January 2014 Highlights

PROJECT WIDE NEWS

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.

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 23^rd. 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.

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 26^th 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

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.

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

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 30^th 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 29^th will be “Leadership Day” (primarily a business agenda). Thursday, May 1^st 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

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.

New Grantee Call - January 16^th 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.

New Grantee Call - February 20, 2014, 4:00p.m. Eastern
The next monthly call bringing together the new AFP grantees will be February 20^th 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 27^th 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.