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 15^th 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 1^st (speakers to be named).

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.

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.