National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Annual Progress Report - Full Report

Montana 2023

General Information

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

State AT Program Title:
MonTECH
State AT Program Title:
State AT Program URL
http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/
Mailing Address:
29 McGill Hall
City:
Missoula
State:
Montana
Zip Code:
59812
Program Email:
montech@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Phone:
4062435751
TTY:

Lead Agency

Agency Name:
MonTECH at Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, University of Montana
Mailing Address:
29 McGill Hall, University of Montana
City:
Missoula
State:
Montana
Zip Code:
59812
Program URL:
http://montech.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/

Implementing Entity

Name of Implementing Agency:
Mailing Address:
City
State:
Zip Code:
Program URL:

Program Director and Other Contacts

Program Director for State AT Program (last, first):
Kimmel, Molly
Title:
Program Director
Phone:
4062435769
E-mail:
molly.kimmel@mso.umt.edu
Program Director at Lead Agency (last, first):
Kimmel, Molly
Title:
Program Director
Phone:
4062435769
E-mail:
molly.kimmel@mso.umt.edu
Primary Contact at Implementing Agency (last, first) - If applicable:
Title:
Phone:
E-mail:

Person Responsible for completing this form if other than Program Director

Name (last, first):
Title:
Phone:
E-mail:

Certifying Representative

Name (last, first):
Kimmel, Molly
Title:
Program Director
Phone:
4062435769
E-mail:
molly.kimmel@mso.umt.edu

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 06 01 07
Approved Not made 00 00 00
Rejected 00 00 00
Total 06 01 07

2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made

Lowest/Highest Incomes
Lowest Income: $3,717 Highest Income: $111,696

Average Income
Sum of Incomes Loans Made Average Annual Income
$305,069 07 $43,581

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 01 01 03 00 01 01 07
Percentage of Loans 14.29% 14.29% 42.86% 0% 14.29% 14.29% 100%

3. Loan Type

Loan Type
Type of Loan Number of Loans Percentage of loans
Revolving Loans 07 100%
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 07 100%

Loan Type Summary
Type of Loan Number of Loans Dollar Value of Loans
Revolving Loans 07 $131,155
Partnership Loans 00 $0
Total 07 $131,155

4. Interest Rates

Interest Rates
Lowest 3.5%
Highest 3.5%

Interest Rate Summary
Sum of Interest Rates Number of Loans Made Average Interest Rate
25 07 3.57142857142857%

Number of Loans Made by Interest Rate
Interest Rate Number of loans
0.0% to 2.0% 00
2.1% to 4.0% 07
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 07

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 02 $10,595
Speech communication 00 $0
Learning, cognition, and developmental 00 $0
Mobility, seating and positioning 01 $5,500
Daily living 01 $12,500
Environmental adaptations 00 $0
Vehicle modification and transportation 03 $102,560
Computers and related 00 $0
Recreation, sports, and leisure 00 $0
Total 07 $131,155

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? 0


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

T.O. lives with scoliosis and cervical spinal stenosis, and the torture of neuropathy and pinched nerves affects every aspect of her life. “The neuropathy is a feeling that is really unbearable,” she explains. “It’s difficult to live with because my leg will go numb or my foot will go numb and I can’t feel it, like it’s not even there. It can be dangerous.” T.O. learned a massage chair might help, but the price tag of $5,499 was well beyond reach; T.O. lives on $1,306 per month. Being a former legal analyst, she threw herself into online research and found the Montana Assistive Technology Loan (MATL) Program. The application process was easy and she was able to purchase her chair. Has it made a difference? You bet! “I’m in a lot of pain almost all the time, and the chair relieves some of that pain,” she says. “I can spend some time in the chair, using the mode that squeezes arms, feet, and ankles, and the neuropathy goes away. I can be ok for a couple of days. It was really a Godsend for me to be able to get it.”

woman with gray hair lounges in a giant massage chair, holding a remote and smiling
Impact Area

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. 00 00 07 07
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 00 00 07 07
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 00 00 07 07
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 00 00
8. Total 00 00 07 07
9. Performance on this measure NaN% NaN% 100%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 07 100%
Satisfied 00 0%
Satisfied somewhat 00 0%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 00 0%
Total Surveyed 07
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 03
B. Device Refurbish/Repair - Reassign and/or Open Ended Loan 430
C. Total 433

Performance Measure
D. 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
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures 433

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

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 02 $2,032 $0 $2,032
Daily Living 01 $64 $0 $64
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 03 $2,096 $0 $2,096

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 11 $19,910 $0 $19,910
Hearing 00 $0 $0 $0
Speech Communication 05 $2,394 $0 $2,394
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 00 $0 $0 $0
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 406 $375,902 $1 $375,901
Daily Living 33 $10,504 $0 $10,504
Environmental Adaptations 00 $0 $0 $0
Vehicle Modification & Transportation 00 $0 $0 $0
Computers and Related 03 $1,365 $0 $1,365
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 05 $1,302 $0 $1,302
Total 463 $411,377 $1 $411,376

D. Anecdote

After a driver on meth passed out at the wheel and plowed across the center line, S.D. ended up in the hospital with three breaks in his femur, broken bones in his hand and arm, and a severe concussion. Following a three-week hospital stay, he was looking at months of rehab. His wife knew it was going to be an ordeal. “My husband is stubborn as all get-out and doesn’t like people to do stuff for him,” she said. “so finding long-term equipment was important.” The couple borrowed tools to help S.D. shower and dress as independently as possible. A HandyBar was hugely helpful for getting him in and out of vehicles. Most important from a father’s perspective, S.D. borrowed a reused off-road wheelchair with all-terrain wheels to get onto the football field for their sons’ games. “You miss a lot when you go through an experience like that,” S.D. explained. “I missed the 21st of August until the first part of October. It was partway through their season before I got to watch a game.” S.D.’s wife noted that purchasing all the equipment they needed would have been a hardship. The savings meant a lot to S.D. too. “I think MonTECH did an outstanding job, all the equipment you loaned us and for nothing,” he said. “Without the help of MonTECH, we would have been out thousands of dollars.”