April 2013 Highlights

PROJECT WIDE NEWS

Final Countdown! RESNA Catalyst Project’s AT & Employment Summit and Two Project Director Meetings in Bethesda, Maryland May 6-9, 2013
A webpage is now available for the 2013 AT Act Entities Directors Meeting & AT for Employment Summit on the RESNA Catalyst Project Website at www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/conference/directors2013.html.
Look for this webpage to become increasingly populated with meeting information such as speaker bios, power point presentations, CEU information, and a participant list. See you in Bethesda soon!

New RESNA Catalyst Project Publication: “Small Investments, Big Returns”
"Small Investments, Big Returns", is a new publication that looks at how vocational rehabilitation agencies partner with Alternative Financing Programs. The programs from Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Arkansas are highlighted. Download a copy today on the RESNA Catalyst Project Website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/documents/AFPprintDocInfo.php?ID=592.

New Blog available on AT for Employer Web Portal
http://atconnects.com/resources/at-for-employers/blog. The Assistive Technology for Employers and Businesses Web Portal has added an AT for Employers Blog. The Blog is set up for you to submit web postings that are relevant to AT and getting people with disability employed. In addition, this Blog can be used to submit original articles pertaining to the subject. To post on the AT for Employers Blog, submit your posts to pgalonsky@rensa.org. Special thanks to Jay Gay, Director of IPAT, for submitting a post about an online Veterans Employment Toolkit aimed at helping facilitate success for Veterans with disability in the workplace.

ATIA & RESNA Catalyst Project May Webinars
ATIA has an exciting lineup of webinars for May! Just enter the RESNA Catalyst Project Code: CATPR13 for complimentary access to Live Broadcast and Archived Recording webinars. For more details on the ATIA webinars for AT Act Programs under the RESNA Catalyst Project, visit: http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4350.
Do you have a looming deadline for completion of CEU requirements‌ ATIA has a solution. Every webinar includes complimentary CEUs!

CEUs for RESNA Catalyst Project Webinars
The RESNA Catalyst Project offers CEUs for most live and archived webinar sessions. The RESNA Catalyst Project is an approved authorized provider for CEU credits by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). You can receive 0.1 CEUs for a sixty to ninety minute webinar. There is a $16 fee to receive credits for each webinar. To learn more about CEUs or to apply for CEUs from an archived webinar, contact Paul Galonsky, pgalonsky@resna.org.

Save the Date! August 21, 2013, 3:00-4:30p.m. Eastern: Accessibility of Web Information: Implications for how the Public and Private Sector Conducts Business
The RESNA Catalyst Project, Southwest ADA Center, and ADA National Network will present a webinar on the accessibility of Web information. Look for more information on how to register for this webinar soon.

Two RESNA Catalyst Project Sponsored Webinars
Webinar One: Negotiating Access to Assistive Technology after High School: Planning Strategies & Civil Rights- April 23, 2013
You can view the recording of this webinar at www.adaconferences.org/RESNA/Archives.

Webinar Two: Security Screening and Traveling with Assistive Technology- April 25, 2013
You can view the recording of this webinar at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html.

AT for Employment Work Group Call, Thursday, April 18, 2013
The AT for Employment Work Group call provided opportunities for participants to get briefed on national updates related to AT for Employment, as well as opportunities to share what is happening in each program. Listen to an archive of this call at the RESNA Catalyst Project’s AT for Employment Work Group Webpage at http://www.resnaprojects.org/crossprograms/employment/workgroup.html. Next Work Group call: Thursday, June 27, 2013, 3:00-4:00p.m. Eastern Time

STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS

Save the Date: Statewide AT Program New Directors Webinar/Call- May 23, 2013, 3-4:00p.m. Eastern
The New Directors call takes place every other month. Under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act), as amended, statewide AT programs must establish and maintain advisory councils to help plan, implement, and evaluate activities. This upcoming webinar/call will feature information on advisory councils, found in the second module of the New Director’s Curriculum (http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/newdirectors/mod2advcouncils.html). This call will also allow time for new directors to discuss issues they are currently facing. All new and veteran statewide AT directors are welcome to participate! Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/751958623.

PAAT PROGRAMS

Jim Sheldon to Co-Present at AFP Directors Meeting On May 7^th, Prior to Employment Summit, Bethesda, Maryland
The RESNA Catalyst Project’s Employment Summit will take place in Bethesda on May 8^th and 9^th. Prior to the Summit, the Alternative Financing Program Directors will meet for a one day conference on the 7^th. Jim Sheldon of the National AT Advocacy Project will join Susan Tachau, Director of the Pennsylvania AFP for a session covering current legal issues facing alternative financing programs. The session will be built around questions posed by others in the AFP network.

AT-Related Training Offered at the National Disability Rights Network Conference, June 3-6, 2013, San Antonio, Texas

• For more information or to register for conference, see http://www.ndrn.org/en/events/events-calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2013/06/03/22/-/ndrn-2013-annual-meeting-june-3-june-6.html (referenced on page as NDRN Annual Meeting)
• Preparation of a Medicaid Assistive Technology Case: From Fair Hearing to State Court Judicial Review (Monday, 6/3/13 Institute)
  Presenters: Diana M. Straube & James R. Sheldon, National AT Advocacy Project; Marge Gustas, NY PAAT Project; and Jennifer Giesen, Minnesota P&A; Project (the presentations will be built around a case where funding is sought for an FES cycling machine)
• A Simulated Interview and Simulated Case Review (Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 3:30 to 5:00) – using AT-related case scenario
  Presenters: Diana M. Straube and James R. Sheldon, National AT Advocacy Project; Marge Gustas, NY PAAT Project; Edward Myers, Arizona Center for Disability Law; and Ron Hager, NDRN
• Using AT to Promote Independent Living: Brainstorming on How to Fund It (Thursday, June 6, 1:30 to 3:00)
  Presenters: Diana M. Straube and James R. Sheldon, National AT Advocacy Project; Edward Myers, Arizona Center for Disability Law
• Handouts will be available for those who cannot attend.

Now Available through our AT Resource Library (contact Diana Straube for copies, dstraube@nls.org)

• Medicare hearing decision awarding funding for a standing wheelchair. (Funding of standing wheelchairs continues to be a focus of project.)
• Bibliography of journal articles and related materials to support medical benefits of FES cycling.
• Briefs in the Koenning v. Janek Medicaid standing wheelchair case pending in US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Also available at www.nls.org/Disability/NationalAssistiveTechnologyProject/WhatsNew

New or Updated Publications
Work, Assistive Technology, and State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies -- The VR Agency’s Obligation to Fund AT to Support Employment Preparation, by Ron Hager of the National Disability Rights Network, is now available on our website: http://www.nls.org/files/Disability%20Law%20Hotlines/National%20AT%20Advocacy/VRFundingofAT2013.pdf. This 44-page publication fully updates and replaces a similar publication done by Ron Hager in 1999 when he worked with Neighborhood Legal Service (Ron continues to work with us through the National Disability Rights Network with a focus on AT-related special education and vocational rehabilitation issues). This is part of our Funding of AT manual series (see www.nls.org/Disability/NationalAssistiveTechnologyProject/FundingofATManualSeries).

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS

Thank you Programs for Submitting FY12 Data
This data set is now being reviewed for accuracy and any possible errors, and a compilation will be available soon.

Teleconference Series Schedule for 2013
You’ve spoken – and we’ve listened! Based on your needs assessment and feedback you’ve given us at the Catalyst Project, we have created a draft teleconference schedule for 2013. Subject to change:

June 18^th 2pm – Preparing for RSA Review
July 16^th 2pm – Collaborating with other AT Act Programs
August 21^st 2pm – Needs Assessment for 2014

Multiple Approaches to Serving Client Needs – May 21^st 2:00p.m. Eastern Program representatives will be speaking on their successes in providing wrap-around resources to clients and applicants to AFPs and other loan programs. Examples will be included to highlight the benefit of multiple funding streams to minimize hardship to those coming to us for assistance. To join this call please call 1-800-351-6810 with pass code 80573760#.

Financial Literacy Part I - March 19^th
This teleconference introduced loan program directors and staff to financial literacy as an option for loan programs. Kathy Gilman from Washington spoke about how financial literacy training has been successfully incorporated into AFP and other loan programs, and how this can strengthen the integrity and portfolio of a program. This call was recorded and archived on the RESNA Catalyst website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/documents/AFPprintDocInfo.php?ID=589.

Data Work Group Call – March 12^th 12:00p.m. Eastern
The Data Work Group held its monthly meeting to discuss and develop recommendations for changes to the MIS 662. To join this Work Group please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org.

OTHER RESOURCES

Assistive Technology Survey for Orthopedically Impaired Students
Felix Diaz, a retired US Army veteran and a teacher serving as the Testing Coordinator at Miami Jackson Senior High School in Miami Florida, is presently engaged in a dissertation as part of the requirements for his PhD in Computing in Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Felix is requesting assistance in completing a short survey on the use of assistive technology to aid orthopedically impaired (OI) students’ writing and note-taking in the inclusive high school classroom. The intent is to determine the pervasiveness of the use of speech recognition software to aid OI students in U.S. high schools. The survey can be completed in five minutes or less. Please access the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8KPLLW8.
For questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact Felix at mjfdiaz@bellsouth.net or at 305-634-2621, extension 2151.

AT Radio & Podcasts in Indiana
INDATA has launched an internet radio station. AssistiveTechnologyRadio.com broadcasts 24/7 and includes a wide variety of AT programs. Programs include INDATA’s two podcasts as well as various AT training sessions. To view and listen to the growing list of episodes, visit: http://www.eastersealstech.com/on-air/.
INDATA will include audio content from other AT projects. To submit radio content or to learn more about INDATA's AT radio and podcasts contact Wade Wingler at wwingler@eastersealscrossroads.org.