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

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:

Many of our daily living and hearing devices in our reuse inventory are older and low tech. Examples include reachers, pillboxes, door knob turners, jar openers. Our subcontractors began collecting reuse data this fiscal year and many of their items are low tech/low cost.

I. Notes:

We work closely with WVU Medicine and we get many referrals for AT for short-term accommodations as people exit hospital or rehabilitation settings. We are working to increase the number of loans for decision-making purposes but ran into some barriers due to COVID.

G. Notes:

C. Description of Training Activities

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

WVATS provided training on the importance of assistive technology for sensory needs to teachers and therapists in public schools. The training consisted of a presentation and the opportunity for participants to make their own sensory boards. The activity was a success and led to other educators reaching out for more information and instructions to make their own sensory boards.

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

The WV Work Incentive Planning and Assistance program invited WVATS to provide training focused on transitioning with assistive technology from K-12 into higher education and employment. The training was part of a week-long training series and the audience included many representatives from agencies unfamiliar with our program. The event has led to additional interactions and collaborations with these agencies.

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

West Virginia University is working to make sure all content provided by the university is fully accessible. Many schools within the university reached out to WVATS requesting additional training on document accessibility. The Statler College of Engineering requested multiple trainings to ensure all of their staff was trained.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

WVATS began providing continuous technical assistance to the WV Traumatic Brain Injury program to provide education and resources to their staff and clients. After a series of meetings stressing the importance of providing appropriate assistive technology to clients and discussing the vast array of technologies available, the program requested a contract with WVATS to provide AT assessments for a fee. This collaboration launched the WVATS fee-for-service program.

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

WVATS began working with the transition employment program, Project Search, to develop a plan to assist their incoming trainees with job success through the use of AT. While the project start was delayed due to COVID, the WVATS continued to discuss potential technology options for a variety of jobs the clients would be performing. The program launched during the fall semester of 2020. WVATS has been provided virtual tours of our AT lab and discussed AT with the clients. The collaboration will continue into the coming year as students get more familiar with jobs and new participants join the program.

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. COVID presented many challenges including canceling most of our public awareness events for the year. To compensate for this barrier, the team developed email lists for a variety of groups, agencies, and organizations. These included occupational therapists, speech therapists, senior centers, colleges/universities, and other disability organizations in the state. WVATS began sending emails out to these groups, providing digital copies of our brochure, information about our loan library, and a variety of factsheets relevant to the recipients' field. This resulted in many new contacts requesting more information and making referrals to the program.

2.

Notes: