowed students the opportunity to advance in their field of study.
Briefly describe one training activity related to Information and Communication Technology accessibility:
D. IT/Telecommunications Training Performance Measure
| Outcome/Result From IT/Telecommunications Training Received | Number |
|---|---|
| IT and Telecommunications Procurement or Dev Policies | 00 |
| Training or Technical Assistance will be developed or implemented | 00 |
| No known outcome at this time | 00 |
| Nonrespondent | 00 |
| Total | 00 |
| Performance Measure Percentage | NaN% |
| ACL Target Percentage | 70% |
| Met/Not Met | Not Met |
E. Notes:
Technical Assistance
A. Frequency and Nature of Technical Assistance
| Education | 0% |
|---|---|
| Employment | 100% |
| Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation | 0% |
| Community Living | 0% |
| Technology (IT, Telecom, AT) | 0% |
| Total | 100% |
B. Description of Technical Assistance
Describe Innovative one high-impact assistance activity that is not related to transition:
Project START hosted the managers of the Disability Determination Services in our loan library to discuss how we can work together to assist clients of Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services collectively. We provided information on how to improve their service opportunities to their claimants. We discussed policies and possible outcomes of our collaboration effort.
Breifly describe one technical assistance activity related to transition conducted during the reporting period:
We provided technical assistance to an MDRS counselors on how to better serve their clients through software on our loaner iPads during their college career and into employment. Many apps were explored to showcase how the same device many use to play music or games can be a valuable assistive technology device.
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. We conducted both innovative and high impact public awareness events in FY 2019-2020. Project START hosted a virtual conference due to the original assistive technology conference having to be postponed to 2021. We had 3 of our original speakers join us for hour long presentations and Q&A. Mr. Dustin Wright of Disability Cocoon, Dr. Maulik Trividi with StationMD and Todd Stabelfeldt, the Quadfather spoke. Each topic was extremely unique and left our disability professionals wanting more! We had roughly 60 participants join in for the conference, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. These three speakers still plan to join us in the spring for our in-person conference!
2. Project START partnered with the Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport for their 2nd Annual Beach Day at the Wheelway in Long Beach, MS. Individuals with disabilities and their families had the chance to soak up the sun and sand on the MS Gulf Coast as well as hear from motivational and informational speakers and participate in fun activities at numerous booths. We shared information on our program, handed out applications, provided hands on experience with a variety of devices, most specifically alternative augmentative communication devices and iPads with several educational apps and beach wheelchairs. We gained several new clients as well as teachers and speech therapists to begin using us for their school district needs.
Information And Assistance
| Types of Recipients | AT Device/ Service |
AT Funding | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals with Disabilities | 01 | 01 | 02 |
| Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives | 01 | 01 | 02 |
| Representative of Education | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Representative of Employment | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| Representative of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Representative of Community Living | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Representative of Technology | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Unable to Categorize | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 22 | 02 | 24 |
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? | 00 |
|---|
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.
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?
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? | No |
|---|
A. Leveraged Funding for State Plan Activities
| Fund Source | Amount | Use of Funds |
|---|
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: Thu Feb 04 2021 13:27:55 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time)