National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Annual Progress Report - Full Report

Alaska 2021

General Information

Statewide AT Program (Information to be listed in national State AT Program Directory)

State AT Program Title:
Assistive Technology of Alaska
State AT Program Title:
State AT Program URL
www.atlaak.org
Mailing Address:
1500 W 33rd Ave., Suite 120
City:
Anchorage
State:
AK
Zip Code:
99503
Program Email:
atla@atlaak.org
Phone:
907-563-2599
TTY:
907-563-0699

Lead Agency

Agency Name:
Department of Labor & Workforce Development - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Mailing Address:
1111 W. 8th St., Ste 210
City:
Juneau
State:
AK
Zip Code:
99801
Program URL:
http://www.labor.state.ak.us/dvr/at-prog.htm

Implementing Entity

Name of Implementing Agency:
Assistive Technology of Alaska
Mailing Address:
1500 W 33rd Ave., Suite 120
City
Anchorage
State:
AK
Zip Code:
99503
Program URL:
www.atlaak.org

Program Director and Other Contacts

Program Director for State AT Program (last, first):
Rail, Mystie
Title:
Executive Director
Phone:
907-563-2599
E-mail:
mystie@atlaak.org
Program Director at Lead Agency (last, first):
Mayes, Duane
Title:
Program Director
Phone:
907-334-5963
E-mail:
duane.mayes@alaska.gov
Primary Contact at Implementing Agency (last, first) - If applicable:
Rail, Mystie
Title:
Executive Director
Phone:
907-563-2599
E-mail:
mystie@atlaak.org

Person Responsible for completing this form if other than Program Director

Name (last, first):
Rail, Mystie
Title:
Executive Director
Phone:
907-563-2599
E-mail:
mystie@atlaak.org

Certifying Representative

Name (last, first):
Caputo, Jason
Title:
Project Assistant
Phone:
907-465-6933
E-mail:
jason.caputo@alaska.gov

State Financing

Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include any State Financing? Yes
Did your approved state plan for this reporting period include conducting a Financial Loan Program? No

B. State Financing Activities that provide consumers with resources and services that result in the acquisition of AT devices and services

1. Overview of Activities Performed

How many other state financing activities that provide consumers with access to funds for the purchase of AT devices and services were included in your approved state plan? 2
Activity 1
How would you describe this state financing activity?Telecommunications equipment distribution

2. Geographic Distribution, Number of Individuals Who Acquired AT Devices and Services and Number for whom Performance Measure Data are Collected

County of ResidenceIndividuals Served
A. Metro (RUCC 1-3)48
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)24
C. Total Served72

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure0
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures72

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

3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded

Type of AT Device / ServiceNumber of Devices
Funded
Value of
AT Provided
Vision 52300.00
Hearing 469073.00
Speech communication3924310.00
Learning, cognition, and developmental 00.00
Mobility, seating and positioning00.00
Daily living 00.00
Environmental adaptations3480.00
Vehicle modification and transportation 00.00
Computers and related 00.00
Recreation, sports, and leisure00.00
Total9336163.00

Activity 2
How would you describe this state financing activity?Last resort - Activity

2. Geographic Distribution, Number of Individuals Who Acquired AT Devices and Services and Number for whom Performance Measure Data are Collected

County of ResidenceIndividuals Served
A. Metro (RUCC 1-3)156
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)202
C. Total Served358

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure0
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures358

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

3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded

Type of AT Device / ServiceNumber of Devices
Funded
Value of
AT Provided
Vision 12213029.00
Hearing 232930.00
Speech communication474501.00
Learning, cognition, and developmental 25854192.00
Mobility, seating and positioning662840.00
Daily living 47027418.00
Environmental adaptations523428.00
Vehicle modification and transportation 00.00
Computers and related 193984.00
Recreation, sports, and leisure742.00
Total1064112364.00



C. State Financing Activities that Allow Consumers to Obtain AT at Reduced Cost

1. Overview of Activities Performed

How many state financing activities that allow consumers to obtain AT at a reduced cost were included in your approved state plan? 0

D. Anecdote

Margie is a 79-year-old woman that lives alone in Anchorage, AK but was originally from New York, where she retired as a journalist. She had the good fortune to work with icons like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and Ed Bradley. Her husband was in the Air Force, serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Margie was able to see much of the world traveling with him, including Alaska, where they chose to make their permanent home in the late 1970s. Margie uses a hearing aid in one ear and an implant in the other. She reached out to ATLA after experiencing difficulty using a standard telephone. Speaking with her family was growing more complex, and the isolation and loneliness from the pandemic were starting to take their toll. ATLA provided an amplified phone that is compatible with her hearing aid. Margie’s son was visiting and was able to help set the phone up by using Facetime with an AT specialist. During a subsequent follow-up call, Margie shared that she was grateful to keep in touch with her family. Speaking with her grandkids is once again one of her greatest treasures.

Impact Area

Tiffany Wilson, Program Manager, helped an individual obtain an iPad with communications apps included through the Alaska Relay program. The individual requested information regarding support for internet services. Tiffany connected them with the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, and the individual was able to obtain financial assistance for their internet services. Later, they wrote to Tiffany, thanking her for the attention to detail and follow-up.

Impact Area

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. 12 18 400 430
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 00 00 00 00
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 00 00 00 00
4. Subtotal 12 18 400 430
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 12 18 400 430
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
8. Total 12 18 400 430
9. Performance on this measure 100% 100% 100%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 424 98.6%
Satisfied 06 1.4%
Satisfied somewhat 00 0%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 00 0%
Total Surveyed 430
Response rate % 100%

G. Notes:

Reutilization

A. Number of Recipients of Reused Devices

Activity Number of Individuals Receiving a Device from Activity
A. Device Exchange 00
B. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassign and/or Open Ended Loan 36
C. Total 36

Performance Measure
D. Device Exchange - Excluded from Performance Measure 00
E. Reassignment/Refurbishment and Repair and Open Ended Loans - Excluded from Performance Measure because AT is provided to or on behalf of an entity that has an obligation to provide the AT such as schools under IDEA or VR agencies/clients 00
F. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures 36

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

B. Device Exchange Activities

Device Exchange
Type of AT Device Number of Devices Exchanged Total Estimated Current Purchase Price Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Exchanged Savings to Consumers
Vision 00 $0 $0 $0
Hearing 00 $0 $0 $0
Speech Communication 00 $0 $0 $0
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 00 $0 $0 $0
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 00 $0 $0 $0
Daily Living 00 $0 $0 $0
Environmental Adaptations 00 $0 $0 $0
Vehicle Modification & Transportation 00 $0 $0 $0
Computers and Related 00 $0 $0 $0
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 00 $0 $0 $0
Total 00 $0 $0 $0

C. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassignment and/or Open Ended Loan Activities

Device Reassign/Repair/Refurbish and/or OEL
Type of AT Device Number of Devices Reassigned/Refurbished and Repaired Total Estimated Current Purchase Price Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Sold Savings to Consumers
Vision 00 $0 $0 $0
Hearing 03 $412 $0 $412
Speech Communication 02 $218 $0 $218
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 44 $12,575 $0 $12,575
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 00 $0 $0 $0
Daily Living 06 $657 $0 $657
Environmental Adaptations 00 $0 $0 $0
Vehicle Modification & Transportation 00 $0 $0 $0
Computers and Related 05 $269 $0 $269
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 00 $0 $0 $0
Total 60 $14,131 $0 $14,131

D. Anecdote

A parent familiar with ATLA services contacted us with a problem. Her daughter needed to use a Livescribe pen at school. The parent had gained permission from the school for the device. However, she was not allowed to use an iPad or iPhone. The new Livescribe Symphony pens are the only ones available and require a smartphone or tablet for recording. ATLA happened to have an older Livescribe Echo pen in the Reuse program that does not require a device to record. ATLA was able to provide them with the pen quickly, and the student was able to implement it successfully at school.

Impact Area

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. 03 00 33 36
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 00 00 00 00
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 00 00 00 00
4. Subtotal 03 00 33 36
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 03 00 33 36
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
8. Total 03 00 33 36
9. Performance on this measure 100% NaN% 100%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 36 100%
Satisfied 00 0%
Satisfied somewhat 00 0%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 00 0%
Total Surveyed 36
Response rate % 100%

G. Notes:

Device Loan

A. Short-Term Device Loans by Type of Purpose

Loans By Purpose
Primary Purpose of Short-Term Device Loan Number
Assist in decision-making (device trial or evaluation) 100
Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding 07
Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation 01
Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity 24
Total 132

B. Short-Term Device Loan by Type of Borrower

LOANS BY TYPE OF BORROWER
Type of Individual or Entity Number of Device Borrowers
Desicion-making All other Purposes Total
Individuals with Disabilities 64 00 64
Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives 09 00 09
Representative of Education 00 00 00
Representative of Employment 03 00 03
Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation 24 00 24
Representatives of Community Living 30 00 30
Representatives of Technology 02 00 02
Total 132 00 132

C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans

Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days 14

D. Types of Devices Loaned

Types of Devices Loaned
Type of AT Device Number of Devices
Desicion-making All other Purposes Total
Vision 97 00 97
Hearing 37 00 37
Speech Communication 83 00 83
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 04 00 04
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 09 00 09
Daily Living 63 00 63
Environmental Adaptations 06 00 06
Vehicle Modification and Transportation 00 00 00
Computers and Related 46 00 46
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 09 00 09
Total 354 00 354

E. Anecdote

Peggy is an elder who lives in an Assisted Living Home. She has difficulty completing daily tasks, including putting her hearing aids in every day. Her son, who works full-time, found it challenging to go to the ALH each day to assist with this task. In addition, if he could not visit in person, they could not talk using the telephone without her hearing aids. Following COVID guidelines, an ATLA AT specialist met in the hearing demonstration room where Peggy and her son could look at specific AT equipment to assist her. After the demonstration, they decided to borrow an amplified telephone to assure they could talk each day. After trying the loaned AT, they discovered it worked exceptionally well. Peggy’s son immediately assisted his mother with completing the Alaska Relay application. Since the amplified telephone was the key to communicating daily, Peggy kept the loan item until her new amplified phone was available. As a result, they can now talk daily and check in with each other.

Impact Area

F. Access Performance Measures

Access Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs 02 03 92 97
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs 00 00 03 03
Subtotal 02 03 95 100
Have not made a decision 00 00 00 00
Subtotal 02 03 95 100
Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
Total 02 03 95 100
Performance on this measure 100% 100% 100%

G. Acquisition Performance Measures

Acquisition Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. 00 00 12 12
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 00 00 20 20
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 00 00 00 00
4. Subtotal 00 00 32 32
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 00 00 32 32
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
8. Total 00 00 32 32
9. Performance on this measure NaN% NaN% 100%

H. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 126 95.45%
Satisfied 06 4.55%
Satisfied somewhat 00 0%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 00 0%
Total Surveyed 132
Response rate % 100%

I. Notes:

Device Demonstration

A. Number of Device Demonstrations by Device Type

Type of AT Device / Service Number of Demonstrations of AT Devices / Services
Vision 88
Hearing 74
Speech Communication 101
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 47
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 15
Daily Living 274
Environmental Adaptations 35
Vehicle Modification and Transportation 00
Computers and Related 92
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 18
Total # of Devices Demonstrated 744

B. Types of Participants

Demonstrations by Participant Type
Type of Participant Number of Participants in Device Demonstrations
Individuals with Disabilities 553
Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives 408
Representatives of Education 48
Representatives of Employment 48
Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation 208
Representative of Community Living 65
Representative of Technology 24
Total 1,354

C. Number of Referrals

Referrals
Type of Entity Number of Referrals
Funding Source (non-AT program) 56
Service Provider 49
Vendor 03
Repair Service 04
Others 00
Total 112

D. Anecdote

ATLA staff have become more accustomed to providing creative solutions for demonstrations. Sometimes it can be by supplying a loan first and walking that person through the devices by comparing and contrasting their features. Sometimes it is by providing information and demonstrations via a video call like Zoom. John's family reached out to ATLA because they wanted to learn more about assistive technology for fall detection and other devices to help him become more independent in the home. We met via Zoom with John and his son and daughter-in-law. They were all very encouraged and enthusiastic by the demonstrated equipment. The family was delighted with the demonstration, and through that experience, they were able to determine what devices might help with his dad's independence.

Impact Area

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs 29 69 557 655
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs 11 04 74 89
Subtotal 40 73 631 744
Have not made a decision 00 00 00 00
Subtotal 40 73 631 744
Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
Total 40 73 631 744
Performance on this measure 100% 100% 100%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 1,209 89.29%
Satisfied 145 10.71%
Satisfied somewhat 00 0%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 00 0%
Total 1,354
Response rate % 100%

G. Notes:

Overall Performance Measures

Overall Acquisition Performance Measure

Acquisition Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program. 15 18 445 478
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 00 00 20 20
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 00 00 00 00
4. Subtotal 15 18 465 498
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 15 18 465 498
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
8. Total 15 18 465 498
9. Performance on this measure 100% 100% 100% 100%
ACL Performance Measure 85%
Met/Not Met Met

Overall Access Performance Measure

Access Performance Measures
Response Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed Total
Education Employment Community Living
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs 31 72 649 752
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs 11 04 77 92
Subtotal 42 76 726 844
Have not made a decision 00 00 00 00
Subtotal 42 76 726 844
Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
Total 42 76 726 844
Performance on this measure 100% 100% 100% 100%
ACL Performance Measure 90%
Met/Not Met Met

Overall Satisfaction Rating

Customer Rating of Services Percent ACL Target Met/Not Met
Highly satisfied and satisfied 100% 95% Met
Response Rate 100% 90% Met

Training

A. Training Participants: Number and Types of Participants; Geographical Distribution

Training by Participant Type
Type of Participant Number
Individuals with Disabilities 28
Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives 22
Representatives of Education 30
Representatives of Employment 92
Rep Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation 41
Representatives of Community Living 902
Representatives of Technology 20
Unable to Categorize 00
TOTAL 1,135

Geographic Distribution of Participants
Metro Non Metro Unknown TOTAL
738 397 00 1,135

B. Training Topics

Trainings by Topic
Primary Topic of Training Participants
AT Products/Services 783
AT Funding/Policy/ Practice 00
Combination of any/all of the above 170
Information Technology/Telecommunication Access 71
Transition 111
Total 1,135

C. Description of Training Activities

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

ATLA provided a series of training for the Alaska Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) as professional development to increase basic assistive technology knowledge on topics such as AT 101, Smart Assistive Tech, Low to High Augmentative Communication, Vision and Hearing AT Basics, DIY AT for Daily Living. In addition, the training sessions educated attendees on assistive technologies available across the lifespan and promoted a more systematic referral system to improve AT support for Alaskans.

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

This fiscal year, ATLA provided a training series related to distance communications technology. One of the sessions, “Comparing Distance Communication Apps: Speech,” had a more significant impact on transition than ATLA staff realized it would. The session was innovative and explored ways to use AAC for distance communication, including programs like Facetime, Zoom, and others. After the training, ATLA staff have seen an increase in the number of therapists referring patients who were hospitalized and in need of a device so they could transition back to their homes.

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

In April, ATLA hosted a virtual accessibility week that provided attendees with hands-on instruction for making social media content, documents, presentations, and PDFs accessible. The free webinar series was open to professionals and community members to improve accessibility for content creators in Alaska. The week began with "Accessible Social Media Best Practices," which looked at how Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter have built-in features to make content more accessible. However, those features are only usable when content creators do the labor to create posts and videos correctly. The focus during part of the week was on making source documents accessible. The Google Doc and Slide Accessibility training focused on the tools available in the Google universe. Word and Powerpoint were discussed on separate days since the Microsoft platform has more tools to make source documents accessible. Once the foundation of an accessible source document creation was developed, whether from Google or Microsoft, the last training moved to utilize Adobe Acrobat to make PDFs accessible. During the Adobe Acrobat training, available accessibility tools, navigating the program, and how to check whether or not the document is accessible were shared with the participants.

D. IT/Telecommunications Training Performance Measure

IT/Telecommunications Training Performance Measure
Outcome/Result From IT/Telecommunications Training Received Number
IT and Telecommunications Procurement or Dev Policies 00
Training or Technical Assistance will be developed or implemented 71
No known outcome at this time 00
Nonrespondent 00
Total 71
Performance Measure Percentage 100%
ACL Target Percentage 70%
Met/Not Met Met

E. Notes:

Technical Assistance

A. Frequency and Nature of Technical Assistance

Technical Assistance by Recipient Type
Education 20%
Employment 20%
Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation 20%
Community Living 20%
Technology (IT, Telecom, AT) 20%
Total 100%

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

ATLA was invited to join the State Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing workgroup. The workgroup consists of service providers from various fields who specialize in providing services to individuals with hearing loss. The group's goal is to educate service providers in different areas to increase better outcomes for persons with hearing loss. The workgroup has done this is by providing presentations to leaders in each field. The three main areas of focus during the grant cycle have been mental health, education, and the law enforcement/court system. The workgroup also identified assistive technology as an integral part of all three focus areas. A slide with information about ATLA's state programs and a tailored explanation of assistive technology is included.

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

C. Notes:

Public Awareness

Public Awareness Activities

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. ATLA hosted a free week-long virtual Winter Lunch and Learn event during December. Topics included Navigating ATLA Programs, AT for Everyday Independence, AT for Mental Health and Reducing Isolation, iOS Accessibility, and AAC for Distance Communication. The wide variety of topics brought in 75 attendees from across the state and disciplines. The events were promoted on social media and in newsletters. In addition, a social media pack with images and suggested captions and alt-text was provided to partnering organizations to share on their social media.

2.

Information And Assistance

Information And Assistance Activities by Recipient
Types of Recipients AT Device/
Service
AT Funding Total
Individuals with Disabilities 9,729 2,055 11,784
Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives 265 1,026 1,291
Representative of Education 4,865 1,970 6,835
Representative of Employment 1,283 488 1,771
Representative of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation 1,796 1,141 2,937
Representative of Community Living 2,024 634 2,658
Representative of Technology 620 371 991
Unable to Categorize 00 00 00
Total 20,582 7,685 28,267

Notes:

Coordination/Collaboration and State Improvement Outcomes

Overview of Coordination/Collaboration Activities

Coordination/Collaboration activities are not required. You may report up to two MAJOR coordination/collaboration activities for this reporting period. How many will you be reporting? 0

Overview of State Improvement Activities

State improvement outcomes are not required. You may report up to two MAJOR state improvement outcomes for this reporting period. How many will you be reporting? 00

Additional And Leveraged Funds

Did you have Additional and Leveraged Funding to Report? Yes

A. Leveraged Funding for State Plan Activities

Fund Source Amount Use of Funds Data Reported
Federal$5,407State FinancingTrue
Public/State Agency$19,498State FinancingTrue
State Appropriations$457,299State FinancingTrue
Public/State Agency$84,010State FinancingTrue
Public/State Agency$36,708State FinancingTrue
Federal$40,869State FinancingTrue
Amount: $643,791

For any leveraged funding reported above for which data could not be reported, please describe the extenuating circumstances that precluded data from being reported and efforts to remediate the situation in future reporting periods.


B. Describe any unique issues with your data in this section (e.g., the reason why you were unable to report the number of individuals served with additional or leveraged funds).


Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance . Saved: Mon Mar 07 2022 10:53:19 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time)


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This FY21 State AT Program Annual Progress Report was exported from the National Assistive Technology Act Data System (NATADS). NATADS was developed with partial support from the Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance.