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

Activity 1

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

3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded

G. Notes:

Grant / Additional funding: We were able to secure $30,000 in grant funding for an applicant who was likely going to be denied a loan. This grant allowed her to obtain the modified vehicle she needed. For another applicant, he received an additional $30,048 in external funding from the Vocational Rehabilitation program to pay for his vehicle modifications. Defaulted Loans: Two out of the three defaulted loans ($16,485) were sent to collections and we paid the percentage of loan guarantee per agreement. For the third defaulted loan, the borrower eventually paid the loan in full in the amount of $21,803. Due to ongoing COVID pandemic, loan applications were greatly reduced from pre-COVID numbers. We expect to be able to do additional outreach in the new year to begin increasing the number of applications and serving more individuals.

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:

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, Reuse activities were opened primarily by appointment only. The number of individuals participating in reuse activities along with the number of devices and cost savings are lower compared to pre-pandemic numbers. We hope to be able to increase the number of individuals served in this new year as individuals return to community activities.

I. Notes:

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, AT Loan activities were challenging to provide. Pre-pandemic, delivering devices to individuals was done face to face. There was no budget for mailing items to individuals. Because of COVID-19, we moved to mailing devices to consumers directly and provided virtual supports to help them utilize the device. This took place with mixed results and it was more challenging to get items back and to collect responses for Performance Measures. Later in the fiscal year both face to face and mailing of devices were used. We hope to be able to increase the number of individuals served in this new year and resume a greater amount of face to face services to improve the quality of services and the engagement with the AT Act Program and AT Partners in order to better obtain the performance measures required.

G. Notes:

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, AT Demo activities were challenging to provide. The AT Act Program and Partner agencies utilized virtual platforms which were less effective and began conducting in person demonstrations later in the fiscal year but not to the degree we did pre-pandemic. As a result, the number of individuals participating in AT demo activities are lower than we would like. We hope to be able to increase the number of individuals served in this new year as individuals return to community activities.

C. Description of Training Activities

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

AT Act partner agency CREC provided a training titled, "Using Engaging Strategies for Online Learning" where 42 participants learned how to engage their AT and AAC users within online learning tasks. These teachers had not been very familiar with strategies before the pandemic started for distance learning. They had a few tools in their toolkit. However, after this training, they reported that they were able to use many of the tools in order to better engage their students - particularly students who rely on AT and AAC - in a distance learning setting.

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

AT Act partner agency EASTCONN provided a training to 7 Transition students with disabilities receiving 18-22 Transition Services. Topics covered included: What is AT and How Can it Help Me Now in School; How do I get it what I need to succeed in Education, Work and Community Settings; and, How AT can assist in Post-secondary, Work and Community. Students learned about technology that they were not familiar with. A variety of AT devices were provided as well as discussion of how these devices could be helpful in future school, work and community settings.

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

AT Act Partner, EASTCONN providing training on "Digital Accessibility: A How to Guide for Word and PDFs" to the statewide Transition Community of Practice, which is a quarterly statewide meeting for special education directors, transition specialists and providers. 61 participants attended the training and received an introduction to making Word Documents and PDF Files accessible. Participants learned about the Accessibility Checker, editing alt text, the use of document styles, etc. In PDFs, the use of the accessibility checker, reading order and tags was also explained. A demonstration of a screen reader accessing an inaccessible and accessible document was demonstrated to emphasize the importance of document accessibility.

E. Notes:

Due to COVID a majority of our trainings, if not all, moved to a virtual platform. This was one service that translated easier from in person to virtual delivery. However, one area we found more challenging about providing virtual trainings was ensuring that performance measure data was completed. This data was collected via survey link which many participants willingly utilized and followed through on, but many did not, no matter how many follow up emails we sent. As a result for ICT training we had an high amount of non respondents without the capacity to place individual calls to each of them.

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic & the Stay Home, Stay Safe orders, the CT Vocational Rehabilitation remained open to serve consumers 100% virtually. However there were many consumers who did not have access to the proper technology to be able to engage with their VR Counselors or to access VR services, meet with Community Rehabilitation Providers, or participate in school as part of their VR services. AT Act Program Director suggested the pursuit of the Tablet Technology Initiative to provide VR consumers with the technology they would need to be able to participate in VR services. With approval from the VR Director and working in partnership with Bureau of Rehabilitation Services colleagues, Program Director was able to provide the necessary TA to help to quickly and successfully establish this program, including researching devices to provide choice and the best match for consumer; assisting with the creation of new VR services, writing policies and guidelines for VR counselors to follo

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

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, CT AT Act Program Director did not have the opportunity to provide TA for transition.

C. Notes:

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, CT AT Act Program Director did not have the opportunity to provide TA for transition. NOTE: Some TA activities could have been listed under Technology but were listed under Employment or Community Living due to the dual nature of the TA.

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 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association. The event typically hosts presentations of new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. AT Act Partner, the NEAT Center, participated in the CES 2021, which was completely virtual. NEAT staff was interviewed about their Smart Home on Wheels (the SHOW) and their partnership with the Consumer Technology Association Foundation. The SHOW was created specifically with support from the CT AT Act Program, to be able to show consumers smart home technology they may be able to use in their homes to increase independence and improve their quality of life. The SHOW has become quite a hit, making appearances at AT and technology events in New England and beyond. This interview was aired during CES 2021, over 175,000 typically attend this event. To watch the interview visit https://cta.tech/Who-We-Are/CTA-Foundation/CES-2021, scroll down the interviews on the right panel to find "Kristopher Thompson New England Assistive Technology Oak Hill."

2. CT AT Program, Partner Agency EASTCONN presented at ATIA in 2021 on the topic of "Digital Accessibility: A How to Guide for Word and PDF Documents". This ICT session provided an excellent opportunity for the 163 attendees to learn about the importance of digital accessibility and learn some of the steps to actually creating accessible word and PDF documents. They were also provided information about where they could learn more - through AT ACT ICT trainings. Feedback received from this presentation session demonstrated a desire among the attendees to learn more and to pursue additional training. Feedback included, "So much great information pack into a small amount of time," "I want to know MORE!"

Notes:

Most I&A data is captured by AT Partners via the individuals' participation in other services, such as Reuse, Demo, Device lending, and trainings.

Overview of Coordination/Collaboration Activities

B. State Improvements

1. In one or two sentences, describe the outcome. Be as specific as possible about exactly what changed during this reporting period as a result of the AT program's initiative.

Given the work described in the Section A. of Coordination / Collaboration Activities, the Stay Connected program resulted in a state improvement in that we have created a replicable program that is being used with the CT Department of Public Health and one high burdened community in CT. It is also being used to help establish a newer and better program to be used with ARPA funding and has also been used as a model to help establish similar technology programs related to employment within other parts of the state Department of Aging and Disability services including the state Vocational Rehabilitation agency and State Unit on Aging in partnership with the Workforce Alliance working on employment for seniors. Additionally, this program influenced written policy and practices for the National Family Caregiver Supplemental Program, allowing for the purchase of AT Services (consultation and training) along with the devices.

2. In one or two sentences, describe the written policies, practices, and procedures that have been developed and implemented as a result of the AT program's initiative. Include information about how to obtain the full documents, such as a Web site address or e-mail address of a contact person, but do not include the full documents here. (If there are no written polices, practices and procedures, explain why.)

In the various iterations of the Stay Connected program, referral forms, flow charts and guidance have been created. For the National Family Caregiver Supplemental Program, policy and guidance have also been created and is being utilized.

3. What was the primary area of impact for this state improvement outcome?

Community Living