July 2014 Highlights
PROJECT WIDE NEWS
Announcements
Thank you for attending this Year’s National AT Act
Entities Conference!
This
year’s National AT Act Entities Conference was be held July 14-15, 2014, in Washington, DC, and was a huge success! Thank you to all the planners, presenters,
and all who were able to attend. Conference
presentations and resources are now archived on the RESNA Catalyst Project’s
Website at http://resnaprojects.org/statewide/conference/2014at.html. This year’s conference was co-hosted and
sponsored by the Association of AT Act Programs, CATADA and the RESNA Catalyst
Project.
RESNA Catalyst Project
to Host WIOA Calls
With the newly passed
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the impending departmental
moves, many have questions about the impact on AT Act programs. While
there are still many unknowns, the RESNA Catalyst Project will be hosting open
calls with RSA to provide an opportunity to ask questions and address any
concerns you may have. There will be two calls:
-
August 5th at 2:00p.m. Eastern Time-
Call for Statewide AT Program Directors
800-351-6810 and pass code 461 72076#
-
August 7th at 2:00p.m. Eastern Time-Call
for Loan Program Directors
800-351-6810 and pass code 461 72076#
Please do not hesitate to contact Joey Wallace, jwallace@resna.org if you have any
questions prior to these calls.
RESNA to offer
“Fundamentals in Assistive Technology” course at the Boston Convention
Center, September 4-5, 2014
RESNA’s flagship course,
“Fundamentals in Assistive Technology,” will be offered in conjunction with
Abilities Expo Boston on September 4 & 5 at the Boston Convention &
Exhibit Hall Center. The course is designed for those new to the field as
well as AT pros who wish to expand their knowledge. RESNA is authorized
to provide 1.4 CEUs for the course.
Link: http://www.resna.org/professionalDevelopment/fundamentals-course-in-assistive.dot
RESNA Catalyst Project
& ATIA Webinars
There are only a few
seats left for ATIA Webinars! 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.
Recent Events
AT & Employment Work
Group July 24, 2014
The AT
for Employment Work Group call provides opportunities for AT Act program
participants to get briefed on national updates related to AT for Employment,
as well as opportunities to share what is happening in each state. You can access notes from this call on the
RESNA Catalyst Project’s Website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/crossprograms/employment/workgroup.html. The next AT for Employment Work Group
call is scheduled for September 26, 2014.
Upcoming Events
Two Upcoming Webinar
Series for AT Act Programs:
AT & Employment and AT & Education
The
RESNA Catalyst Project is bringing two separate webinar series to all AT Act
Programs in the coming months. Below
are descriptions for each series.
-
AT & Employment Series: This six part series presented by Ron Hager,
National Disabilities Rights Network (NDRN), and Jim Sheldon, NLS, will offer
75 minute webinars on a host of AT and Employment related topics:
- Webinar One: Wednesday, June 25, 2014, Obtaining
or Retaining Medicaid While Working:
The Section 1619(b) and Medicaid Buy-In for Working People Programs- Archive at: http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html
- Webinar Two: Wednesday, July 23, 2014, Funding Work-Related Assistive
Technology for the Transition-Aged Special Education Student- Archive at: http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html
- Webinar Three: Wednesday, September 17,
2014, State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies: Using VR Agency to Fund Assistive Technology to Support a Work
Goal - Register at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/304466063
- Webinar Four: Wednesday, October 22,
2014, SSI’s Plan for Achieving Self Support: Using the PASS to Fund Assistive Technology to Support a Work
Goal- Register at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/277905543
- Webinar Five: Wednesday, November 19,
2014, A Review of Lesser Known Funding Sources and Funding Strategies for
Work-Related Assistive Technology- Register at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/633795007
- Webinar Six: (Recently added!)
Wednesday, December 10, 2014, Funding of Work-Related Assistive Technology
through Medicaid and Medicaid Waivers-Registration: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/914991055
Note: Each AT & Employment Webinar will start
at 2p.m. Eastern Time and will run for 75 minutes. In addition, the RESNA
Catalyst Project will provide live captioning. RESNA CEUs will be available for
this series for a $16 fee.
- AT &
Education Series: This two part series presented by Janice
Carson, Idaho Statewide AT Program, Ron Hager, NDRN, and Dave Edyburn, Professor, Department of Exceptional
Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will offer two 60 minute webinars on assessments,
AT, and education.
- Webinar
One: Tuesday, September 9, 2014, A Historical Background of Scholastic
Assessments and the use of Assistive Technology in the United States
Presenters:
Janice Carson, Idaho Statewide AT Program, Ron Hager, National Disability
Rights Network
Register at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/413476103
- Webinar
Two: Wednesday, October 8, 2014, Assistive
Technology, Accessibility, and High-Stakes Assessments
Presenter: Dave Edyburn, Professor,
Department of Exceptional Education, University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Register at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/345295727
Note: Each AT & Education Webinar will start
at 3p.m. Eastern Time and run for 60 minutes. In addition, the RESNA
Catalyst Project will provide live captioning.
STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS
Announcements
Minnesota Star Program’s New School and Work AT Program
Tools
for Your Future: Using Assistive Technology to Succeed at School and Work, is
Minnesota’s latest program, which incorporated e-learning modules to create
awareness of AT, its use to support higher education/employment goals, and to
foster advocacy skills of AT users in higher ed/employment settings. To learn more, visit www.MN.Gov/Tools-For-Your-Future.
PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to post individual state program
information in “Highlights”, please forward to pgalonsky@resna.org.
Upcoming Events
New
Deaf Hard of Hearing Work Group Forming - Save the Date - August 27, 2014 at 3p.m. Eastern Time
The
RESNA Catalyst Project along with Laura Plummer, Project Director with
Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program (WisTech), will be forming a new
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Work Group beginning in August, 2014. This Work
Group will be designed to share in, and address, technical issues and solutions
current to technologies for individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. In
addition, this Work Group will provide opportunities to share and connect via
multi modes of communication such as teleconference, webinar, and an online
forum. The first Work Group is scheduled via teleconference on August 27,
2014 at 3p.m. Eastern Time. To participate, please dial 800-211-4163, and
pass code 0521244#. If you have accessibility requests or have
any questions, please contact Paul Galonsky, pgalonsky@resna.org.
Statewide AT Program New Directors Webinar/Call -
Thursday, August 28, 2014, 3p.m. Eastern Time
Register today at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/927316399
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. Information on advisory councils is found in the second module of
the New Director’s Curriculum (http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/newdirectors/mod2advcouncils.html). This webinar will feature perspectives and
experiences working with advisory councils from Cathy Bodine and Maureen
Melonis from Assistive Technology Program of Colorado, as well as Wade Wingler
from the Indiana Assistive Technology Act Project. Look for more details and how to register soon.
NOTE: ALL Statewide AT Program
Directors are welcome to participate.
PAAT PROGRAMS
Announcements
Medicaid
Hearing Awards Two Year Old a Power Wheelchair with Power Tilt, Power Seat
Elevation, and Other Accessories
The child in question, aged two years and seven
months on the day of the hearing with a diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Type 2, sought a Permobil K300 power wheelchair with power tilt, power seat
elevation, a MicroPilot micro touch mini joystick, attendant control, and other
accessories. In denying funding, the
New York Medicaid agency stated that the documentation did not establish that
this child would be safe and independent with a power wheelchair. Congratulations to Marge Gustas on a job
well done. If you would like a copy of
the decision (or any of the studies submitted on the use of power wheelchairs
by very young children) contact either Marge (mgustas@nls.org) or Diana Straube
(dstraube@nls.org).
AT and Work Webinar Series Will Continue in
September with Third Session in Six-Part Series.
The first two sessions in this series, “Obtaining
or Retaining Medicaid While Working:
The Section 1619(b) and Medicaid Buy-In for Working People Programs” and
“Funding Work-Related Assistive Technology for the Transition-Aged Special
Education Student,” were delivered in
June and July. Approximately 100
separate online attendees participated!
If you were not able to attend, all of the sessions will be archived and
available on the RESNA Catalyst Project’s Website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html
(includes links for session power point, session transcript, and any additional
materials made available on the various topics).
Is Your State Medicaid Program Relying on Fifth Circuit Decision in Detgen to Exclude Some DME from
Coverage
Readers may be aware of a particularly bad decision
in the case of Detgen v. Janek,
allowing the Texas Medicaid program to categorically exclude ceiling track
lifts from coverage as durable medical equipment (DME). Have any of you heard of such activity in
your state Any uptick in DME denials
since May” If so, please respond
directly to Sarah at somers@healthlaw.org
(919-968-6308 x 102) and cc your response to Jim Sheldon (jsheldon@nls.org)
and Diana Straube (dstraube@nls.org). For more information on the DeSario Letter
and the court decisions which have relied on that policy, see “Exclusive
Lists: Frequently Asked Questions”
available at www.nls.org/Disability/NationalAssistiveTechnologyProject/FAQS/ExclusiveLists.
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS
Announcements
Individual TA Calls with Loan Program Directors
The RESNA
Catalyst Project, in conjunction with RSA, is coordinating individual calls with
loan program directors to discuss program needs. Keep an eye out for contact from Jason Luciano to schedule a
time.
Sustainability Plans Wanted!
The RESNA
Catalyst Project is interested in seeing your sustainability plans! A request was brought forward from some new
Loan Program directors, suggesting that sharing this information across
programs would be very beneficial. If
you have developed a sustainability plan, and are interested in sharing this
resource with other programs, please contact Jason at jluciano@resna.org. The RESNA Catalyst Project will be using
these as references for an upcoming call/webinar on this topic.
Recent Events
New
Grantee Call - July 24, 2014
The last
monthly call bringing together the new AFP grantees was held July 24th.
These calls are for those programs receiving funding under the recent
competitions to discuss unique opportunities and challenges presented to new
AFP grantees.
New Directors of Loan Programs Call - July 31,
2014
The next
in the series of New Directors of Loan Programs calls was held July 31st at
2:00pm Eastern. This call focused on financial
literacy, credit building, and incorporating both into your program. Participants reviewed presentations from the
Annual Conference that focuses on this issue and discussed benefits and
pitfalls of having these activities incorporated into a loan program.
Loan
Directors Open Forum Call - July 29, 2014
RESNA Catalyst Project Director, Joey Wallace
hosted an all Loan Program Directors to the Loan Program Directors Forum.
Much like the successful forums for statewide program directors, 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 provides open discussion and
sharing across programs.
Upcoming Events
New Directors of Loan Programs - August 21, 2014,
2:00p.m. Eastern
The next in
the series of New Directors of Loan Programs webinars will be held August 21st
at 2:00p.m. Eastern. This session will
focus on dealing with defaults in your program. If you are interested in participating and are not already
invited, please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org
for more information.
New
Grantee Call - August 21, 2014, 4:00p.m. Eastern
The next
monthly call bringing together the new AFP grantees will be held August 21st
2014 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.
Loan Directors Open Forum Call - August 26th
3:00p.m. Eastern
RESNA Catalyst Project Director, Joey Wallace will again host
an all Loan Program Directors to the Loan Program Directors Forum. 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 in at 1-800-351-6810 with pass code
46172076#.
OTHER RESOURCES
Sprint
Releases Cognitive Accessibility Apps
Sprint Good WorksSM launched a
Neurodiversity ID Pack, a mobile applications collection assisting consumers
with neurodevelopmental disabilities and cognitive conditions, such as autism,
dyspraxia, and dyslexia. Sprint ID packs are bundles of applications and
weblinks that allow users to easily and quickly customize their Android devices
based on specific needs and interests. The Neurodiversity ID pack’s 25 unique
applications and weblinks were chosen with the help of several organizations
focused on disabilities that impact learning, attention and behavior, including
the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Dyspraxia Foundation USA and
QSAC. The ID pack also provides an improved user experience for integrating
into a device’s existing settings. To
learn more, visit http://www.sprint.com/landings/accessibility/ECID=vanity:accessibility.
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 at
www.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!
Product Disclaimer
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.