January 2014 Highlights
PROJECT WIDE NEWS
Announcements
Important RSA Deadline for 2014
The RSA-664 State Plan is due February 21, 2014. If you are considering an update or change
to the third and final year of your OMB-approved State Plan for AT, please
notify Brian Bard or Rob Groenendaal to let them know what you are planning to
do differently. If no changes will be
made to the State Plan, then you need only an “electronic signature” from a
certified representative at the Lead Agency to sign off in Section H -
Assurances, Measurable Goals, and Signatures.
Please contact Rob Groenendaal, Robert.Groenendaal@ed.gov
or Brian Bard, Brian.Bard@ed.gov from RSA if you have
specific concerns or questions.
RESNA
Catalyst Project & ATIA Webinars
In 2014, the RESNA Catalyst Project will continue its partnership with ATIA to
offer live and archived webinars to all AT Act Entities! A total of 650 seats will be available through
September 2014. The webinar subscription code is 14CATWS. This is referred to as the “Discount
Code” in the online registration form and is the same for all
registrations. The discount code must
be used during the webinar and conference recording registration process to
ensure the system does not charge any additional fees. Multiple attendees and multiple webinars can
be registered during one registration transaction. However, each person for
each webinar and conference recording counts as one registration. To access the online registration process
visit: www.atia.org/webinarregistration. Online directories of Live Broadcast and
Archived Recording webinars are available at: www.atia.org/webinars. Each listing includes full details of the
webinar and an option to register.
AT Program Work Group Forming for New and Emerging
Technologies-Wednesday, February 12, 2014, 3:00p.m. Eastern Time
With Assistive Technology
changing so quickly, the RESNA Catalyst Project along with the guidance of
Montana Assistive Technology Program Director, Kathy Laurin, will be starting a
work group of statewide AT program representatives to address new and emerging
technologies. This work group will be a forum to address technical issues
and solutions to current and emerging technologies, and ultimately provide
instruction and technical support to AT programs in understanding how these
technologies optimally function. The first topics to be addressed are
Electronic Aids to Daily Living and Mobile devices with an emphasis on IOS and
Android. If you would like to share your knowledge and experience we want
you to be a part of this work group! Please email your interest in
participating to pgalonsky@resna.org.
Recent Event
AT
Act Entities Conference Planning Committee Call - January 23, 2014
The AT Act Entities Conference Planning Committee
continued to plan for the July conference on January 23rd. If you have ideas for the Planning
Committee, we would love to hear from you!
Email your comments and suggestions to Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org.
Upcoming Events
Save the date! February 26, 2014, 3p.m. Eastern
Webinar: The Promise of Olmstead—Status of Assistive Technology use in planning
for the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities
Register at http://www.adaconferences.org/RESNA/.
The RESNA Catalyst Project along with
the Southwest ADA Center, Great Lakes ADA Center, and the National ADA Network
are once again partnering in 2014 to bring AT Act Entities three new
webinars! Each webinar is free and
approved for CEUs.
About the February 26th Webinar: A recent paper by Bryant, B.
R., Soonwha, S., Minwook, O., & Bryant, D. (2012), on a study to identify
and rate AT devices that are being used by individuals in group residential
settings, found that a majority of respondents do not use AT. Many of the recent Department of Justice’s
American with Disability Act Olmstead settlement agreements have included AT
assessment and services as part of state responsibilities. How are statewide AT programs assisting with
AT service provision and planning for individuals with intellectual
disabilities This webinar will explore
the current status of transition efforts, available resources, and best
practices. Presenters include Brian Bryant, PhD, Andy Winnegar, Southwest
ADA Center, and Janice Carson, Director of the Idaho Assistive Technology
Project.
CEUs for RESNA Catalyst Project 2014 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.
STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS
Recent Events
Statewide AT Program New Directors Webinar/Call-
January 16, 2013
The Statewide AT Program New Directors call
takes place every other month. Under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT
Act), as amended, statewide AT programs must provide a variety of assistive
technology services consistently and in a quality manner. This
webinar/call featured information on Quality Services and Indicators found in
the fifth module of the New Director’s Curriculum (http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/newdirectors/mod5quality.html). The
next New Directors Call is scheduled for March 13, 2014, 3p.m. Eastern time. Look for a link to register in your email
box soon.
Device
Loan/Demo Forum Call-January 21, 2014
The RESNA Catalyst Project along with CATADA and
ATAP provided the third Device Loan/Demo Forum call in January. This call was facilitated by John Effinger
(MO) and Lynette Strode (IL), and included a discussion about device tracking
and inventory/customer management. Forum
notes and a copy of the call transcript is available on the RESNA Catalyst
Project’s website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/devicedemoloanforum/index.html.
Look for details about the next Forum call soon.
Upcoming Events
Save the date! February 20, 2014, 3p.m. Eastern
Webinar: Overview of the CISCO Meraki Dashboard
Register at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/855384263
John Effinger, M.S. CCC-SLP, Program Coordinator,
with Missouri Assistive Technology will present a webinar overview of CISCO’s
Meraki dashboard for tracking Wi-Fi enabled devices (i.e. iPads, Android,
Windows, Mac). In addition, participants will learn the following:
- Overview of the steps to sign up for Meraki
- Pairing devices to the Meraki dashboard
- Lessons learned on setting up devices to be effectively tracked
- Overview of security options
- Remote PC desktop
Please note that John and the staff who use the Meraki dashboard at Missouri
Assistive Technology have only been using this tool for several
months. However, John intends to share what he has learned about
Meraki during this webinar, and some of his experiences that could potentially
help you as you explore the option of using this new tracking tool.
Live captioning will be available for this webinar.
Statewide
AT Program Steering Committee
The RESNA Catalyst Project will be convening the Statewide AT Program Steering
Committee in February. This group of
representatives from Statewide AT Programs helps guide the RESNA Catalyst
project in the development of its technical assistance goals for the year, as
well as planning for the annual conference.
Please contact Paul Galonsky pgalonsky@resna.org
to learn more about the plan for 2014.
PAAT PROGRAMS
Announcements
NCART
Conference Scheduled April 29 - May 1, 2014, Arlington, VA.
The National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology will hold this
three-day event at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (“National CRT Leadership and
Advocacy Conference”). See http://ncart.us/articles/2014-crt-conference-registration-is-open
for more information and registration links.
-
Wednesday, April 30th will be the
“Advocacy Day.” We are expected to
deliver or participate in 2 to 3 sessions.
More details will be available shortly (biggest focus will be on
Medicaid issues).
-
Tuesday, April 29th will be “Leadership
Day” (primarily a business agenda).
Thursday, May 1st will be “Capitol Hill Day” (see website
above for details).
-
NCART is an association of manufacturers and
suppliers of complex rehab technology (CRT).
SAVE THE DATES! June 2-5, 2014-National Disability Rights Network Annual
Meeting and Conference (Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel)
NDRN is working out the final details, and an
agenda and online registration will soon be available at http://www.ndrn.org/en/events/events-calendar/month.calendar/2013/12/23/-.html. The National AT Advocacy Project will have a
significant presence at the conference, presenting/co-presenting a full-day
institute and four 90-minute sessions.
A confirmed lineup of AT-related sessions for the NDRN conference (dates
and times for the Tuesday-Thursday sessions are near final):
- Monday, June 2, 2014 (a full-day institute) - “Preparation of a
Medicaid Assistive Technology Case: From Fair Hearing to State Court Judicial
Review” (using standing wheelchair as item sought; will have equipment demos
during session).
Speakers: Jennifer Giesen, Minnesota P&A; Marge
Gustas, NY PAAT Project; Diana Straube, Jim Sheldon, National AT Advocacy
Project; Donald Clayback, NCART; and TBN from Permobil.
- Tuesday, June 3, 2014 - “What Equipment does for the Individual
and How We Get It Funded” (will have four equipment demos: a vertical lift wheelchair, alternative
drive systems for power wheelchairs, a complex shower chair, and an adaptive
tricycle).
Speakers: Marge Gustas, NY PAAT; TBN speakers from equipment
suppliers.
- Wednesday, June 4, 2014 - “Legal Issues Related to Equipment Requests
through Medicaid Waivers and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.”
Speakers:
Diana Straube and Jim Sheldon.
- Thursday, June 5, 2014 - “Using Smart Phones and PDAs to Promote
Integrated Employment.”
Speakers: Tony Gentry, Director, AT for Cognition
Laboratory, Virginia Commonwealth University; Ed Myers, Arizona P&A; and
Jim Sheldon.
- Thursday, June 5, 2014 - “Using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) Guidance in Medicaid Equipment Cases.”
Speakers: Diana Straube
and Jim Sheldon.
As presenters
prepare for these sessions, the National AT Advocacy Project would love to hear from you concerning: any issues you are
struggling with; any successes you have had (hearing decisions, court decisions
always a welcome addition for our Resource Libraries); any state-specific
policies that address the issues; and any materials you have found helpful that
we might not have. Contact Jim Sheldon
at jSheldon@nls.org
to share your thoughts.
Winter 2014 Issue of ADVOCATE
Newsletter to Focus on Medicaid Managed Care.
The National AT Advocacy Project is finishing up
their winter 2014 newsletter with a lead article that focuses on Medicaid
Managed Care. You will note that this
topic will be part of a session at the June NDRN conference (also covering
Medicaid waiver issues). Equally important, the fall’s 2013 newsletter and its
lead article, “State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies as Assistive Technology
Funding Sources: VR Agencies Remain an
Important Source of AT Funding for Individuals with Disabilities Preparing for
Work,” is available at http://www.nls.org/files/AT%20Advocate%20Newsletters/ATAdvocateFall2013ATandVR.pdf.
This fully updates past newsletters on this topic. Readers who have questions about the obligations of VR agencies
to fund AT can contact Ron Hager of the National Disability Rights Network (ron.hager@ndrn.org). Ron is the lead author of the newsletter and
a much longer article on the topic published in 2013 (http://www.nls.org/files/Disability%20Law%20Hotlines/National%20AT%20Advocacy/VRFundingofAT2013.pdf).
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK
LOAN PROGRAMS
Announcements
Data
Reports - Success Stories Wanted!
The
RESNA Catalyst Project wants success stories from your programs! We are in process
of developing data reports, similar to the ones published in 2011, and want to
highlight all the successes your programs experience. Client stories and pictures are needed to make these as powerful
as possible. Please contact Jason
Luciano at jluciano@resna.org for more information.
New Directors of Loan Programs Webinar
Series - Last Thursday of each month, 2:00pm Eastern
The New
Directors of Loan Programs webinar series started in January, and continuing at
2p.m. Eastern on the last Thursday of each month. The remaining webinar topics
schedule is as follows:
-
Day-to-day operations of loan programs Part II -
Program Highlight
-
Marketing Loan Programs
-
Sustainability and Fundraising
-
Financial Literacy and Credit Building
-
Dealing with Defaults
-
Working with Boards
If you are
interested in joining these webinars please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org.
Recent Events
New Grantee Call - January 16th at 4:00pm Eastern
The monthly calls bringing together the new AFP grantees continued in
December. These calls are for those
programs receiving funding under the recent competitions to discuss unique
opportunities and challenges presented to new AFP grantees.
Upcoming Events
New
Grantee Call - February 20, 2014, 4:00p.m. Eastern
The next
monthly call bringing together the new AFP grantees will be February 20th
at 4:00p.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.
AFP
Steering Committee
The RESNA Catalyst Project will be convening the AFP Steering Committee in
February. This group of representatives from AFPs helps guide the RESNA
Catalyst project in the development of its technical assistance goals for the
year, as well as planning for the annual conference. Please contact Jason Luciano jluciano@resna.org
to learn more about the plan for 2014.
New Directors of Loan Programs Webinar - February 27th
at 2:00pm Eastern
Tracy Beck,
Director of Operations for the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation,
will speak in depth about the Pennsylvania Alternative Financing Program. She will highlight Pennsylvania’s successes
and present strategies for new directors to advance their own programs. New Directors of Loan Programs will receive
a link to register for this webinar soon.
OTHER
RESOURCES
TBI
and AT
Deborah Delgado, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Project Director for the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, has started
a new work goal regarding TBI and Assistive Technology. This work goal will identify gaps in access
to AT devices and services for people with TBI, and to advocate for a policy
change to address a gap or gaps. As
part of this goal, Deborah is forming a consumer panel to review identified AT
access gaps and engage members in seeking policy changes. Deborah would like to know if other states
and AT Act Entities are doing work on this topic, and if states have
policies that are specific in promoting access to AT for persons with TBI.
Please reach out to Deborah with any information you may have. You may contact
Deborah Delgado via email at ddelgado@drnpa.org,
and please visit www.drnpa.org
for more information.
Accessible
Technology Webinar Session on “How to Design and Deliver an Accessible
Webinar”-
February 19th at 1:00pm-2:30pm Central Time
The Great Lakes ADA Center will
provide a session on designing and delivering an accessible webinar to address
access to individuals with disabilities. The Great Lakes ADA Center provides a
monthly webinar series and has developed some technical assistance to assist
others in ensuring accessibility. This session will examine the use of
interactive features, captioning, audio connections, and other features as it
relates to those who are planning to provide webinars as well as those who are
developing webinar platforms. Registration
is available on-line at https://adagreat.powweb.com/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology/Schedule/.
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.