Assistive Technology for Kansans

(1)

Assistive Technology

for Kansans

(2)

State Financing Activities

State financing activities increase access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services. Programs assist individuals with disabilities with funding AT devices and services by administering and/or supporting financial loan programs and/or other systems that make funding available or reduce costs to acquire devices.

Financial Loan Program This Year . . .

 Made 29 loans this year to enable borrowers to purchase needed AT

 Average income of borrowers approved for a financial loan was $31,615.97

 Average interest rate of approved loans was 5.50%

 Total amount loaned was $123,357 with 29 devices acquired

Type of AT # of Devices Financed Device % Dollar Value of Loans Dollar %

Vision 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Hearing 8 27.59 $25,099 20.35 Speech 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Learning/Cognition/Developmental 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Mobility/Seating/Positioning 9 31.03 $15,562 12.62 Daily Living 1 3.45 $6,520 5.29 Environmental Adaptations 0 0.00 $0 0.00

Vehicle modifications, Transportation 10 34.48 $75,902 61.53

Computers and Related 1 3.45 $274 0.22

Recreation/Sports/Leisure 0 0.00 $0 0.00

Total 29 100.00 $123,357 100.00

Acquisition State Financing Program This Year . . .

 Served 749 individuals

 A total of 765 devices/services were funded with a value of $423,036

Type of AT # of Devices Acquired Device % Dollar Value of Devices Savings %

Vision 69 9.02 $52,148 12.33 Hearing 48 6.27 $15,663 3.70 Speech 25 3.27 $50,564 11.95 Learning/Cognition/Developmental 15 1.96 $17,825 4.21 Mobility/Seating/Positioning 86 11.24 $17,825 4.21 Daily Living 408 53.33 $110,457 26.11 Environmental Adaptations 55 7.19 $94,516 22.34

Vehicle modifications, Transportation 9 1.18 $18,665 4.41

Computers and Related 45 5.88 $38,123 9.01

Recreation/Sports/Leisure 5 0.65 $7,250 1.71

Total 765 100.00 $423,036 100.00

Consumer Satisfaction for All State Financing Activities This Year…

(3)

Assistive Technology for Kansans collaborated with the United HealthCare

Foundation to provide electronic tablets to people with disabilities to teach them digital technology skills needed in employment settings. Seventy-four of 75

individuals completed the four-week workshop; three months later, 14 individuals were employed in part-time or full-time positions.

 One woman with mental health and memory disabilities set up her own housecleaning service after completing the workshop. She completed a business plan that included social networking to promote her service, sets her appointments, and uses electronic reminders to maintain her schedule. At this time she has 12 customers.

 Four individuals with mental health conditions and physical limitations used the skills they learned to obtain second and third shift positions expediting shipping for commercial carriers and manufacturers. These individuals used their tablets to keep their schedules, send themselves electronic reminders to complete to do lists, take medication, and use relaxation apps on break.

 One participant is a veteran with a physical disability and post-traumatic stress. He enrolled in EMT training made possible since he needed to master use of digital technology to take the required online exams and participate in study groups. At this time, he is completing the “ride along” component of the EMT training and has a job waiting for him when he passes his final examination.

(4)

Reuse Activities

Reassignment Program This Year . . .

Reassignment programs refurbish assistive technology devices and provide them as a permanent reassignment, at reduced or no cost, to individuals who need the devices or repair devices for individuals who would otherwise have non-functional devices.

 Served 810 individuals received 861 refurbished or repaired devices

 Total amount saved by consumers was $748,027

Type of AT Device # Device _% Savings $ Savings _%

Vision 28 3.25 $42,730 5.71 Hearing 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Speech 1 0.12 $7,820 1.05 Learning/Cognition/Developmental 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Mobility/Seating/Positioning 338 39.26 $437,141 58.44 Daily Living 481 55.87 $255,144 34.11 Environmental Adaptations 0 0.00 $0 0.00 Vehicle modifications, Transportation 0 0.00 $0 0.00

Computers and Related 7 0.81 $1,265 0.17

Recreation/Sports/Leisure 6 0.70 $3,927 0.52

Total 861 100% $748,027 100%

Consumer Satisfaction for Reuse Activities This Year…

 94.56% for the ratings of highly satisfied and satisfied.

A preschooler and his educational team requested a prone stander from Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK). ATK staff worked with the physical therapist to

select the correct model and determine the needed supports to fit him so he could safely use the stander. Team members report that obtaining the prone stander provided him an additional position so he could participate in activities. The

standing position improved his circulation and allowed him to weight bear on his legs, which helps hip development. The removable tray with bowl provided him with the opportunity to play and learn

(5)

Device Loan Activities

Short-term device loans enable individuals or entities to borrow and “try-out” devices. A short-term device loan is not a permanent reassignment, but enables individuals to have direct access to devices, often in the environment where they will be used.

Device Loan Program This Year . . .

 Provided equipment to 469 borrowers

 Total of 605 devices were borrowed

 Purposes were –

37.74% to assist in decision-making

.43% to serve as a loaner during device repair or while waiting for funding 49.25% to provide a short-term accommodation

12.58% for other purposes

Type of Individual or Entity Number of Borrowers %

Individuals with disabilities 373 79.53

Family Members, Guardians, Authorized Representatives 29 6.18

Representatives of Education 22 4.69

Representatives of Employment 13 2.77

Representatives of Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation 9 1.92

Representatives of Community Living 19 4.05

Representatives of Technology 4 0.85

TOTAL 469 100%

Type of AT Device Number %

Vision 18 2.98 Hearing 70 11.57 Speech Communication 66 10.91 Learning/Cognition/Developmental 168 27.77 Mobility/Seating/Positioning 68 11.24 Daily Living 120 19.83 Environmental Adaptations ₅ _0.83

Vehicle Modifications, Transportation ₁ _0.17

Computers and Related 66 10.91

Recreation/Sports/Leisure 23 3.80

Total # of Devices Loaned 605 100%

Consumer Satisfaction for Device Loan Activities This Year…

(6)

Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) staff worked with a man in his thirties who has a significant

hearing loss. He was trying to obtain employment in sales and marketing which requires him to meet the public, talk on the

telephone, and participate in staff-client meetings. ATK staff arranged for a loan of three assistive listening devices that could be used in individual and

group settings. He selected the device that worked best across all settings and Kansas Rehabilitation Services purchased the device. He is currently employed full-time for a sales and marketing firm.

(7)

Device Demonstration Activities

Device demonstrations provide individuals a guided experience with assistive technology devices with the assistance of someone who has technical expertise related to the device. Device demonstrations support an informed decision about assistive technology by

comparing the features and benefits of assistive technology. Referrals to AT vendors, professionals, and funding sources are often made following the demonstration. Device Loan Program This Year . . .

 Provided 251 demonstrations with 280 individuals participating

 Total of 7,438 referrals were made –

56.68% to a funding source 17.84% to a service provider 20.25% to a vendor 5.23% to a repair service

Type of AT Device Number of Demonstrations %

Vision 44 17.53 Hearing 18 7.17 Speech Communication 25 9.96 Learning/Cognition/Developmental 29 11.55 Mobility/Seating/Positioning 28 11.16 Daily Living 62 24.70 Environmental Adaptations 6 2.39

Vehicle Modifications, Transportation ₀ _0.00

Computers and Related ₃₂ _12.75

Recreation/Sports/Leisure 7 2.79

Total 251 100%

Type of Individual or Entity Number of Participants %

TOTAL 280 100%

Consumer Satisfaction for Device Demonstration Activities This Year…

(8)

A six-year-old girl who is deaf and blind and her family requested device demonstrations for telecommunications access from Assistive Technology for

Kansans staff. The girl wanted to be able to communicate with family who lived out of state and access the Internet like her siblings and peers.

After demonstrations of tablets and magnifiers, the family selected a tablet and a large screen magnification device (CCTV). After using these devices successfully, she told her mother she wanted to learn Braille. ATK staff demonstrated two braille devices that would allow her to expand her Internet and email capabilities.

Even though her grandmother lives in another community, they communicate frequently, read books together by distance, and share ideas.

(9)

Training and Information & Assistance Activities

Training is conducted to increase knowledge, skills and competencies regarding assistive technology. Information and assistance responds to requests by telephone, email or other means for information about assistive technology products, policies, and funding and provides referrals to appropriate entities for additional support.

Training This Year . . .

 A total of 3,415 individuals participated in training activities

Training Type of Individual or Entity Number of Participants %

Unable to categorize 851 24.92

TOTAL 3,415 100%

Training Example:

Assistive Technology for Kansans staff conducted a series of regional workshops for infant toddler providers and families of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Infant toddler providers and ATK staff selected topics that were most relevant to the needs of the local provider network.

Topics addressed

 Assistive technology solutions for switch access,

 Learning literacy and math concepts,

 Communication device selection,

 Communication device programming,

 How to include assistive technology on the Individualized Family Service Plan

(IFSP), and

(10)

Information & Assistance This Year . . .

 A total of 10,190 individuals were served by information and assistance activities. An additional 20,514 participated in public awareness activities.

I&A Type of Individual or Entity Number of Recipients %

TOTAL 9,047 100%

Transition

ATK staff participated in Families

Together Inc.’s Family Employment and Transition (FEAT) workshops. In their presentations, ATK staff addressed technology relevant to common employment barriers, highlighted

successful assistive technology solutions for small business, and provided

information on how to access ATK program services to decide if assistive technology should be a consideration in your business plan.

ATK staff set up a range of assistive technology devices for information and demonstrations. As a result of this effort, ATK staff referred two students to

Kansas Rehabilitation Services for

technology acquisition and staff are also working with three other transition age students on possible assistive technology solutions.

Alternative formats are available upon request by contacting Assistive Technology for Kansans management office at 620-421-8367 or ssack@ku.edu.

The data in this report is for the federal fiscal year of October 1 through September 30 as reported in the State Grant for Assistive Technology Progress Report through the Management Information System of the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

This program receives funding under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended (P.L. 108-364) administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services