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Highlights
March 2011 |
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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 #. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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