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

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:

G. Notes:

C. Description of Training Activities

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

In September 2020, Michele Boutelle, the Manager of the MassMATCH Assistive Technology Regional Center (ATRC) program at Easterseals MA provided an innovative training session for allied health students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The training was specifically for a class of students studying communication technology. The training explored Assistive Technology devices in the areas of speaking, reading, writing, and hearing. Besides providing an overview of the broad range of AT devices and services available through MassMATCH, she also educated the training participants on using a person centered approach when working with persons with disabilities. The goal was to ensure that participants would have a greater understanding of the unique needs each person with disability they serve and how that may influence the types of communication technology that will work best for them. In addition, the students learned about old and new communication technologies and how best to apply this knowledge in their work with future clients.

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

In July 2020, MassMATCH partnered with the Training Department of Humanitas, Inc. to provide two Assistive Technology training sessions for America's Job Corps staff from all over the United States. The webinar topic was "Utilizing Your State's Assistive Technology (AT) Program to Support Students with Disabilities." The overall goal was to help participants learn about where and how to locate available free/low cost assistive technology AT resources they could use to support students with disabilities in their transition from education to employment. Among others, training participants were introduced to assistive technology and shown examples of AT that support independence & employability for a variety of functional limitations. Participants were also shown where to find or access their individual state AT Program as well as the broad range and types of services, assistance and resources provided by State AT Programs. A total of 177 Job Corps staff, mostly Disability Coordinators participated in the two webinars and were overwhelmingly appreciative of the information and resources shared. As a result of the positive response, both organizations have agreed in principle to consider conducting a similar training in FY2021.

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

E. Notes:

The MassMATCH program did not conduct trainings in FFY20 on Information & Communication Technology accessibility. Plans were disrupted by the COVID pandemic, in response to which the program focused on activities addressing immediate AT needs. During this time MassMATCH relayed information on information accessibility and trainings by other entities, including: 10/22/19 alert on website accessibility online course offered by WCAG2.com 11/14/19 alert on webinars on making videos accessible, offered by the Online Learning Consortium Institute 1/22/20 Tip of the Week on apps for accessible handouts & worksheets 3/18/20 Tip of the Week on sending accessible homework 3/27/20 alert on training series on accessibility in distance learning, from the National Center on Accessible Materials 4/9/20 alert on Accessibility reporting for developers and content managers 6/16/20 alert on training re: creating accessible documents by the Institute on Disability at the University of NH

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

In FY20, MassMATCH's partner UCP of Western Mass provided technical assistance to the Berkshire County District Attorney’s office. The effort was aimed at increasing access for persons with disabilities who are seeking justice for crimes committed against them. The DA and her office staff shared that it was their goal to increase persons with disabilities potential to access their rights under the law by breaking down barriers to reporting crimes. Among others, the DA's office was introduced to a wide variety of AT that could be helpful to victims with disabilities. They included communication devices such as Go Talk Now, AT that allow the interviewer to focus on the interviewee such as Live Scribe Pens, and even smart home technology that can be used within the witness protection program. A total of 5 staff from the DA's office visited the AT Regional Center and were provided training on assistive technology and issues about accessibility. As a result of the technical assistance

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

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. After initially suspending all operations as a result of a state of emergency declared by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MassMATCH quickly got together with our partner programs to plan how to resume operations. The abrupt and widespread closing of in-person school and shift to online learning or virtual school introduced an urgent need for many students with disabilities to have access to assistive technology, especially computers, to keep up. MassMATCH and our program partners decided to resume operations on a strictly no-contact basis to ensure that our services will be available to all that needed them. We then mounted an all-out public awareness campaign through our respective social media channels, websites and the MassMATCH Newsletter to notify the public that we are still open for business. As a result of this initiative, we did not experience a massive drop in usage of our services as would have otherwise been the case.

2. For many years, MassMATCH partner REquipment DME Reuse Program has been an active member of the Massachusetts Voluntary Organizations Aiding in Disasters (MA VOAD). Through its participation in the coalition, Requipment seeks to connect the public, especially seniors and people with disabilities to vital resources during and/or after emergencies. During the ongoing pandemic, REquipment mounted an awareness campaign to remind its MA VOAD partners and the public about its presence and has also been instrumental in providing DME and other resources to people affected by COVID-19. In April 2020 the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) opened 3 Recovery Centers in hotels across Massachusetts for people not sick enough with COVID to be in the hospital but too sick to be at home. MEMA reached out to the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) on where to find durable medical equipment for these sites. MOD in turn reached out to Requipment which was able to provide manual wheelchairs, walkers and canes for these sites within a day. A couple of months later, MEMA directly contacted Requipment to request assistance in helping the Federal Emergency Medical Assistance (FEMA) agency in getting equipment for members of the Wampanoag tribe with COVID residing on Martha’s Vineyard. Even though Requipment did not have the type of equipment needed, they coordinated the request with a small DME reuse program, Scituate Etrusco, to obtain and ship the needed equipment through FEMA to the island. Through these initiatives, Requipment helped get much-needed durable medical equipment and other essential supplies to members of the public who would not otherwise have had access.

Notes: