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:

I. Notes:

G. Notes:

C. Description of Training Activities

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

Virginia’s AT Act program (VATS) collaborated with the state’s vocational rehabilitation program to provide two separate “Windmills” disability employment inclusion-training sessions on reasonable accommodations and assistive technology. The training session’s target audience were employers, VR placement counselors and VR business development staff. Two related and distinct sessions were held using the virtual Zoom platform and was made available for a statewide audience. The state AT Act program and co-presenters from the VR program discussed ways assistive technology can be used in the workplace and in training programs. The presenters gave case examples of previous VR and state AT Act program clients, provided information on how to request evaluations through the VR program, and how to request equipment for short-term loans, demonstrations, or trainings through VATS. Two-hundred and thirty participants participated in this high impact training. The first training session had 94 participants and the second session had 136 participants. The virtual platform was excellent in connecting with individuals from all areas of the state!

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

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

Staff from the AT Act program, the Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS), collaborated with the state’s Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities (CPID) grant program to put together an information technology (IT) credential training. Sixty individuals were able to learn about the different programs in the area that provide credentials to improve access to high demand, high pay IT careers. The IT training included a session on 508 compliance and making documents accessible. Training participants were taught how to identify whether or not documents were accessible and compliant and how to make documents accessible. The session was broken up into two groups, those in school and those who had graduated. There were six different groups who discussed IT and the different jobs that are linked to IT credentials.

E. Notes:

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

In FFY20, the Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS) joined Virginia’s No Wrong Door (NWD) initiative. Through this partnership among all 25 Area Agencies on Aging, all 120 Virginia Department of Social Services, non-profits, healthcare organizations, and disability service organizations, VATS provided considerable technical assistance to expand the capacity of Virginia’s NWD system to connect older adults and individuals with disabilities with assistive technology devices and services. VATS provided training to NWD partners on VATS services as well as the availability of three AT kits to address independence, personal safety, and social inclusion. In May 2020, Virginia NWD received a federal stimulus grant through the CARES Act to address the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. VATS was included as a sub-grantee to build capacity and develop infrastructure to respond to the current pandemic as well as future epidemics/pandem

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

The state’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) program (DARS) and state vocational training center reported that have been seeing more students with neurodiversity diagnosis. Counselors reported that a significant number of VR clients are having issues with anxiety and that sensory needs were not being met, resulting in some distracting behaviors in training programs. Accordingly, the state’s AT Act program’s CPID AT Specialist collaborated with DARS’ AT teams to develop and deploy sensory kits through the CPID loaner library. AT Specialists (licensed Occupational Therapists) employed strategies, along with equipment in the kits, to help DARS clients self-regulate and remain focused. As the program has expanded, AT Specialists added more items to the kits to enhance AT services and support newly developed sensory academies. Field AT Specialists had begun addressing the sensory needs of students with disabilities, but in 2017, the state’s AT Act program CPID AT Specialist, coordinated

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. The state’s AT Act program’s AT & Aging & Acquisition Coordinator, was featured a guest on the 15th “Aging Matters” television episode. The TV show episode was taped in Arlington, Va and was broadcast to a local/regional audience. The show features experts who present topics that discuss topics of interest for older adults and their families. State AT Act program staff provided information and demonstrated an array of assistive technologies and programs that are helping seniors age in place.

2.

Notes: