National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Annual Progress Report - Full Report

Kansas 2024

General Information

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

State AT Program Title:
KU AT Program: Assistive Technology for Kansans
State AT Program Title:
State AT Program URL
www.atk.ku.edu
Mailing Address:
1000 Sunnyside Ave.
City:
Lawrence
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66045
Program Email:
ssack@ku.edu
Phone:
620-421-8367
TTY:
620-421-0954

Lead Agency

Agency Name:
The University of Kansas Center for Research Inc.
Mailing Address:
Youngberg Hall 2385 Irving Hill Road
City:
Lawrence
State:
Kansas
Zip Code:
66045
Program URL:
http://www.atk.ku.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):
Sack, Sara
Title:
Senior Research Professor
Phone:
620-421-8367
E-mail:
ssack@ku.edu
Program Director at Lead Agency (last, first):
Sack, Sara
Title:
Senior Research Professor
Phone:
620-421-8367
E-mail:
ssack@ku.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):
Reed, Alicia
Title:
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Research
Phone:
785-864-7231
E-mail:
amreed@ku.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 25 22 47
Approved Not made 03 03 06
Rejected 08 05 13
Total 36 30 66

2. Income of Applicants to Whom Loans Were Made

Lowest/Highest Incomes
Lowest Income: $13,740 Highest Income: $155,700

Average Income
Sum of Incomes Loans Made Average Annual Income
$2,727,457 47 $58,031

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 11 08 09 05 13 47
Percentage of Loans 2.13% 23.4% 17.02% 19.15% 10.64% 27.66% 100%

3. Loan Type

Loan Type
Type of Loan Number of Loans Percentage of loans
Revolving Loans 47 100%
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 47 100%

Loan Type Summary
Type of Loan Number of Loans Dollar Value of Loans
Revolving Loans 47 $829,915
Partnership Loans 00 $0
Total 47 $829,915

4. Interest Rates

Interest Rates
Lowest 5.5%
Highest 5.5%

Interest Rate Summary
Sum of Interest Rates Number of Loans Made Average Interest Rate
248 47 5.26595744680851%

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% 47
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 47

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 08 $29,039
Speech communication 00 $0
Learning, cognition, and developmental 00 $0
Mobility, seating and positioning 02 $1,933
Daily living 04 $9,643
Environmental adaptations 00 $0
Vehicle modification and transportation 31 $784,539
Computers and related 02 $4,761
Recreation, sports, and leisure 00 $0
Total 47 $829,915

6. Defaults

Defaults
Number Loans in default 06
Net loss for loans in default $29,280

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)111
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)49
C. Total Served160

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure0
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures160

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 36$33,369
Hearing 49$15,458
Speech communication23$9,604
Learning, cognition, and developmental 39$16,743
Mobility, seating and positioning3$1,658
Daily living 8$1,573
Environmental adaptations2$184
Vehicle modification and transportation 0$0
Computers and related 3$1,104
Recreation, sports, and leisure0$0
Total163$79,693

Activity 2
How would you describe this state financing activity?Other: Funding Eligibility Assistance

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)84
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)429
C. Total Served513

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure0
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures513

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 96$99,377
Hearing 79$23,677
Speech communication78$110,414
Learning, cognition, and developmental 57$31,084
Mobility, seating and positioning117$75,548
Daily living 218$54,611
Environmental adaptations28$98,945
Vehicle modification and transportation 5$76,820
Computers and related 22$17,351
Recreation, sports, and leisure3$2,085
Total703$589,912



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

Lisa lives in South Central Kansas and has limited mobility as a result of fibromyalgia. When Lisa came to Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) she was using a power wheelchair but had no vehicle, no accessible access to her home, and was not employed. Through a combined effort of ATK, Voc Rehab, and private funding an adaptive vehicle and accessible ramp were obtained. VocRehab purchased an accessible vehicle with hitch and lift for Lisa and ATK assisted with funding of accessible ramp with help of Friends of Man, CPRF of Wichita, and Arcare of Kansas City. With the help of VocRehab and ATK services Lisa is prepared and excited to enter the workforce to further obtain her independence.

A woman sitting in her power wheelchair in front of her mobile home.  An accesssible ramp and adapted vehicle are shown beside her home.
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. 34 15 510 559
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 11 35 24 70
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 02 00 24 26
4. Subtotal 47 50 558 655
5. None of the above 01 01 39 41
6. Subtotal 48 51 597 696
7. Nonrespondent 24 00 00 24
8. Total 72 51 597 720
9. Performance on this measure 65.28% 98.04% 93.47%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 538 74.72%
Satisfied 127 17.64%
Satisfied somewhat 06 0.83%
Not at all satisfied 01 0.14%
Nonrespondent 48 6.67%
Total Surveyed 720
Response rate % 93.33%

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 613
C. Total 613

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 613

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 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 01 $1,200 $0 $1,200
Hearing 00 $0 $0 $0
Speech Communication 03 $28,316 $0 $28,316
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 00 $0 $0 $0
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 265 $407,942 $0 $407,942
Daily Living 327 $168,757 $0 $168,757
Environmental Adaptations 00 $0 $0 $0
Vehicle Modification & Transportation 00 $0 $0 $0
Computers and Related 00 $0 $0 $0
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 17 $23,822 $0 $23,822
Total 613 $630,037 $0 $630,037

D. Anecdote

Ranchers wear boots for a reason, they help the person wearing them get around on the rough pasture ground and cattle corrals. So, can you imagine how rough a ride is in a wheel chair? That’s what Bret drives over each day as he is out checking fence, feeding cattle, or tagging calves. Bret swerved to miss a deer in 2004 and the accident left him with a spinal cord injury. As a result, wheels are his mode of transportation which includes manual or power wheelchairs, his all-terrain vehicle and his pick-up with a lift system. As a rancher, he is busy all the time and when on the ground he uses a power wheelchair. Bret will be the first to let you know they are not made for farming (they are designed for driving on smooth cement), and as a result has worn out many. While Bret has managed to use the standard heavy-duty chairs on his ranch it is still difficult for him to reach over fences to throw in grain, or hammer in a U nail into a post to fix fence. Twice a year, it is time to give cattle shots, and Brett has to reach high up to give 150+ cattle their vaccines. Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) received a used Permobile Corpas ME power chair. The seat of this chair rises 12 off the base. When Bret tried out the Corpas ME he excitedly exclaimed how this would make working cattle much more efficient. There is a refrigerator right by the cattle chute which holds the vaccines. “The ability to turn on a dime next to the cattle chute and the ability to elevate the seat are extremely helpful in being independent while working the cattle. Also, the amount of stress and strain on my shoulders has been greatly reduced while using this chair vs trying to maneuver in my manual chair. Very important to me since I have discovered I have 2 torn rotary cuffs now."

Smiling man sitting in a wheelchair in a barn beside a cattle shoot.  Young calf is in the shoot and the rancher is preparing to give an injuection
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. 20 03 467 490
2. AT was only available through the AT program. 03 00 18 21
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long. 04 00 51 55
4. Subtotal 27 03 536 566
5. None of the above 00 00 00 00
6. Subtotal 27 03 536 566
7. Nonrespondent 00 00 47 47
8. Total 27 03 583 613
9. Performance on this measure 100% 100% 91.94%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services Number of Customers Percent
Highly satisfied 370 60.36%
Satisfied 205 33.44%
Satisfied somewhat 11 1.79%
Not at all satisfied 00 0%
Nonrespondent 27 4.4%
Total Surveyed 613
Response rate % 95.6%

G. Notes:

Reutilization efforts were negatively impacted with the loss of the Northeast Assistive Technology Access Site. The site closed unexpectedly and there was a delay in services for this region while a new AT Site was secured.

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) 246
Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding 06
Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation 89
Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity 47
Total 388

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 55 40 95
Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives 40 17 57
Representative of Education 47 59 106
Representative of Employment 05 01 06
Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation 75 09 84
Representatives of Community Living 09 05 14
Representatives of Technology 15 11 26
Total 246 142 388

C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans

Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days 28

D. Types of Devices Loaned

Types of Devices Loaned
Type of AT Device Number of Devices
Desicion-making All other Purposes Total
Vision 27 08 35
Hearing 08 30 38
Speech Communication 67 30 97
Learning, Cognition and Developmental 99 85 184
Mobility, Seating and Positioning 49 29 78
Daily Living 07 14 21
Environmental Adaptations 03 05 08
Vehicle Modification and Transportation 01 00 01
Computers and Related 14 04 18
Recreation, Sports and Leisure 09 03 12
Total 284 208 492

E. Anecdote

Aiden and his family are the perfect example of how all four Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) core services (Device demonstrations, Short Term Equipment Loan, Equipment Reuse Program, and Assistance in Finding Funding) work seamlessly together. Aiden’s Birth-Three provider reached out to ATK when he was two years old, for assistance in exploring switches and communication options. After several demonstrations Aiden’s team decided that they’d like to try eye gaze for communication, while borrowing a few simple switches from ATK. ATK staff set up a demonstration with the Tobii Dynovox representative at our office. Fortunately, ATK recently received a donated Voyage Zippie Early Intervention Tilt Stroller. When Aiden and his mother arrived at our office, we were able to complete the demonstration with the Tobii Dynovox system, sign the family up for a free one-month trial to be used in their home, and send them home with the KEE Reuse Stroller. Mom was so excited about all of these opportunities and sent pictures of how happy Aiden was to be outside enjoying the sunshine and wind in the stroller. Aiden’s mom recently reported that he had outgrown this stroller and insurance was getting them a larger one that should grow with Aiden. Aiden’s preschool and outpatient Physical Therapist reached out to ATK for assistance with options for seating in the preschool classroom. After borrowing numerous devices, they found the perfect solution that provided Aiden with the support he needed to participate in activities throughout the school day. The school is in the process of purchasing these accommodations for the classroom. When asked if I could share this information, Aiden’s mother said she would love to share and “We love ATK!”