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Highlights

March 2011 

In This Issue of Highlights
PROJECT WIDE NEWS
STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS
PAAT PROGRAMS
ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS

 

 

PROJECT WIDE NEWS

 

Upcoming Events

Introducing the New RESNA Catalyst Project Website - Webinar Series

For AFP: April 6, 2011- 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern

For Statewide Programs: April 21, 2011- 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern

The RESNA Catalyst Project will roll out its new Website (www.resnaprojects.org) in April.  Please join us for a walk through the website, where we will show you some of the new features.  There will be two webinars - one designed to highlight features of interest to financial loan programs, the other to highlight items of interest to the Statewide AT Programs.  Feel free to join either of these calls (even if you aren't the program type featured).  Webinar access information will be sent closer to the events.

 

WebEd - Two Free Webinars in April

WEBED-GMU01 Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Overview -

Thursday, April 14, 2011 - 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Presenters will be from the faculty of the Keller Institute for Human disAbility at George Mason University.

WEBED-ATIA02: AIM - Products and Services from ATIA Members

Wednesday, April 20, 2011: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Representatives from ATIA will showcase Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) products and services. 

These webinars are free, but you do need to register.  To register, go to https://www.atia.org/i4a/ams/publicLogin.cfm

For more information, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webed.html.

All WebEd webinars are archived, so if you cannot attend the live presentation, consider accessing the archived presentations.  WebEdATIA01 is archived at http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4005

 

News

Call for Resources on Transitioning to the Community

If you have training materials, publications, and toolkits that you use in your state to increase awareness and capacity of groups to enhance the transitioning of people with disabilities to the Community, please consider sharing them with your colleagues.  The Transition to the Community Work Group is seeking additional resources to add to its Website page: http://resnaprojects.org/crossprograms/atnursing/index.html.  If you have resources, please send them to Paul Galonsky via email pgalonsky@resna.org for posting.  The next meeting of the Work Group will be June 15 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.  You can connect via 1-800-351-6810, pass code 46172076 #.

  

STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS

 

Upcoming Events

RESNA's Catalyst Project Website Orientation Webinar, April 21, 2011- 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern

The Catalyst project has launched its new website, and this webinar is designed to orient you to the new features and capabilities at www.resnaprojects.org .  Although specifically focused on the interests of the Statewide AT Programs, all interested parties are welcome to attend.  Webinar access information will be sent closer to the event.

 

Statewide AT Program Leaders Symposium

Important Reminder!  If you have not done so already, now is the time to reserve your hotel for the Statewide AT Program Leaders Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814.  The room rate is $250.00 single; $275 double occupancy plus 13% tax per night.  Contact the hotel directly to make your reservation by calling (301) 657-1234, or you may book your reservation on line via a special link at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/RSNA . Please be sure to indicate your special needs to the hotel.  When making your reservation, identify yourself as a RESNA conference participant.  The cut-off date for room reservations is Friday, April 15, 2011. If you have questions, please contact to (nmeidenbauer@resna.org) or Paul Galonsky (pgalonsky@resna.org).  To see the latest agenda, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html.

 

Webinar: Title II and III of the ADA - July 14, 2011- 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern

Wendy Wilkinson, Project Director with the DBTAC-Southwest ADA Center and

Andy Winnegar, consultant with the DBTAC-Southwest ADA Center, will present on understanding "effective communication" for public and private entities covered by Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The presenters will also review how the AT Act and Statewide AT Programs can support provision of effective communication.  This webinar is in collaboration with the RESNA Catalyst Project and the DBTAC Southwest ADA Center, a program of ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization), at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas.  Details on how to connect to the webinar will be sent closer to the event.

 

Resources

Quality Indicators Self Assessment Tools Now Available
 
The RESNA Catalyst Project Website has developed two web based Self Assessment tools to help you gauge the use of successful practices in your device demonstration and device loan programs.  We have also gathered resources that will help your program implement successful practices. To take the self assessments and view all the resources, visit http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/quality/index.html.

 

Call for Policies and Procedures

Do you have Device Demonstration Policies and Procedures or Device Loan Policies and Procedures (P&Ps) that you would be willing to share with other Statewide AT Programs?  We are collecting P&Ps to make a web library as a resource for statewide programs.  Forward your P&Ps to Paul Galonsky (pgalonsky@resna.org), for sharing.  We are particularly interested in device demonstration protocol and policies. Thanks!

  

PAAT PROGRAMS

 

Save the Date

Save the Date - Bridges Conference

The 15th Annual "Bridges to Better Advocacy" Conference will be conducted November 1-3, 2011 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Austin, Texas (same site used since 2001).  The three-day conference (first day, optional preconference) will focus on AT funding and advocacy strategies.  Planning has just started.  Early bird registration should be available some time in June.  There will be a full day, "Advanced Medicaid" preconference on Tuesday, November 1st (speakers to be named).

 

Publications

Did You Know? - New Publication Series

This is new series of the National AT Advocacy Project, started January 2011.  The intention of this series is to provide important information in small chunks.  Because these are designed to be very short, the postings may not cover every possible issue; rather, the intention is make the reader aware/remind the reader of key information to support your AT advocacy.  To date, there have been eight postings, all available at http://www.nls.org/did%20you%20know.htm.  Our most recent four postings: 

 

 

Coming Soon:

  • "Assistive Technology (AT) Can Play an Important Role in Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities in School" 

 

The "AT Advocate" Newsletter

This longstanding publication of the National AT Advocacy Project is published a minimum of three times per year.  The most recent newsletters and lead articles include the following:

  • Fall 2010, "Consumer Rights in the Medicaid Process:  Understanding and Protecting those Rights Should Ensure More Access to Assistive Technology," available at http://www.nls.org/av/fall%2010.pdf
  • Spring-Summer 2010, "Practical Ethics for the Disability Attorney:  When Can You Interview the Employees of Your Adversary?"; available at http://www.nls.org/av/summer%2010.pdf 

 

Upcoming Training

Training on Funding

Diana Straube will be presenting at the pre-conference of the 8th Annual Assistive Technology Expo, to be held in Fargo, North Dakota on April 27 and April 28, 2011.  Organizers of the Expo include IPAT (Interagency Program of Assistive Technology), ND Protection and Advocacy, Connections of Moorhead, Inc., and Fraser, Ltd.   The all-day pre-conference will focus on Funding of AT through the Ages.

 

Recent TA

Recent Technical Assistance Delivered - Standing Frame Funding

Although the National AT Advocacy Project's primary customer base consists of attorneys and advocates who work for the PAAT programs, we have a very extensive secondary customer base that includes the other programs funded under the AT Act and anyone else looking for assistance on AT funding issues.  Recently we provided TA to one of the major vendors of standing frames on several key issues related to standing frame funding.  For example, they asked:  Can a state Medicaid agency deny funding based on Medicare criteria?  Can Medicaid choose to cover some standing frame codes, but not others?  Can Medicaid set payment rates so low that no supplier will provide the device?  As we explained to the person in question, in each case the Medicaid agency would be precluded from using these kinds of rules to preclude a case-by-case analysis based on Medicaid coverage criteria and a specific individual's need for the device in question.

 

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS

 

New Publication

Telework At-A-Glance

A new Catalyst fact sheet provides an overview of the Technical Assistance Circular (TAC) for Telework Programs.  This fact sheet provides some examples of business equipment that has been funded through Telework loans.  To see the new publication, go to: http://resnaprojects.org/documents/uploads/What%20can%20be%20funded%20with%20Telework%20Loans.doc.

 

Save the Date  

AFP/Telework Best Practice Institute - September 7-9, 2011

The Best Practice Institute for Financial Loan Programs will be conducted September 7-9, 2011 at the Ed Roberts Campus Building in Berkeley, California, hosted by the RESNA Catalyst Project.  The first two days will be designed for all loan programs.  A Telework Workshop will be conducted September 9.  To see the meeting invitation, registration form and draft agenda, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html.

 

Upcoming Events

New Telework Program Directors Conference Call Series:-Third Call - Tuesday, April 5 at 2:00p.m, Eastern

Continuing the series of conference calls for directors new to Telework Programs, the third scheduled call will be held April 5th at 2:00p.m. Eastern.  Kathy Gilman, of the Washington Access Fund, will present on Microdevelopment Organizations and discuss how these may be a beneficial aspect to Telework Loan Programs.  To access the call, dial:  1-800-351-6810, pass code 80573760#. 

 

RESNA's Catalyst Project Website Orientation Webinar, Tuesday, April 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern

The Catalyst project has launched its new website, and this teleconference is designed to orient the audience members to the site's new features and capabilities.  Although specifically focused on the interests of the Financial Loan programs, all interested parties are welcome to attend.  Details on how to access the webinar will be sent closer to the event.

 

New AFP Program Directors Conference Call Series: -Second call - Wednesday, April 20 at 1:00pm Eastern

Continuing the series for new AFP directors, this conference call will focus on customer service.  The scope of "customer" will be explored, as well the manner in which to provide excellent customer service.  To access the call, dial:  1-800-351-6810, pass code 80573760#.

 

National Telework Webinar - Exploring Entrepreneurship - April 27, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Kathy Gilman of the Washington Access Fund will be presenting a national webinar April 27 from 2:00 - 4:00 eastern for budding entrepreneurs from around the country so that they can learn about entrepreneurship and the basics of business planning. Telework programs are encouraged to market this to their clients to begin the process of becoming loan-ready consumers. Contact Jason Luciano (jluciano@resna.org ) if your program wants to participate.

 

Recent Events  

New Telework Program Directors Conference Call Series:

-Second Call - Monday, March 14 at 3:00pm Eastern

Directors new to Telework Loan Programs met in March to discuss the Technical Assistance Circular (TAC) that RSA issued, which provides guidance to the Telework Loan program.  Discussion centered on how the program's focus has broadened as a result of the TAC and recent interpretations.  You can also access a MP3 recording of this call at: http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/telework/teleconf/index.html.

 

New AFP Program Directors Conference Call - Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 2:00pm Eastern 

This call began the series of Lending Basics for new directors.  Discussion centered on the AT Act requirements for AFPs, how the loan programs are structured, and what partners the programs have to help people with disabilities obtain needed AT.  You can also access a MP3 recording of this call at:

http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/teleconf/index.html#2011.

 

Having trouble viewing Highlights in HTML, or would you prefer to view in Text form only? 

 

If so, send Paul Galonsky an email at pgalonsky@resna.org, and your next month's Highlights will be emailed to you in Text form. 

The RESNA Catalyst Project is a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended.  The project is operated by RESNA. The information contained herein does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of RSA/ED or RESNA and no official endorsement of the materials should be inferred.

 

RESNA is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America whose purpose is to promote the health and well being of individuals with disabilities through the use of assistive technology.  RESNA is the grantee funded to provide technical assistance and training to those programs funded under the AT Act and to others.  

 

Contact Information:  RESNA Catalyst Project, 1700 North Moore Street, Suite 1540, Arlington, VA  22209-1903; (703) 524-6686 (voice), (866) 342-6572 (voice), (703) 524-6630 (FAX), (703) 524-6639 (TTY).  Email:  catalyst@resna.org; Website:  http://www.resnaprojects.org.