August 2015 Highlights
PROJECT WIDE NEWS
Announcements
2015 AFP and Reuse Conference Resounding Success!
The RESNA Catalyst Project in conjunction with the Pass It On Center, hosted an Alternative Financing and Reuse Programs Conference in Washington, DC, August 31, and September 1, 2015. The Conference brought together over 80 attendees to gain greater knowledge and best practices of Alternative Financing Programs and Assistive Technology Reutilization. Catalyst extends a big thank you to Carloyn Phillips and Liz Persuad of the the Pass It On Center for all their planning efforts, as well as all participnats who were able to attend! In addition, Catalyst is pleased to provide these technical assistance events, and recognize that we could not succeed without each of you. Thank you for making this conference a success! To view all the session presentations, visit the RESNA Catalsyt Project Website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/2015conf.html.
ACL’s Office of Grants Management (OGM) Obligation and Liquidation Deadlines
OGM will extend the obligation and liquidation deadlines in PMS as follows:
FY 2014 SGAT awards (90AG) - The deadline to obligate FY 2014 SGAT awards is September 30, 2015, and the deadline to liquidate the remainder of FY 2014 funds is December 30, 2015.
FY 2015 SGAT awards (90AG) - The deadline to obligate FY 2015 SGAT awards is September 30, 2016, and the deadline to liquidate the remainder of FY 2015 funds is December 30, 2016.
Please respond to Robert.Groenendaal@acl.hhs.gov for information about FY 2014 drawdowns in the PMS.
AT Program News Summer Newsletter
Editor Eliza Anderson of AT Program News explores "Aging in Place with Assistive Technology" in the August edition of AT Program News. You can read this Newsletter at http://atprogramnews.typepad.com/files/2015-summer-aging-in-place-with-assistive-technology.html. AT Program News serves the state Assistive Technology Act Programs, the Alternative Financing Programs, and their community partners.
Farewell to Leslie Novacek
After working for the Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP) for a total of 11 years, Leslie Novacek resigned this past July. Leslie was offered and accepted the position of Administrator for the Disability Determinations Section, located in the Nebraska Department of Education, with a start date of August 1, 2015. In a recent email exchange, Leslie thanked the RESNA Catalyst Project for being a great partner. The RESNA Catalyst Project thanks Leslie for her leadership throughout the years, and for her commitment to supporting the use of Assistive Technology for people living with disability. Congratulations Leslie, and all the best to you!
New Catalyst Webinars Scheduled for all AT Act Programs - Save the Dates
The RESNA Catalyst Project has been working to develop several webinars FY 2016. First, Tony Gentry, Associate Professor, Director, Assistive Technology for Cognition Laboratory, with Virginia Commonwealth University will be providing an update on Cognitive Aids for People with Brain Injury on Tuesday, November 17, 2015. Second, the RESNA Catalyst Project, Neighborhood Legal Services, and the National Disabilities Rights Network will be conducting a four part webinar series beginning this month. Webinar topics for the series include AT and Transition, Funding AT for the Blind to Support Work and Independent Living, AT and Voting Access, and AT and Emergency Preparedness. Dates for each webinar are as follows: Webinar One - Wednesday, September 30, 2015, Webinar Two - Thursday, November 19, 2015, Webinar Three - Wednesday, January 27, 2016, and Webinar Four - Wednesday March 9, 2016.
All webinars will begin at 3p.m. EST, run for 90 minutes in length, will provide CART service, and offer CEUs. Look for information on how to register for each webinar soon. In the meantime, save the dates today!
Recent EventsWebinar: Inclusive Sports, Recreation, and Exercise for Individuals with Disabilities - August 26, 2015
The RESNA Catalyst Project, Southwest ADA, and ADA Networks presented a free webinar on August 26, 2015,entitled Inclusive Sports, Recreation, and Exercise for Individuals with Disabilities. This webinar included information on creating inclusive sports, recreation, and exercise equipment for people with disabilities, and the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design for Recreational Facilities. Presenters included: Bob Lujano, Information Specialist from National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), Gus LaZear, the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living’s Vice President and General Manager for SpoFit, and Andy Winnegar, Training Associate with the Southwest ADA Center. To view an archived recording of this webinar, visit: http://www.adaconferences.org/RESNA/Archives/.
STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS
Upcoming Events
Revisions to the Quality Indicators Manual for Device Loan and Device Demonstration
The RESNA Catalyst Project will be convening a work group of Mid Atlantic AT Programs September 24, and 25, 2015, at the Maryland Technology Assistance Program, to work on updates and revisions to the 2010 Quality Indicator Manuals for Device Loan and Device Demonstration. If you have suggestions for updates, please send them to Paul Galonsky, pgalonsky@resna.org.
PAAT PROGRAMS
Announcements
New AT Advocate Newsletter Published: “Power Wheelchairs and Accessories for Young Children: Justifying Medicaid Funding for Kids as Young at 18 Months Old”
This article, available at http://nls.org/files/AT%20Advocate%20Newsletters/AT%20Advocate%20Summer%202015%20-Power%20Wheelchairs%20for%20Children%20.pdf, is geared to meet the needs of health care professionals – including physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists – who will prepare letters of medical justification to support requests to have a Medicaid program fund a pediatric power wheelchair. Simultaneously, this article should prove to be a useful tool for attorneys and advocates who will work with those health care providers as they represent young children who have been denied Medicaid funding for a power wheelchair. NLS has also provided links to a number of resources that advocates can access to support their advocacy efforts on pediatric wheelchair cases, including: a past newsletter focusing on Medicaid advocacy for children seeking AT; and a past newsletter focusing on preparing letters of medical justification; a 2014 Medicaid fair hearing decision, which awards funding for a power wheelchairs and accessories for a two year old child.
Looking for Non-Traditional AT Funding Sources: Consider “Association of Blind Citizens AT Fund” – http://www.blindcitizens.org/assistive_tech.htm
- Can cover 50% of retail price of adaptive devices, software.
- Goal - allow blind and visually impaired individuals access to products that will have a significant impact on improving employment opportunities, increase independence and enhance their overall quality of life.
- The products covered must retail for a minimum of $200 with a maximum retail price of $6,000.
- Persons eligible must have a family income of less than $50,000 and cash assets of less than $20,000.
- Application available on website
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS
Announcements
Individual TA Calls with Loan Program Directors
The RESNA Catalyst Project, in conjunction with RSA, is continuing to set up individual calls for loan program directors to discuss program needs. These are short, usually lasting approximately 30 minutes. Keep an eye out for contact from Jason Luciano to schedule a time.
Revisions to the Quality Indicators Manual
The RESNA Catalyst Project will be convening a work group to work on updates and revisions to the 2012 Quality Indicators Manual. If you are interested in joining this work group, please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org.
New Grantee Call – September 20th 4-5:00p.m. Eastern
The next monthly call bringing together the new AFP grantees will be September 20, 2015, 4:00 p.m. Eastern. These calls are for those programs receiving funding under the recent competitions to discuss unique opportunities and challenges presented to new AFP grantees.
Save the Date - Loan Directors Open Forum Call – September 15th 3-4:00p.m. Eastern
RESNA Catalyst Project Director, Joey Wallace will host an all Loan Program Directors Forum in September. This forum is designed for Directors to talk informally about programmatic issues that they may be currently facing, as well as technical guidance adhering to federal and state regulations. In addition, this forum is intended to provide for open discussion and sharing across programs. Please join us by calling 1-800-211-4163 with pass code 57 48 484#.
OTHER RESOURCES
AAIDD/AUCD Joint Paper on Community Living
In this joint paper, AUCD and AAIDD provide an accessible summary of the research from the past 30 years on services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as recommendations for residential services.
http://www.aucd.org/docs/publications/2015_0723_aucd_aaidd_community_living3.pdf.
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.
Follow the RESNA Catalyst Project on Twitter today!@ResnaCatalyst
The RESNA Catalyst Project now has a Twitter feed on the homepage at www.resnaprojects.org. Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables users to send and read "tweets", which are text messages limited to 140 characters.
Follow what is happening with the RESNA Catalyst’s Online Calendar
The RESNA Catalyst Project’s event calendar is on the homepage atwww.resnaprojects.org. This interactive calendar allows individuals to access information on upcoming events as well as visit recent ones. Most events reported in these Highlights Newsletters will now be a simple click away to download, register, and share!
AT product information contained above is distributed by the RESNA Catalyst Project for informational purposes only. Endorsement or recommendation is neither intended nor implied, and the RESNA Catalyst Project, RESNA, RESNA employees, collaborators, and partners take no responsibility for individual decisions, and shall bear no liability for any loss or damages resulting from the use of this information.