November 2012 Highlights

PROJECT WIDE NEWS

RESNA Catalyst Project 2013 Technical Assistance Plans Available
The RESNA Catalyst Project’s Statewide AT Act Program and Alternative Financing Program technical assistance plans for 2013 are now available online for your review at http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html. The RESNA Catalyst Project thanks all the members of the Statewide and AFP Steering Committees for their assistance and support in developing each plan. Thank you!

RESNA Catalyst Project Staff to Present at Two Conferences
In an effort to create greater awareness of the AT and employment outreach that all the AT Act Entities do, Paul Galonsky will present at the 2012 National Employment Conference (December 5-7) and at ATIA (January 30 - February 2, 2013). At the National Employment Conference, the RESNA Catalyst Project along with RSA will present on the publication entitled SMALL INVESTMENTS - BIG SAVINGS: A look at how vocational rehabilitation agencies save money by partnering with their statewide AT program. In addition, a presentation to discuss the RESNA Catalyst Project’s AT for Employment initiative is scheduled at ATIA. We are pleased to have Arlene Lugo from the Connecticut AT Act Program as well as RESNA Member Rajesh Pagadala co- present at ATIA. Please come see us if you plan to attend these events!

Exhibit Volunteers Needed for ATIA
If you are planning on attending ATIA this year, please consider volunteering at the RESNA Catalyst Project’s exhibit booth. Please contact Paul Galonsky, pgalonsky@resna.org if you are available. Your support is greatly appreciated!

AT Program News Call for Content
The next edition of ATPN will highlight brainstorming AT for memory and organization. Please send ideas or submissions to atprogramnews@gmail.com by December 12th, 2012.

RESNA 2013 Conference Call for Presentations
Note: This conference is separate from the Project Directors Meetings and Employment Summit scheduled for May 2013.
Statewide AT and AFP Programs are encouraged to submit presentation proposals to the RESNA 2013 Conference. Due to Hurricane Sandy, the workshop and instructional course proposal deadline for RESNA 2013 has been extended to December 17, 2012.
The Conference is seeking proposals covering all areas of Assistive Technology, including AAC, Job Accommodations, Seating & Mobility, Computer Applications and Technology, Technology for Cognitive and Sensory Impairment, Public Policy and Advocacy, and Outcomes Measurement. The RESNA 2013 general conference is June 22-24 in Bellevue, WA, on Seattle’s Eastside. For more information, visit http://www.resna.org/conference/.

Important RSA Deadlines for 2012
Below are important RSA deadlines for obligating and liquidating funds, as well as approval to extend financial and data reporting submission dates:

• September 30, 2012: Deadline for obligation of FY11 funds
• September 30, 2013: Deadline for obligation of FY12 grant award
• December 31, 2012: Deadline for liquidation of FY11 funds (depending on how the end of the year falls)
• December 31, 2013: Deadline for liquidation of FY12 funds
• December 15, 2012 or sooner: Deadline for programs to send requests to RSA for approval to extend submission dates for FY 2011 SF-425 financial reporting form and FY 2012 RSA-572 annual data collection for SGAT. This also applies to RSA-662 and Telework ICs.
• RSA-664 due date sometime in February

Please contact Rob Groenendaal, Robert.Groenendaal@ed.gov or Brian Bard, Brian.Bard@ed.gov from RSA if you have specific concerns or questions.

AT Act Entity Survey
The RESNA Catalyst Project is working with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University on developing a survey for Statewide AT Programs and identifying potential case studies from AFP Programs. The purpose is to measure program activities and successful employment outcomes for people with disabilities. More details to follow in the next few months. To learn more, contact Joey Wallace at jwallace@resna.org.

Save the Date! Webinar: Assistive Devices for D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Populations -January 9, 2013 3:00 to 4:00p.m. Eastern Time
The RESNA Catalyst Project will host a webinar featuring Valeria Stafford-Mallis, from Alternative Communication Services. Ms. Stafford-Mallis will provide training on hearing impairment devices, costs, new innovations, and resources. This webinar will be of interest to all Statewide AT and Financing Loan programs. Look for registration details to follow soon, and mark your calendars now!

Registration Now Open! Webinar: Assistive Technology and the Interactive Process of Employee Accommodations-January 23, 2013 2:00p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
The RESNA Catalyst Project, Southwest ADA Center, and ADA National Network will present a webinar on how AT demonstrations, equipment loans, and support and technical assistance from the ADA National Network may enhance an interactive employee accommodation process. To register, visit www.adaconferences.org/RESNA.

STATEWIDE AT PROGRAMS

AT and Transition Webinar Series- Part Three on State AT Transition Policy December 13, 2012 3p.m. Eastern Time
This Webinar will focus on activities related to policies on AT and Transition. Linda Jaco, Director with Oklahoma ABLE Tech, and Kathy Hayfield, Director with Virginia Assistive Technology System will present on their state AT and Transition Policies. Register online at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/489643855. Recent Events

Archived AT and Transition Webinar Series- Part One on State Transition Teams and Part Two on Youth Leadership
Visit http://www.resnaprojects.org/statewide/webedarchive.html, to view archived AT and Transition webinars.

Employment Work Group Call-Thursday, November 15, 2012
This Work Group call focused on national AT for Employment updates, as well as updates from Work Group members. Work Group notes are available for your review at the RESNA Catalyst Project’s website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/crossprograms/employment/workgroup.html.

PAAT PROGRAMS

New Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., (NLS) Website
NLS’s new and updated website is now available. Please visit www.nls.org and check out all the wonderful improvements and resources!

Success at the 16^th Annual “Bridges to Better Advocacy” Conference October 23-25, 2012 in Austin, Texas
The preconference, focusing on standing wheelchairs and pediatric wheelchairs, was attended by 35 persons with 45 attending our traditional two-day conference. If you would like copies of handouts from any of the sessions contact either Jim Sheldon (jsheldon@nls.org) or Diana Straube (dstraube@nls.org). Selected handouts should appear on our website in the near future.

Teleconference Training Series Draws National Attendance
New York’s Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program is, along with the National AT Advocacy Project (a RESNA Catalyst Project partner), housed at Neighborhood Legal Services in Buffalo, NY with overlapping staff. During November and stretching into early December, our PAAT and National AT Advocacy Projects are delivering a four-part teleconference series focused on Medicaid funding of AT and specialty equipment. In the past, 140 individuals registered for at least one session, with 86 phone lines for our first session and 68 phone lines for our second session. Counting New York, we have had attendance from equipment suppliers in 17 states spread throughout the continental U.S. If you would like to learn more about these training sessions, contact either Jim Sheldon (jsheldon@nls.org) or Diana Straube (dstraube@nls.org).

State of Texas appeals Koenning v. Suehs to Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Appeals court expected to rule on whether Texas Medicaid program can bar funding for standing wheelchairs.
In September we reported that the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, in Koenning v. Suehs, held that the state’s Medicaid policy of categorically denying coverage of mobile standers (including standing wheelchairs) , without consideration of medical necessity, violates various federal Medicaid Act provisions, including federal Medicaid policy, and is preempted by the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. In late October, the Texas Medicaid program appealed the lower court decision and it will now be heard by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. Plaintiffs will continue to be represented by Maureen O’Connell from the Southern Disability Law Center (a former attorney with the Texas P&A; program, Disability Rights Texas). Anyone wishing to obtain copies of the decision or the plaintiffs’ brief can contact Diana Straube (dstraube@nls.org).

ALTERNATIVE FINANCING AND TELEWORK LOAN PROGRAMS

SAVE THE DATE! May 7^th 2013 AFP Director’s Meeting
The RESNA Catalyst Project is sponsoring a one day AFP Director Meeting in Bethesda, MD. This will be the day before the RESNA Catalyst project Employment Summit for AT Act funded programs. Be on the lookout for more information!

Final Call-Data Collection Work Group
The Data Collection Work Group will be meeting to work on proposing changes for the next revision of the MIS 662 instrument. This group would like to hear from you! Please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org if you want to participate in this group.

Teleconference Series-New Directors of Telework Loan Programs - December 11th 2012 1:00p.m. Eastern Time
The last installment of the Telework New Directors conference call series is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9th at 1:00pm. This call will summarize and wrap up the series and answer any questions from the Directors.

Data Collection Work Group - TBD
The Data Collection Work Group will be held mid December, and we want to hear from you! If you would like to join this group please contact Jason Luciano at jluciano@resna.org. Please be on the lookout for a meeting announcement on the AFP listserv.

Data Submission Conference Call - Tuesday, November 13^th 1:00p.m. Eastern Time
The RESNA Catalyst Project hosted a conference call concerning data collection and submission for FY12. Diane Golden from ATAP and Ken Schellenberg from RSA were also on the call to answer any questions on data collection and submission. This call was recorded and posted on the RESNA Catalyst website at http://www.resnaprojects.org/news/index.html.

AFP Steering Committee Meeting - November 26^th 2012 12:00p.m. Eastern Time
The AFP Steering Committee met again and began working on the agenda for the AFP Directors meeting, which will be held on May 7^th 2013 in Bethesda, MD. The focus of this one-day event will be on moving loan programs from good to great, and incorporating best practices into every day operations. This agenda, when finalized, will be sent out to all programs and posted on the RESNA Catalyst website.

OTHER RESOURCES

Employment Rights Guide for Veterans
The Southeast ADA Center and its Kentucky Affiliate, MLM Associates, have created an employment rights guide for veterans with disabilities. The guide includes practical information to help veterans with disabilities understand their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You can access the guide online at www.adasoutheast.org/publications/ada/Employment_Rights_Under_ADA_Vets.pdf. For more information about the Southeast ADA Center and/or the ADA, contact the Southeast ADA Center at 404-541-9001 (voice/tty), the ADA National Network toll free at 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty), send an email with your request to adasoutheast@law.syr.edu or visit www.ADAsoutheast.org.

"All about AIM" Resources
http://aim.cast.org/learn/accessiblemedia/allaboutaim is the AIM Center’s link for their redesigned web site, which features a new "All about AIM" section for anyone who is new to accessible instructional materials.

New 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/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.