March 2012 Highlights

PROJECT WIDE NEWS

RESNA 2012 Conference in Baltimore - June 28 - July 3, 2012
Join us in Baltimore, Maryland for RESNA's annual conference. The Conference features several programs funded under the AT Act. MassMATCH will feature its AT School Shares. Oklahoma ABLETech will present information on its fire safety initiatives. Kentucky will discuss Farm Vehicle Mods. The Puerto Rico project will demonstrate a technology enhanced job accommodation. On July 3, there are two instructional courses scheduled with instructors from the AT Act Programs: Therese Willkomm (NH) will teach how to create tech solutions in minutes. Carolyn Phillips and Martha Rust (GA) will teach about Apps, Widgets and Tablets. To see the preliminary program, go to http://web.resna.org/conference/2012-conference-documents/RESNAprelimprogram.PDF.

New Issue of AT Program News on AAC
The March 2012 issue of the AT Program News is out and available on the Catalyst Project website. This new issue features articles on iPads Claim to AAC. To access the newsletter, go to http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs052/1102741462101/archive/1102790235539.html. You can subscribe to receive these newsletters directly by clicking on the Join our Mailing List link.

WebEd Webinar 2012: GMU01: Practical uses for Mobile Technologies in the Workplace-Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 1:00-2:30p.m. Eastern
Last year, Korey Singleton, with the George Mason University Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) highlighted the built-in accessibility features of mobile technologies. This year Korey builds on this presentation by evaluating the practical applications of mobile technology devices to support individuals with disabilities in the workplace, in education, and at home. This session will compare/contrast the usability of off-the-shelf mobile devices and apps as well as examine the use of mobile devices in comparison to other market-specific mobile tools that are designed for certain populations of individuals with disabilities. The session will include brief demonstrations of mobile apps and product comparisons.
For more information on this webinar and to register for the session, go to http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webed.html.

Archived WebEd Webinars: WEBED12-SWADA01 & WEBED12-SWADA02
Archive information on past WebEd Webinar's is available at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html.

STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS

Statewide AT Program New Directors Call-Thursday, April 5, 2012, 3:00-4:00p.m. Eastern
The New Directors call takes place every other month. This upcoming call will feature information about Quality Services and Indicators for statewide AT programs. You don't need to be a new director to participate. To join the call, dial 800-351-6810, and use pass code: 46172076.

Seeking AT "Tips" for Your Program Marketing
Do you have some AT Tips that you would be willing to share with other statewide AT programs‌ The Catalyst Project has had a request to compile AT Tips that all programs could then disseminate regularly (weekly, monthly) to their audiences. To begin the collection, we are seeking "tips" in three areas: Employment, Early Childhood, and Aging. Please send your AT tips to Paul Galonsky at pgalonsky@resna.org. Once they are compiled, you will be able to download them from the Grantees Only section of our website and use them in your marketing to your audiences. We are seeking text based tips; our hats are off to INDATA for providing weekly video tips via its podcasts at: http://www.eastersealstech.com/content.aspx‌pId=492.

Teleconference on Quality Indicators for Device Demonstration-Thursday, April 12, 2012, 3:00-4:00pm Eastern
This teleconference will focus on providing quality device demonstration services in your state. Jamie Hayhurst (West Virginia), Kevin R. Wright and Sarah Mak (Tennessee), will lead the discussion and talk about how they work to ensure high quality demonstration services. To join the call, dial 800-351-6810, and use pass code: 46172076 #. Send questions that you would like to see addressed during the call to pgalonsky@resna.org. This call will be recorded and archived on the RESNA Catalyst website for future reference.

Quality Indicators for Device Loan Teleconference - March 15, 2012
This teleconference discussed best practices and resources that can help your program in providing device loan services in your state. Carol Girt (Indiana) and Lynette Strode (Illinois) led the discussion and answered questions. The MP3 and PowerPoint can be found at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/teleconferences.html The Quality Indicators can be found at http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/quality/index.html

PAAT PROGRAMS

Teleconference Training: Funding of AT through Special Education Programs Thursday, April 19^th, 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. Eastern
Ron Hager, with the National Disability Rights Network, will be presenting. This session has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits through the State of Louisiana (check your state rules for reciprocity). NOTE: $35 registration fee per phone line (covers two CLE certificates; $10 per CLE after that). To register, visit www.nls.org/april2012%20teleconf.pdf , or you can obtain the registration form through Lynn Urquhart at lurqhart@nls.org.

Save the date for other Teleconferences/Training in this series:

• May 24^th: Letters of Medical Justification
• June 28^th: Turning a No to a Yes: Overcoming Medicaid's Most Common Reasons for Saying No
• July 26^th: Practical Ethics

Save the Date! 16^th Annual "Bridges to Better Advocacy" Conference, October 23-25, 2012
The Annual "Bridges to Better Advocacy" Conference will once again be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Austin, TX. As planning begins for the Conference, please share your thoughts on potential conference sessions. Contact either Diana (dstraube@nls.org) or Jim (jsheldon@nls.org). If you would like handouts from the 2011 conference, contact either Diana (dstraube@nls.org) or Jim (jsheldon@nls.org).

22 postings are now available at http://www.nls.org/did%20you%20know.htm.

Coming soon: National AT Advocacy Project's Resources Can Support Your AT Advocacy.

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS

New Work Group Forming – Data Collection for AFP and Telework Loan Programs
The RESNA Catalyst Project is in process of forming a new Work Group that will focus on collecting additional data elements for AFP and Telework programs. If you are interested in joining this group please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org.

Teleconference Series – Application Red Flags: Low Credit Scores and How to Address them in an Application–Wednesday, May 9^th 2012, 2:00-3:00p.m. Eastern
The Catalyst Project is pleased to sponsor this first in a series of conference calls on Application Red Flags in Financial Loan Programs. Milissa Gofourth from Oklahoma and Cheryl Fatnassi from Vermont will discuss how their programs address the red flag issue of low credit scores, and other credit report problems. The call in number is 1-800-351-6810 and the pass code is 80573760#. This call will be recorded and archived on the RESNA Catalyst website for future reference.

Teleconference Series – Asset Development: Financial Literacy Curricula for your Loan Program– Wednesday, May 30^th 2012, 2:00-3:00p.m. Eastern
Basil Kessler and Lorna Moore from Kansas and Ferol Smith from Massachusetts will present this second call in the Asset Development teleconference series, focusing on how each program incorporates financial literacy curricula into their respective programs. The call in number is 1-800-351-6810, and the pass code is 80573760#. This call will be recorded and archived on the RESNA Catalyst website for future reference.

Teleconference Series – What's New with Asset Development – March 15^th 2012
Tom Foley, Deputy Director of the World Institute on Disability (WID) discussed what his organization has been doing around the current state of Asset Development for People with Disabilities. This call was the first in a series of conference calls on Asset Development in Financial Loan Programs. When the recording is available, this call will be posted on the RESNA Catalyst website for future reference.

Quality Indicators for Loan Programs Conference Call – March 27^th 2012
The Best Practices Work Group developed a publication on Quality Indicators for AFP and Telework. A conference call based on this document focused on how to incorporate Best Practices into your own program. The publication on Quality Indicators is available at http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/index.html. The recording of this call will be made available on the RESNA Catalyst website.

New Publication: AFP and Telework Data Reports
The RESNA Catalyst Project has released two comprehensive data reports: one for the Alternative Financing Programs, and another for the Access to Telework Loan Programs. Including all data from Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010, these publications show the benefit of these programs to people with disabilities. Printed copies of these have been sent to all programs, and more hard copies are available upon request. Please contact Jason Luciano (jluciano@resna.org) to ask for these. These are also available on the RESNA Catalyst website (AFP: http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/infocenter/index.html and Telework: http://www.resnaprojects.org/afp/telework/loans/index.html).

OTHER RESOURCES

Disability.gov Video: Consumer Guide on Toll-Free Numbers for Video Relay Service (VRS) & IP Relay Service
This video in American Sign Language describes new Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules on the use of local telephone numbers for VRS and IP Relay so people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing have access to toll-free telephone numbers. For more information about the FCC's ten-digit numbering requirements, read the consumer guides for Internet-based TRS and emergency call handling procedures Internet-based TRS.

Daniels Fund To Award $33 Million in Grants
In March, the Daniels Fund awarded nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming $7 million in grants for programs that enhance educational opportunities for youth and those providing services for the homeless and disadvantaged. The Daniels Fund will award a projected $33 million in grants to nonprofits in 2012. Funding areas include Disabilities. For more information, visit www.DanielsFund.org.

New AT Radio & Podcasts in Indiana
INDATA has officially 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 trainings conducted. To view and listen to the growing list of episodes, visit: http://www.eastersealstech.com/content.aspx‌pId=492.
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.