National Assistive Technology Act Data System

Annual Progress Report - Full Report

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Minnesota 2024

General Information

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

State AT Program Title:

Minnesota STAR Program

State AT Program Title:

State AT Program URL

mn.gov/star

Mailing Address:

50 Sherburne Ave. G10

City:

Saint Paul

State:

Zip Code:

55155

Program Email:

Star.Program@state.mn.us

Phone:

651-201-2640

TTY:

800-627-3529

Lead Agency

Agency Name:

Minnesota Department of Adminstration

Mailing Address:

50 Sherburne Avenue

City:

Saint Paul

State:

Zip Code:

55155

Program URL:

mn.gov/admin

Implementing Entity

Does your Lead Agency contract with an Implementing Entity to carry out the Statewide AT Program on its behalf? (Check if Yes)

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):

Perron, Amy

Title:

Program Director

Phone:

651-201-2295

E-mail:

amy.perron@state.mn.us

Program Director at Lead Agency (last, first):

Perron, Amy

Title:

Program Director

Phone:

651-201-2295

E-mail:

amy.perron@state.mn.us

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):

Hayes, Betsy

Title:

Assistant Commissioner

Phone:

651-201-2400

E-mail:

betsy.hayes@state.mn.us

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?

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?

Activity 1

How would you describe this state financing activity?

Other: STAR administers MN's Accommodation Fund for employees/applicants of executive branch agencies

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

County of Residence	Individuals Served
A. Metro (RUCC 1-3)	12
B. Non-Metro (RUCC 4-9)	0
C. Total Served	12

Performance Measure
D. Excluded from Performance Measure	12
E. Number of Individuals Included in Performance Measures	0

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

Executive Branch agencies have a legal responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations to their state employees and applicants; therefore, this information should be excluded

3. Types and Dollar Amounts of AT Funded

Type of AT Device / Service	Number of Devices Funded	Value of AT Provided
Vision	4	$5,176
Hearing	1	$138
Speech communication	0	$0
Learning, cognition, and developmental	1	$965
Mobility, seating and positioning	5	$4,174
Daily living	1	$1,152
Environmental adaptations	0	$0
Vehicle modification and transportation	0	$0
Computers and related	0	$0
Recreation, sports, and leisure	0	$0
Total	12	$11,605

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?

D. Anecdote

STAR manages the Centralized Accommodation Fund. This program is funded through the State General fund and is available to all Executive Branch agencies. We continue to see state agencies utilize this program for employee accommodations and anticipate the fund to run out of dollars this year.

Impact Area Education Employment Community Living

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program.	00	00	00	00
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	00	00
5. None of the above	00	00	00	00
6. Subtotal	00	00	00	00
7. Nonrespondent	00	00	00	00
8. Total	00	00	00	00
9. Performance on this measure	NaN%	NaN%	NaN%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services	Number of Customers	Percent
Highly satisfied	10	83.33%
Satisfied	02	16.67%
Satisfied somewhat	00	0%
Not at all satisfied	00	0%
Nonrespondent	00	0%
Total Surveyed	12
Response rate %	100%

G. Notes:

Reutilization

Did your approved State Plan for this reporting period included conducting any device reuse activities?

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	300
C. Total	300

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	300

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	Total Estimated Current Purchase Price	Total Price for Which Device(s) Were Exchanged	Savings to Consumers
Vision	$0	$0	$0
Hearing	$0	$0	$0
Speech Communication	$0	$0	$0
Learning, Cognition and Developmental	$0	$0	$0
Mobility, Seating and Positioning	$0	$0	$0
Daily Living	$0	$0	$0
Environmental Adaptations	$0	$0	$0
Vehicle Modification & Transportation	$0	$0	$0
Computers and Related	$0	$0	$0
Recreation, Sports and Leisure	$0	$0	$0
Total	$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	03	$4,765	$0	$4,765
Hearing	11	$3,658	$0	$3,658
Speech Communication	168	$401,742	$0	$401,742
Learning, Cognition and Developmental	03	$320	$0	$320
Mobility, Seating and Positioning	01	$248	$0	$248
Daily Living	05	$513	$0	$513
Environmental Adaptations	105	$64,121	$0	$64,121
Vehicle Modification & Transportation	00	$0	$0	$0
Computers and Related	05	$3,992	$0	$3,992
Recreation, Sports and Leisure	02	$212	$0	$212
Total	303	$479,571	$0	$479,571

D. Anecdote

A 48-year-old man living with ALS was experiencing loss of voice and loss of physical mobility as his disease progressed. Just as the disease shut down many areas of independence in his life, the Eyegaze device opened up his ability to gain other people's attention, interact/communicate with people in person and online, and move about his environment once seated in his power wheelchair. Traditional methods of controlling his power wheelchair became difficult as the disease progressed and having Ability Drive software added to his Eyegaze device put him back in the "driver's seat". Whether moving about his home or out in the community, he doesn't need to rely on his caregiver to use the attendant controls for driving his wheelchair anymore. With preprogrammed phrases in his communication software, he can move quickly and get his message across to others, whereas previously he'd been struggling and expending a lot of effort as his voice gradually grew softer and quieter.

Impact Area Education Employment Community Living

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program.	02	01	278	281
2. AT was only available through the AT program.	03	03	10	16
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long.	00	02	01	03
4. Subtotal	05	06	289	300
5. None of the above	00	00	00	00
6. Subtotal	05	06	289	300
7. Nonrespondent	00	00	00	00
8. Total	05	06	289	300
9. Performance on this measure	100%	100%	100%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services	Number of Customers	Percent
Highly satisfied	300	100%
Satisfied	00	0%
Satisfied somewhat	00	0%
Not at all satisfied	00	0%
Nonrespondent	00	0%
Total Surveyed	300
Response rate %	100%

G. Notes:

Device Loan

Did your approved State Plan for this reporting period included conducting Short-Term Device Loans?

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)	498
Serve as loaner during service repair or while waiting for funding	26
Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event/situation	61
Conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity	37
Total	622

B. Short-Term Device Loan by Type of Borrower

LOANS BY TYPE OF BORROWER
Type of Individual or Entity	Number of Device Borrowers
Type of Individual or Entity	Desicion-making	All other Purposes	Total
Individuals with Disabilities	189	43	232
Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives	147	36	183
Representative of Education	65	21	86
Representative of Employment	13	03	16
Representatives of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation	46	06	52
Representatives of Community Living	20	08	28
Representatives of Technology	18	07	25
Total	498	124	622

C. Length of Short-Term Device Loans

Length of Short-Term Device Loan in Days	45

D. Types of Devices Loaned

Types of Devices Loaned
Type of AT Device	Number of Devices
Type of AT Device	Desicion-making	All other Purposes	Total
Vision	65	09	74
Hearing	30	09	39
Speech Communication	139	35	174
Learning, Cognition and Developmental	75	23	98
Mobility, Seating and Positioning	39	04	43
Daily Living	95	15	110
Environmental Adaptations	32	05	37
Vehicle Modification and Transportation	00	00	00
Computers and Related	136	42	178
Recreation, Sports and Leisure	14	04	18
Total	625	146	771

E. Anecdote

J was referred to our program through Vocational Rehabilitation after suffering a stroke that significantly limited his motor functions. Although his illness is recent and there are many goals he hopes to achieve, J has already made great strides by exploring assistive technology. One of J’s passions is cooking, but after his stroke, he found it extremely difficult to complete tasks in the kitchen without full use of his hands. During his visit to our AT Lab, we identified several adaptive devices that could help J regain some of his independence in the kitchen. J borrowed these items for 45 days at no cost, allowing him to try them out before making any purchases. He borrowed a one-handed cutting board, an automatic can opener and a 5-in-1 cooking utensil. These tools gave him the physical ability to cook again and a renewed sense of confidence and mental clarity. J’s experience with the short-term loan program has gone beyond just cooking. He continues to discover and trial various other assistive technology items in the lab, each one helping him restore pieces of his life that he thought he had lost. The success of these basic but impactful devices has fueled his determination to keep exploring new solutions and maintaining his independence.

Impact Area Education Employment Community Living

F. Access Performance Measures

Access Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs	88	30	215	333
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs	29	13	63	105
Subtotal	117	43	278	438
Have not made a decision	13	15	32	60
Subtotal	130	58	310	498
Nonrespondent	00	00	00	00
Total	130	58	310	498
Performance on this measure	90%	74.14%	89.68%

G. Acquisition Performance Measures

Acquisition Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program.	17	03	27	47
2. AT was only available through the AT program.	16	13	14	43
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long.	12	01	10	23
4. Subtotal	45	17	51	113
5. None of the above	04	00	05	09
6. Subtotal	49	17	56	122
7. Nonrespondent	01	00	01	02
8. Total	50	17	57	124
9. Performance on this measure	91.84%	100%	91.07%

H. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services	Number of Customers	Percent
Highly satisfied	526	84.57%
Satisfied	77	12.38%
Satisfied somewhat	14	2.25%
Not at all satisfied	03	0.48%
Nonrespondent	02	0.32%
Total Surveyed	622
Response rate %	99.68%

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	104
Hearing	20
Speech Communication	36
Learning, Cognition and Developmental	12
Mobility, Seating and Positioning	03
Daily Living	81
Environmental Adaptations	20
Vehicle Modification and Transportation	00
Computers and Related	40
Recreation, Sports and Leisure	02
Total # of Device Demonstrations	318

B. Types of Participants

Type of Participant	Decision-Makers	Other Participants	Total
Individuals with Disabilities	273	63	336
Family Members, Guardians, and Authorized Representatives	35	96	131
Representatives of Education	02	06	08
Representatives of Employment	01	08	09
Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation	00	15	15
Representative of Community Living	07	27	34
Representative of Technology	00	02	02
Total	318	217	535

C. Number of Referrals

Referrals
Type of Entity	Number of Referrals
Funding Source (non-AT program)	31
Service Provider	59
Vendor	26
Repair Service	00
Others	00
Total	116

D. Anecdote

P was referred to our program through the State’s Seeing and Blind class. Over the last couple of years, P has faced the challenges of partial blindness, and over the past year, her vision has continued to decline. Initially, P’s main goal was to find a solution that would allow her to independently read her mail. She began using the Clover Book Pro and found some success but struggled with its size and user interface. One of the biggest issues P faced was navigating her home and locating items. This became painfully evident when she misplaced her driver’s license and spent three days crawling around her house to find it. Embarrassed by the situation, she was hesitant to ask for help at the time. During a follow-up conversation regarding another matter, P mentioned the incident, and we arranged a demonstration of Microsoft Seeing AI using one of our iPads in the AT Lab. P was immediately impressed by the capabilities of Seeing AI, especially its ability to identify objects and describe scenes in detail. The demonstration showed her how powerful the tool could be for navigating her home and performing daily tasks independently. This experience motivated P to purchase an iPhone, which she plans to use as her main portable device for everyday tasks. She expressed her deep gratitude to the STAR program, noting that she wouldn’t have known where to start without resources like this.

Impact Area Education Employment Community Living

E. Performance Measures

Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs	33	16	251	300
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs	00	00	05	05
Subtotal	33	16	256	305
Have not made a decision	01	10	02	13
Subtotal	34	26	258	318
Nonrespondent	00	00	00	00
Total	34	26	258	318
Performance on this measure	97.06%	61.54%	99.22%

F. Customer Satisfaction

Satisfaction
Customer Rating of Services	Number of Customers	Percent
Highly satisfied	528	98.69%
Satisfied	07	1.31%
Satisfied somewhat	00	0%
Not at all satisfied	00	0%
Nonrespondent	00	0%
Total	535
Response rate %	100%

G. Notes:

Overall Performance Measures

Overall Acquisition Performance Measure

Acquisition Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
1. Could only afford the AT through the AT program.	19	04	305	328
2. AT was only available through the AT program.	19	16	24	59
3. AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or the wait time too long.	12	03	11	26
4. Subtotal	50	23	340	413
5. None of the above	04	00	05	09
6. Subtotal	54	23	345	422
7. Nonrespondent	01	00	01	02
8. Total	55	23	346	424
9. Performance on this measure	70.37%	86.96%	95.36%	91.71%
ACL Performance Measure				85%
Met/Not Met				Met

Overall Access Performance Measure

Access Performance Measures
Response	Primary Purpose for Which AT is Needed			Total
Response	Education	Employment	Community Living	Total
Decided that AT device/service will meet needs	121	46	466	633
Decided that an AT device/ service will not meet needs	29	13	68	110
Subtotal	150	59	534	743
Have not made a decision	14	25	34	73
Subtotal	164	84	568	816
Nonrespondent	00	00	00	00
Total	164	84	568	816
Performance on this measure	91.46%	70.24%	94.01%	91.05%
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	98.84%	95%	Met
Response Rate	99.86%	90%	Met

Educational/Training Activities

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

Educational/Training Activities by Participant Type
Type of Participant	Number
Individuals with Disabilities	18
Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives	10
Representatives of Education	69
Representatives of Employment	375
Rep Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation	43
Representatives of Community Living	208
Representatives of Technology	15
Unable to Categorize	43
TOTAL	781

Geographic Distribution of Participants
Metro	Non Metro	Unknown	TOTAL
273	156	352	781

B. Educational/Training Activity Topics

Educational/Training Activities by Topic
Primary Topic of Educational/Training Activities	Participants
AT Products/Services	355
AT Funding/Policy/ Practice	02
Combination of any/all of the above	230
Information Technology/Telecommunication Access	161
Transition	33
Total	781

C. Description of Educational/Training Activities

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

We hosted a virtual training on "Tools and Strategies for Supporting Students who Use AAC." For this training, we interviewed a panel of four professionals serving children who use AAC in Minnesota and North Dakota. The group discussed and shared some of their most successful strategies and favorite web resources.

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

STAR presented at Saint Cloud State University to the Vocational Rehabilitation Students on AT in the workplace and daily living. We provided examples and resources for the students to implement in their work when assisting individuals transitioning from K12 to post-secondary and or employment.

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

STAR hosted virtual training on "Creating Accessible Social Media". We collaborated with the State of Minnesota's Chief Officer of Accessibility and AbleTech to provide attendees with best practices for making their social media as accessible as possible. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the subject matter experts.

D. IT/Telecommunications Educational/Training Activity Performance Measure

IT/Telecommunications Educational/Training Activity Performance Measure
Outcome/Result From IT/Telecommunications Educational/Training Activities Received	Number
IT and Telecommunications Procurement or Dev Policies	155
Training or Technical Assistance will be developed or implemented	06
No known outcome at this time	00
Nonrespondent	00
Total	161
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	05%
Employment	49%
Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation	08%
Community Living	33%
Technology (IT, Telecom, AT)	05%
Total	100%

B. Description of Technical Assistance

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

The STAR Program Director is working with a team of Subject Matter Experts (SME's) from MNIT (the state of Minnesota's Enterprise IT department) to develop an internal process for effectively rolling out assistive technology accommodations to state employees. The team is working to modify the existing ticketing portal so that employees or ADA Coordinators can request assistive technology and AT consultations. Currently, there is no mention of AT or Accommodations on this portal. Additionally, the state does not have systems for employees or IT staff to connect with identified AT/ADA SMEs. This is creating a lot of problems for employees. Often months (or more) go by without employees receiving the accommodations and or technology they need.

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

STAR is collaborating with a team of SMEs from the Department of Employment and Economic Development - Vocational Rehab group, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Education to document the Youth in Transition Process Map for AT and the IEP. This tool will be used by professionals.

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. The Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) Conference is a 2-day event where we exhibited at a booth called "The Tech Experience". We collaborate with three other groups (one Non-Profit, and two businesses) who specialize in assistive technology devices and services. We had a broad range of technology set up for attendees to see and try. Included in the tech were high-tech AAC devices, Accessible gaming, and Smart Home technology. Typically over 3000 people attend this annual event. The Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) Annual Conference is attended by a diverse group of professionals involved in health and human services. Attendees typically include: Social workers: Practitioners working in various settings such as schools, hospitals, community programs, and government agencies. Case managers: Professionals managing client services and resources. Counselors and therapists: Individuals providing mental health and support services. Public health workers: Professionals involved in community health initiatives. Human services professionals: Those providing direct services to individuals and families in need. Roles and Leadership Supervisors and managers: Those leading teams or overseeing programs and initiatives. Agency directors and administrators: Decision-makers from government and non-profit organizations. Educators and Students Educators: Professors and trainers in the fields of social work, counseling, and public health. Students: Graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in health and human services. Policy and Advocacy Professionals Representatives from advocacy organizations working on social justice, disability rights, child welfare, and other issues.

Information And Assistance

Information And Assistance Activities by Recipient
Types of Recipients	AT Device/ Service	AT Funding	Total
Individuals with Disabilities	50	23	73
Family Members, Guardians and Authorized Representatives	52	15	67
Representative of Education	13	00	13
Representative of Employment	54	03	57
Representative of Health, Allied Health, and Rehabilitation	34	03	37
Representative of Community Living	55	12	67
Representative of Technology	13	02	15
Unable to Categorize	03	00	03
Total	274	58	332

Referral Types:

The MN STAR Program presents monthly to the State of Minnesota Enterprise Supervisor Core. This is an excellent opportunity to inform state leaders about assistive technology and the resources available to all Minnesotans. Each month there are between 80-90 individuals attending this training. We do a poll each session and usually 80% or more have never heard of our program. Although we have not recorded how consumers have heard about us in the past, we are implementing that now. Additionally, we know that many of the consumers that STAR works with (not our contract partners) are looking for employment support we believe this is part due to the collaboration with the State of Minnesota Enterprise training.

Referral Sources:

The MN STAR Program has been working collaboratively with The Department of Human Services and a group of Assistive Technology Professionals from various non-profits and state-approved providers to train County Case managers from all 87 counties on assistive technology. We discuss the STAR Program and our Demo/Loan program. We are consistently getting calls and setting up loans from this effort. Again, we have not been tracking specific numbers but have changed that for this fiscal year.

Notes:

Coordination/Collaboration and State Improvement Outcomes

Overview of Coordination/Collaboration Activities

Outreach was conducted with the State Education Agency *

Yes

Was collaboration implemented? *

Yes

1. As concisely as possible, describe the partnership initiative. What activities/services were provided? Who are the major collaborating organizations and what is their role? Who is served/benefited? What funding was used to implement the initiative?

STAR is a member of the Department of Education's Advisory Council for planning Assistive Technology training for educators. We meet quarterly. We are collaborating to create AAC kits to be loaned to schools for demo purposes.

2. As concisely as possible, describe the measurable results of the initiative and any lessons learned. How did access to AT change as a result of the coordination/collaboration/partnership? How did awareness of AT change as a result of the partnership? How did the reach of the state AT program change as a result of the partnership? What made the partnership successful? What would you change or wish you had done differently? Provided funding/resources are available, will the initiative continue or is this a one-time event? What advice would you give for replication of the initiative?

It is difficult to measure results from our work with MDE's AT Council, it has allowed us to form relationships with districts and professionals we had no relationship with before the group. Our work on the AAC kits is just beginning. We will require surveys from all borrowers and will ask borrowers what else they would like to see in the kits and how else we can support them.

2.a Please include URL for initiative if available

N/A

3. What focus areas(s) were addressed by the initiative?

Education,

4. What AT Act authorized activity(s) were addressed?

Device Loan, Demo, Information & Assistance,

Outreach was conducted with the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency *

Yes

Was collaboration implemented? *

Yes

The Minnesota STAR Program has a Memorandum of Understanding with our state Vocational Rehabilitation Program. We purchase employment-related technology and allow them to house it for device demonstrations. VocRehab has their clients complete our surveys and often refers clients to us to borrow devices for short-term loans AT Act funding was used to purchase the technology. VoRehab dollars were used to demonstrate the items.

This partnership has been in place for quite a few years. It did stop during COVID and has been slow to restart. We just renewed our MOU and will have measurable results in 2025. VocRehab clients can see technology first-hand because of this collaboration and the VocRehab staff can confidently make recommendations because they see the individual with the device in person. We hope to expand upon this collaboration. A next step we hope to pursue is collaborative AT trainings.

2.a Please include URL for initiative if available

3. What focus areas(s) were addressed by the initiative?

Education, Employment, Transition (school to work or congregate care to community),

4. What AT Act authorized activity(s) were addressed?

Demo,

Outreach was conducted with the Aging Agency *

Yes

Was collaboration implemented? *

Why was collaboration not implemented? *

Staffing limitations prevented projects in 2024. We are actively communicating with this group to do presentations and possible training in 2025.

Outreach was conducted with the Medicaid Agency *

Why was outreach not conducted? *

Staffing limitations prevented us from working with Medicaid. We currently do not have any contacts with Medicaid, but have connected with people in the Department of Human Services to make introductions.

Additional Coordination/Collaboration activities

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?

Additional And Leveraged Funds

A. Leveraged Funding for State Plan Activities

Fund Source	Amount	Use of Funds	Data Reported
State Appropriations	$11,605	State Financing	False
	Amount: $11,605

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.

The Minnesota STAR Program oversees the Centralized Accommodation Fund for State of Minnesota Executive Branch Agencies. STAR reviews the purchase of assistive technology devices that agencies have made as reasonable ADA accommodations for employees. If the purchases meet the established requirements (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.4805) STAR authorizes the agency partial reimbursement from the general fund.

B. Public Health Workforce Grant Award

All Section 4 AT Act grantees were awarded $80,000.00 in supplimental Public Health Workforce grant funding to increase the full-time equivalent (FTE) of staff withing the disability and aging network for public health professionals. Please document the status of these funds below.

The status of these funds at the end of the FY24 (September 30, 2024) is as follows: (Check one) We did not utilize this funding in FY22, FY23 or FY24
We already expended the full award amount and reported associated data in the FY22 and/or FY23 APR
We expended some OR all this funding in FY24 (please complete the section below)

Please report the amount expended (drawn down and liquidated) in this reporting period, FY24:

$46,803.00

Please report the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions this funding supported by type. This can be a direct employee FTE or contractual FTE.

Type of FTE Position	FTE Positions (0.01 to 9.99)
Assistive Technology Specialist	0.00
Information and Assistance Specialist	0.00
Outreach and Awareness Specialist	0.25
Training Specialist	0.00
Health Care Professional (includes PT, OT, SLP)	0.25
Accessibility Expert	0.00
Policy Expert	0.00
Technology Expert (Digital Divide, Mobile Tech)	0.00
Program Manager	0.00
Other positions needed to advance public health and prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVid-19 (describe with narrative field required)	0.00

Please describe the activities of the above FTE and how such activities advance public health.

Through a contract, we hired North Dakota Assistive to help us with creating content for monthly webinars on various assistive technology-related topics including but not limited to (AT for Med Management, Accessible Gardening, Adaptive Outdoor Rec, Digital Accessibility, and more). In addition to content, they assist with registration, gathering data, and captioning the videos. The second part of the contract involves the creation of informational videos on various types of assistive technology. The webinars and videos are shared on our social media pages and housed on our YouTube Channel. We also hired a Speech-Language Pathologist and six individuals with disabilities to create a video series called "Adapted Living." Each PWD shared their personal story and talked about the technology they use to help with their independence. The focus was on Adaptive Gaming, Smart Home Technology, and Tech for telehealth.

C. 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).

Our grant is fully encumbered. We have just under $6,000 left to expend and anticipate that will be done by December 20th.