This article is reprinted from the A.T. Quarterly, Volume 1, Number 4 (1990)
"Technology made it possible for us to express our ideas and feelings
and let us discover that we do have things to say." - Person with a disability, Minneapolis,
Minnesota
In October, 1985, then Governor Rudy Perpich created a 19 member panel to explore ways
to increase access to assistive technology devices and services to Minnesotans with disabilities.
From the start, the Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities took
its charge seriously. It went directly to Minnesotans with disabilities and their families to acquire
both insight into the present system and a better vision for tomorrow.
CONSUMER HEARINGS
In developing Minnesota's STAR (System of Technology to Achieve Results) program, the
panel held five public hearings to gather testimony on the barriers individuals with disabilities
face trying to access technology that could assist them to work, attend school, play and just plain
live like everyone else. Over 150 people from all across the state attended the hearings. This
gave Advisory Council members ample opportunity to hear first hand the concerns and
recommendations of persons with disabilities, their families, and those who work directly
with them.
CONSUMER TRAININGS
The recommendations which came out of these hearings formed the basis for the plan of
activities that makes up the STAR program. Once Minnesota STAR received federal funding,
the Governor's Advisory Council once again traveled the state and held five consumer training
sessions in conjunction with the Minnesota Centers for Independent Living. The primary purpose
of the training was to provide Minnesotans with disabilities and their families with a basic
overview of P.L. 100-407, the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Act of 1988, and with the STAR program. But the sessions served another equally vital purpose
as well: they brought all different kinds of people with disabilities together to talk about the
power and potential of assistive technology in their own lives.
Accordingly, much of the training also focused on discussing issues and concerns as:
CONSUMER INTEREST INVENTORY
Obviously, the last of these concerns was the most critical aspect in the implementation of
a truly consumer responsive program that could ultimately result in real systems change. As a
first step to soliciting that involvement, STAR staff developed an interest inventory that asked
consumers to identify the ways in which they might wish to be involved in the STAR Program.
Some of the options which the inventory listed for getting and staying involved in systems
change efforts included: serving on the Advisory Council and steering committees of special task
forces; reviewing public education materials or policy paper; serving on peer review panels for
community based grants or the mobile outreach program; supporting legislative initiatives, or
serving as reviewers of overall STAR program activities and effectiveness. A total of 134
consumers responded to the interest inventory. While STAR still is in the process of perfecting
mechanisms to make the most of these individual's abilities and perspectives, already a number
of individuals have become involved with the STAR Program.
CONSUMER TASK FORCE ON INSURANCE
Ten citizens from throughout the state currently serve on the Consumer Task Force on
Insurance. This task force which explores the barriers to acquiring assistive technology through
private insurance, to date has focused its efforts on:
A final report and recommendations for policy action is expected to be completed in the first
quarter of 1991.
PEER TRAINING ON CONSUMER RESPONSIVENESS
Thirty-eight individuals with disabilities and family members, along with STAR grantees,
participated in a workshop on evaluating consumer responsive systems. As part of this effort,
the group developed a listing of key indicators which STAR should use when looking for
evidence of consumer involvement, consumer satisfaction and consumer-responsiveness in the
design and delivery of AT services:
CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT
According to this group, the term consumer involvement would mean that:
CONSUMER SATISFACTION
The same group believed that to determine whether people with disabilities and their families
are actually satisfied with assistive technology devices and services, we must ask ourselves the
following questions:
CONSUMER RESPONSIVENESS
Finally, in respect to consumer-responsiveness, this working group felt the term means
adhering to procedures, anticipating problems and making things easier for people to participate.
Moreover, it also involves documenting needs regardless of services provided by organizations
and looking for other resources for referral and follow-up.
The indicators developed by these 38 consumers and family members and STAR grantees
are now being used along with other quality indicators developed by S.M.A.R.T. Exchange to
evaluate the STAR grant activities. The STAR program relies on the input, advice and
participation of individuals with disabilities for the success of its programs. The STAR staff and
advisors appreciate the involvement of individuals throughout Minnesota in the implementation
of STAR.
The A.T. Quarterly was a newsletter developed by the RESNA TA
Project under a contract with the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education (ED). The content, however, does not necessarily reflect
the position or policy of NIDRR/ED and no official endorsement of the material should be
inferred.