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

Activity 2

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:

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:

I. Notes:

WATAP and the Timberland Regional Library System completed a refresh of the Aids for Better Living collaboration. This collaboration enables library patrons to checkout and trial devices from a small collection housed with the Timberland Regional Library System to inspire people thinking about how AT can foster independence in everyday life. We updated 2 devices and added an additional 10 new devices. Web and printed resources were updated and refreshed, and we conducted a staff training in December of 2019 to promote the project and to talk about the new requirements for having the borrowers fill out and return the data cards. The pandemic severely limited access to the collection as the library system was closed from March through June and with limited services through the summer and fall. WATAP also has a similar collaboration with the San Juan Island Library and a planned refresh of that project was placed on hold as this library has been closed since March.

G. Notes:

C. Description of Training Activities

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

WATAP is a significant partner of a newly awarded 4-year AgrAbility grant through the US Department of Agriculture to support assistive technology services and resources to farmers and agricultural workers across the state. The other key partners on this project are the WSU Skagit County Extension, the NW Access Fund, WA DVR, and WA Department of Labor and Industries. As part of the WA AgrAbility Project, WATAP staff will deliver annual training, which originally was to be provided in-person at 6 locations throughout the state but in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it was decided to conduct the majority of these trainings via webinar. The curriculum of this year’s training focuses on matching functional need with the selection of appropriate technologies, the utilization of everyday off-the-shelf materials to customize and improvise low-cost solutions, and providing appropriate examples of various assistive technologies and available resources and services. We were able to conduct the first training in-person in early March and offered a webinar version of the training on 4 additional dates through the summer.

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

As part of a 5-year project funded by King County, WATAP is providing training on assistive technology to promote aging in place and maintaining independence to low-income seniors, unpaid caregivers, and supporting organizations in rural and tribal communities in King County. Our intention was to offer a 2-3 hour training with the curriculum and marketing information was finalized in February. However, in all of the various stages of shutdown in the state due to the pandemic, gatherings were not permitted, and we were forced to cancel in-person trainings. In lieu of the ability to offer in-person events, we redesigned and redeveloped the curriculum for each of our originally proposed topic so it was shorter in length and lent itself to a webinar style. We decided to use Zoom as the platform for the webinars as it has good accessibility features, is widely known and used in the community, and is relatively simple to use on a variety of computers and mobile devices. We also decided to have all of our webinars real-time captioned to support those with hearing loss. We delivered six webinars with multiple opportunities or each of the following topics: (1) Adaptive Gardening Options for Seniors; (2) Medication Management Through Use of Assistive Technology; (3) Low Cost, Low Tech Solutions to Assistive Technology: and (4) Assistive Technology for Mental Health. Although each of these areas have more impact through direct face to face presentation and hands on activity, we felt that using the webinar format provided an excellent preview of what might be expected when we are able to offer training in-person. We had significant challenges with advertising these webinars. We had only just rebooted our social media efforts and begun working with the newly formed Senior Hubs on combined outreach efforts when the outbreak began. Although our webinars have been better attended over time, we saw fewer participants than we had hoped. Lastly, seniors in rural portions of the county are in general not well equipment to use technology and/or lack proper access to broadband service which would allow them to attend our online offerings. We know we are still not reaching many who would benefit from the information and programs we can offer.

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

With so many organizations moving to webinars and online meetings due to the pandemic, WATAP was approached to provide some training on the accessibility of various platforms to community organizations and local agencies. During two different sessions, we discussed best practices and tips for making webinars and web-based meetings accessible. We also provided additional resources targeted to help persons with intellectual disabilities and those not used to technology to connect to Zoom as well as other resources specifically on accessibility features in Zoom. We had other ICT related trainings scheduled that were cancelled due to the pandemic.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

WATAP manages and facilitates an Assistive Technology Providers Network which promotes more meaningful professional networking, enhances collaboration among the network members and community partners, and promotes cross dissemination of information and resources. The Network is comprised of state agency staff, K-12 educators and administrators, and community-based organizational program staff who are all involved with assistive technology as part of their work. The Network currently meets quarterly and prior to the pandemic, we moved the location of the meeting around various parts of the state to showcase various partner programs. During the pandemic, we moved the quarterly meetings online. WATAP hopes to establish some form of an online forum that supports and facilitates ongoing discussion, interaction, and communication.

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

WATAP was part of the planning for the first ever Youth Leadership and Transition Forum in eastern Washington. The Forum is a cooperative project of the state Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE), with support from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Services for the Blind, and other community partners. WATAP has been a partner in the Forum every year and this year, we were excited for the opportunity to have the event in eastern WA. The plan was to provide a hands-on workshop for the participants to talk about their current AT use and their goals for after high school and how AT would fit in. Additionally, WATAP was also going to provide on-on-one sessions in collaboration with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Services for the Blind to talk about transition plans and conduct in-person assessments to address AT goals during transition. Unfortunately, this event was cancelled due to the pandemic and is no

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. As part of the WA AgrAbility Project activities, WATAP participated in community outreach events to promote and provide resources around assistive technology to support farmers and agricultural workers across the state. WATAP took part in outreach for the project at the Skagit Farm Expo in Stanwood on January 25, and the 2020 NW Ag Expo also in Spokane on February 2-5. Part of the goal of outreach will be to contribute to the sustainability of the AgrAbility Project in cultivating and supporting a community of practice and expertise throughout WA and to provide ongoing service and support to the agricultural community.

2. WATAP began work on a 5-year project funded by King County to provide assistive technology services and resources to low-income seniors and unpaid caregivers in rural and tribal communities in King County. Initial steps included planning for assistive technology purchases to enhance our offerings for demonstration and device borrowing and for the creation of mini-kits of AT to be showcased at outreach events. We created a strategic outreach plan to determine where and how we hope to positively impact the AT needs for low income seniors and unpaid caregivers. By January of 2020, we began working with the outreach and events coordinators in the South East Rural, South King County, and Far East Senior Hubs in King County to schedule events for 2020. Our plans were to also have one training at one of the Hub’s senior centers or nearby venue (see Training section). We developed language including descriptions of the offerings for the Hubs’ calendars and newsletters. We had scheduled several outreach events, including participating in community senior health and wellness fairs, to provide a venue to connect with the community to promote a healthy independent living, and a means for us to showcase the assistive technology in our mini-kits and talk about the potential impact in the daily lives of seniors. All of these events were cancelled or put on hold due to the pandemic.

Notes: