National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Annual Progress Report - Full Report

California 2022

General Information

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

State AT Program Title:
Ability Tools
State AT Program Title:
State AT Program URL
http://www.abilitytools.org/
Mailing Address:
1000 G Street, Suite #100
City:
Sacramento
State:
CA
Zip Code:
95814
Program Email:
info@abilitytools.org
Phone:
916-390-2690
TTY:
800-900-0706 (TTY)

Lead Agency

Agency Name:
Department of Rehabilitation
Mailing Address:
721 Capitol Mall
City:
Sacramento
State:
CA
Zip Code:
95814
Program URL:
https://dor.ca.gov/Home/AssistiveTechnology

Implementing Entity

Name of Implementing Agency:
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
Mailing Address:
1000 G Street, Suite 100
City
Sacramento
State:
CA
Zip Code:
95814
Program URL:
www.abilitytools.org

Program Director and Other Contacts

Program Director for State AT Program (last, first):
Hand, Robert
Title:
Interim Executive Director
Phone:
(916) 390-2690
E-mail:
robert@cfilc.org
Program Director at Lead Agency (last, first):
Sampson, Megan
Title:
IL/AT/TBI Programs Chief
Phone:
(916) 558-5866
E-mail:
megan.sampson@dor.ca.gov
Primary Contact at Implementing Agency (last, first) - If applicable:
Cowdell, Megan
Title:
Deputy Director
Phone:
(916) 737-5348
E-mail:
Megan@cfilc.org

Person Responsible for completing this form if other than Program Director

Name (last, first):
Crowley, Kathrine
Title:
Ability Tools Program Manager
Phone:
(661) 703-6292
E-mail:
kathrine@cfilc.org

Certifying Representative

Name (last, first):
Xavier, Joe
Title:
Director of CA Dept. of Rehabilitation
Phone:
(916) 558-5800
E-mail:
Joe.Xavier@dor.ca.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? Yes

Loan Applications
Area of Residence Total
Metro
RUCC 1-3
Non-Metro
RUCC 4-9
Approved Loan made 00 00 00
Approved Not made 00 00 00
Rejected 00 00 00
Total 00 00 00

2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made

Lowest/Highest Incomes
Lowest Income: $0 Highest Income: $0

Average Income
Sum of Incomes Loans Made Average Annual Income
$0 00 $0

Number and Percentage of Loans Made to Applicants by Income Range
Income Ranges Total
$15,000
or Less
$15,001-
$30,000
$30,001-
$45,000
$45,001-
$60,000
$60,001-
$75,000
$75,001
or More
Number of Loans 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Percentage of Loans 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100%

3. Loan Type

Loan Type
Type of Loan Number of Loans Percentage of loans
Revolving Loans 00 0%
Partnership Loans
Without interest buy-down or loan guarantee 00 0%
With interest buy-down only 00 0%
With loan guarantee only 00 0%
With both interest buy-down and loan guarantee 00 0%
Total 00 100%

Loan Type Summary
Type of Loan Number of Loans Dollar Value of Loans
Revolving Loans 00 $0
Partnership Loans 00 $0
Total 00 $0

4. Interest Rates

Interest Rates
Lowest 0%
Highest 0%

Interest Rate Summary
Sum of Interest Rates Number of Loans Made Average Interest Rate
00 00 0%

Number of Loans Made by Interest Rate
Interest Rate Number of loans
0.0% to 2.0% 00
2.1% to 4.0% 00
4.1% to 6.0% 00
6.1% to 8.0% 00
8.1% - 10.0% 00
10.1%-12.0% 00
12.1%-14.0% 00
14.1% + 00
Total 00

5. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Financed

Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Financed
Type of AT Number of Devices Financed Dollar Value of Loans
Vision 00 $0
Hearing 00 $0
Speech communication 00 $0
Learning, cognition, and developmental 00 $0
Mobility, seating and positioning 00 $0
Daily living 00 $0
Environmental adaptations 00 $0
Vehicle modification and transportation 00 $0
Computers and related 00 $0
Recreation, sports, and leisure 00 $0
Total 00 $0

6. Defaults

Defaults
Number Loans in default 00
Net loss for loans in default $0

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? 1
Activity 1
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)448
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)49
C. Total Served497

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure0
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures497

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 0$0
Hearing 0$0
Speech communication1913$431,065
Learning, cognition, and developmental 0$0
Mobility, seating and positioning0$0
Daily living 0$0
Environmental adaptations0$0
Vehicle modification and transportation 0$0
Computers and related 0$0
Recreation, sports, and leisure0$0
Total1913$431,065



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

The Voice Options Program is a collaboration between the Department of Rehabilitation and the California Public Utilities Commission to provide speech-generating devices to Californians through long-term loans for the purpose of ensuring equitable telecommunication. This program is administered through community-based organizations throughout California virtually, in-person, in home, and by mail. The process of obtaining a device includes a demonstration of six speech-generating applications, a short-term loan of all applications on an iPad with ancillary hardware needed for successful use, and an open-ended loan after identification of preferred application. Each Voice Options Program consumer receives a new iPad, their chosen speech-generating application, a case, charger, and any additional devices needed to utilize the device comfortably and successfully (e.g., a wheelchair mount, stylus, etc.). Evelyn is a young adult woman living with Cerebral Palsy. She is nonverbal and uses a motorized wheelchair. Evelyn reached out to Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS), a Voice Options Program Provider, after receiving a Voice Options Program flier. She scheduled an appointment with SCRS and was provided a demonstration of the applications and shown how to use the device to make phone calls – something Evelyn had not done before. Evelyn called her mother and said, “I love you, Mom,” which overwhelmed her mother with emotion hearing her daughter say this for the first time. Evelyn is now a proud Voice Options Program recipient and uses her device in her daily life for work, school, and play.

Impact Area

As this consumer was using a loaned device from her school, she had a lot of anxiety as her access to a speech-generating device was limited and timebound. After going through the Voice Options Program process, this consumer was able to work with her speech-language pathologist to transfer her language library to her long-term loan device, which allows her the freedom and flexibility to express herself whenever and wherever she pleases. They are beyond grateful for this opportunity and the promptness in which it was handled.