National Assistive Technology Act Data System

If a number is reported in D you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:

If a number is reported in D you must provide a description of the reason the individuals are excluded from the performance measure:

A. Coordination/Collaboration

1. As concisely as possible, describe the partnership initiative. What activities/services were provided? Who are the major collaborating organizations and what is their role? Who is served/benefited? What funding was used to implement the initiative?

LATAN continues to be actively engaged with EMDAC (Emergency Medical, Disability and Aging Coalition) in coordination of Emergency Response services. In 2020, EMDAC, which comprised of five core members including, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, LATAN, and Trach Mommas of LA, convened in early March to discuss immediate issues relative to COVID-19 and mandated, Stay at Home orders. When there is an emergency, EMDAC activates additional state agencies to better coordinate efforts. Those additional agencies include LA Rehabilitation Services, LA Department of Health (Office Aging and Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities), Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs (includes the Areas Agencies on Aging, Councils on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Centers), LA Department of Social Services, State Independent Living Centers, Disability Rights Louisiana, and a host of community- and a few faith-based organizations. During the height of the pandemic, EMDAC's focus was on meeting the immediate challenges faced by older adults and those living within care facilities who were being severely and disproportionately impacted by COVID, as well as the emotional toll on mental health related to social isolation. While challenges were discussed, the role of each stakeholder was to discuss solutions to social isolation, receive status updates from group homes, nursing facilities, and those receiving home health and need for continuous care...even though the workforce was highly impacted. LATAN provided training to the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs' Ombudsman Program Coordinators, the Caddo ADRC and the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities’ Support Coordinators under the same topic and focus area: the use of technology to combat social isolation and to give community-based health care workers access to the people they served while keeping everyone healthy and safe. LATAN’s training covered resources to access the internet (hotspots & tablets) and other communication devices that would support teletherapy, remote connections with family, as well as solutions that would allow nursing and other care facility residents anonymous access to contact their Ombudsman. Initially, no funding was available, but eventually, federal funding was made available to the agencies directly serving older adults. To compound the challenges created by the pandemic, Louisiana had three major hurricanes (Laura, Delta, and Zeta) within a two-month period. Currently activated and joined by FEMA and the American Red Cross, EMDAC slightly shifted gears to finds ways to safely manage evaluations among people who were displaced by Hurricane Laura. Without the use of congregate shelters, more than 11,000 individuals/families were sheltered in various hotels throughout New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The hotel placement made it extremely difficult for agencies to assess the healthcare needs among people evaluated and much less, the coordination efforts to meet those needs. Collaborating with the Red Cross, FEMA, EMDAC, and the Region 1 Department of Health and Office of Public Health to receive “orders” for replacement DME or AT loss or damaged in the storms, LATAN staff made deliveries to individuals and families with disabilities or aging for several months. Ultimately, each hotel had Red Cross Nurse who sent referrals directly to LATAN once those needs were identified. As FEMA transitioned people to more temporary housing and out of hotels, additional referrals were made to LATAN when a person with disability or older adult was identified. Incidentally, many people remained in their hotel rooms in need of care and/or AT/DME but too proud to ask. They were identified much later in the recovery process. LATAN received funding for emergency response from Americares and received generous donated equipment from several partner AT State Programs’ reuse inventories.

2. As concisely as possible, describe the measurable results of the initiative and any lessons learned. How did access to AT change as a result of the coordination/collaboration/partnership? How did awareness of AT change as a result of the partnership? How did the reach of the state AT program change as a result of the partnership? What made the partnership successful? What would you change or wish you had done differently? Provided funding/resources are available, will the initiative continue or is this a one-time event? What advice would you give for replication of the initiative? Please include URL for initiative if available.

Although LATAN has been in operation in Louisiana for 29 years, there are many state agencies and community-based organizations that still do not know about the AT program and it’s benefits. Given the number of years in operation, some institutional knowledge doesn’t necessarily transfer to new employees once people retire. The pandemic provided an opportunity to raise awareness of AT and LATAN among agencies serving the same population- Louisiana residents of all ages with disabilities or functional limitations. As resident of Louisiana, planning for weather emergencies is commonplace. Throughout the pandemic, the reality that there are hundreds of thousands of people who do not have access to the internet. Therefore, while more and more technologies become mainstream, there will be an access issue because those technologies can’t sustain without the internet and/or power. One of the devices available for loan at LATAN is the portable, solar-powered battery but no one wanted to take borrow it…even though they did not have electricity for weeks. Ultimately, LATAN learned that sometimes technology is scary and just because it’s available does not mean that it will readily be utilized. More training on and preparation with communication and life-sustaining technologies is needed – prior to the emergency.

3. What focus areas(s) were addressed by the initiative?

Community Participation and Integration; Health; Aging; Other: Emergency Response ;

4. What AT Act authorized activity(s) were addressed?

Reuse; Training; Information & Assistance;