|
 |
Highlights
April 2011 |
|
PROJECT WIDE NEWS
News
FY 2007 - 2008 Annual Report to Congress on the AT Act Now Published
Data
on the AT Act Programs are available through the newly released
publication to Congress. Access this report via the Department of
Education website at http://www2.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/rsa/atsg/2007-08/index.html.
Upcoming Events
Two WEBED Webinars Upcoming in May
WEBED-GMU02: Accessibility of Mobile Technology Thursday, May 19, 2011: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern
WEBED-ATIA03: JAWS - Product Releases, Updates and Walk Through from Freedom Scientific Wednesday, May 25, 2011: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Eastern
For more information about these and other WebEd webinars, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webed.html.
To register for either of these webinars - go to www.atia.org/webedregistration.
Transition to the Community Work Group Call - June 15, 2011- 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern
The
Transition Work Group will meet again on Wednesday June 15. This
call will feature Lewis Golinker, Esq. with AAC Funding Help (http://www.aacfundinghelp.com/).
Mr. Golinker will share the experiences he has had with constituents
and their concerns, and provide ideas about greater AT access in nursing
facilities. To connect to the call, dial 1-800-351-6810, pass
code 46172076 #.
Transcripts and MP3 files from previous calls are available at the Transition Wiki Site at: http://attransition.wikispaces.com/.
Recent Events
Introducing the New RESNA Catalyst Project Website - April 6 and April 21 Webinar
To access the transcript, power points and handouts for this introduction, go to
http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/teleconf/index.html
and
http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html.
WebEd - Archives Available
For any of the WEBED- Webinar archived events, go to
http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html. |
|
STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS
News
The Catalyst Project Welcomes Two New Statewide Program AT Directors
The Catalyst Project welcomes Julie Martinez, Director with the New Mexico Technology Assistance Program (NMTAP), and Alan Knue, Director for the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP).
Julie has been in the AT field and with NMTAP for over twelve years. She
was designated the Director for NMTAP in January 2011, when Andy
Winegar, past NMTAP Director, retired in December of 2010.
Alan has had a long history with WATAP starting in 1996. Alan transitioned into the Directorship beginning in 2011, and officially took over as Director on April 1. Congratulations Julie and Alan!
Upcoming Events
Statewide AT Program Leaders Symposium-It's Almost Here!
The Catalyst Project is delighted to be co-hosting with the Association of AT Act Programs the Statewide AT Program Leaders Symposium, to be held May 17-18, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel. This
year's Symposium will include workshops on data management, fee for
service issues, and current policy issues related to AT.
If
you have not already made your hotel reservations, please contact the
hotel directly (301) 657-1234, or you may book your reservation on line
via a special link at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/RSNA .
Please be sure to indicate your special needs to the hotel. When
making your reservation, identify yourself as a RESNA conference
participant. If you have problems getting a hotel reservation, please contact Nancy Meidenbauer (nmeidenbauer@resna.org) or Paul Galonsky (pgalonsky@resna.org) as we can work with the hotel to release extra rooms. To see the latest agenda, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html.
Webinar: Title II and III of the ADA - July 14, 2011- 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern
Wendy Wilkinson, Project Director with the DBTAC-Southwest ADA Center and
Andy
Winnegar, consultant with the DBTAC-Southwest ADA Center, will present
strategies for providing "effective communication" for public and
private entities covered by Title II and III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act. The presenters will also review how the AT Act
and Statewide AT Programs can support provision of effective
communication. This webinar is in collaboration with the RESNA
Catalyst Project and the DBTAC Southwest ADA Center, a program of ILRU
(Independent Living Research Utilization), at TIRR Memorial Hermann in
Houston, Texas. Details on how to connect to the webinar will be
sent closer to the event.
Resources
Two GMU/ATIA Webinars now Archived and Available-
WEBED-GMU01 Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Overview
WEBED-ATIA02: AIM - Products and Services from ATIA Members'
If you were not able to attend these live presentations, consider accessing the archived presentations at
http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html.
|
|
PAAT PROGRAMS
Save the Date
Save the Date - Bridges Conference
The 15th
Annual "Bridges to Better Advocacy" Conference will be conducted
November 1-3, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Austin, Texas (same site
used since 2001). The three-day conference (first day, optional
preconference) will focus on AT funding and advocacy strategies.
Planning is well underway. Early bird registration should be
available in June. There will be a full day, "Advanced Medicaid"
preconference on Tuesday, November 1st. |
|
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND
TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS
New Fact Sheet
Telework At-A-Glance
A
new Catalyst fact sheet provides an overview of the Technical
Assistance Circular (TAC) for Telework Programs. This fact sheet
provides some examples of business equipment that has been funded
through Telework loans. To see the new publication, go to: http://resnaprojects.org/documents/uploads/What%20can%20be%20funded%20with%20Telework%20Loans.doc.
Save the Date
AFP/Telework Best Practice Institute - September 7-9, 2011
The
Best Practice Institute for Financial Loan Programs will be conducted
September 7-9, 2011 at the Ed Roberts Campus Building in Berkeley,
California, hosted by the RESNA Catalyst Project. The first two
days will be designed for all loan programs. A Telework Workshop
will be conducted September 9. To see the meeting invitation,
registration forms, and draft agenda, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html.
Upcoming Events
New Telework Program Directors Conference Call Series: Fourth Call Tuesday, May 24th -1:00pm Eastern
Continuing
the series of conference calls for directors new to Telework Programs,
the fourth scheduled call will focus on the findings of the Top
Performers workgroup of the Telework Initiative in 2010. The identified Keys to Success will be reviewed in greater detail. To access the call, dial: 1-800-351-6810, pass code 80573760#.
RESCHEDULED - New AFP Program Directors Conference Call Series: Second call Wednesday, May 25th -1:00pm Eastern
Continuing
the series for new AFP directors, this conference call will focus on
customer service. The scope of "customer" will be explored, as
well the manner in which to provide excellent customer service. To
access the call, dial: 1-800-351-6810, pass code 80573760#.
Recent Events
New Telework Program Directors Conference Call Series: Third Call- April 5th
Kathy
Gilman, of the Washington Access Fund, presented on Microdevelopment
Organizations and discussed how these may be a beneficial aspect to
Telework Loan Programs.
The handouts and recording of the webinar are posted on the RESNA Catalyst website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/teleconf/index.html.
National Telework Webinar - Exploring Entrepreneurship - April 27th
Kathy Gilman of the Washington Access Fund presented a national webinar April 27th,
for budding entrepreneurs from around the country so that they could
learn about entrepreneurship and the basics of business planning. The handouts and recording of the webinar will be posted on the RESNA Catalyst website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/teleconf/index.html. |
|
OTHER RESOURCES |
FCC Announces Contest for New Software Applications
Federal Communications Commission Chairman
Julius Genachowski and the Knight Foundation have launched a nationwide
contest to develop software applications that make local public
information more personalized, usable, and accessible for all Americans,
including people with disabilities. For more information read Apps for Communities Challenge. Submission deadline is July 11, 2011. |
|
The RESNA Catalyst Project is a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration
under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended. The
project is operated by RESNA. The information contained herein does not
necessarily reflect the position or policy of RSA/ED or RESNA and no
official endorsement of the materials should be inferred.
RESNA
is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of
North America whose purpose is to promote the health and well being of
individuals with disabilities through the use of assistive technology. RESNA
is the grantee funded to provide technical assistance and training to
those programs funded under the AT Act and to others.
Contact
Information: RESNA Catalyst Project, 1700 North Moore Street,
Suite 1540, Arlington, VA 22209-1903; (703) 524-6686 (voice),
(866) 342-6572 (voice), (703) 524-6630 (FAX), (703) 524-6639
(TTY). Email: catalyst@resna.org; Website: http://www.resnaprojects.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|