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AT Advisory Council

MassMATCH is advised by an AT Advisory Council made up of community members and professionals who understand the importance of assistive technology for people with disabilities. A majority of the council members (not less than 51%) are individuals with disabilities who use assistive technology or are family members or guardians of individuals who use AT. Other council members are representatives of state agencies concerned with creating better access for people who would benefit from AT.

The Council provides insight and recommendations for "best practices" for how to advance the use of AT. Specifically the Council advises on the Commonwealth's priorities for federal AT Act funding, and on the design and implementation of state-level and leadership initiatives funded by the AT Act grant.

Guiding Principles

The Advisory Council adheres to the following principles:
  1. Supports (funded programs) should be driven by the needs of individuals and their families, and should be provided within community settings.
  2. Partnerships between individuals, families and agency representatives should be based on communication that is open, honest, clear, understandable and timely.
  3. All Council activities should respect and respond to the diversity of culture, language and abilities of all partners in order to ensure full participation.
  4. All input and contributions should be equally respected and valued.
  5. The recommendations and actions of the Council should be based on all partners sharing relevant information.
  6. The Council should share responsibility and reasonable risks toward a common purpose, learn from failure and celebrate success.

Ground Rules/Operating Procedures

The Advisory Council conducts business according to the following operating procedures:

Frequency of Advisory Council Meetings

The Advisory Council currently meets quarterly. The meeting location is accessible and geographically reasonable for all members.

Primary Responsibilities of the Advisory Council

Advisory Council members must attend meetings and actively participate. Council members may also provide recommendations to MassMATCH staff through conference calls, e-mails, phone calls and regular postage mail, as necessary. Input sought from Council members includes feedback on the overall vision of the MassMATCH project as well as specific recommendations for implementing "state-level" and "state leadership" activities, as called for by the federal AT Act. Advisory Council members also help staff determine how best to identify consumer needs and what systems to develop to insure broad-based feedback on the effectiveness of MassMATCH's initiatives. The AT Act grant activities that require the Council's attention include the following:

State-Level Activities

  • State financing programs
  • Device reutilization programs
  • Equipment demonstration programs
  • Device loan programs

State Leadership Activities

  • Public Awareness
  • Information and Referral
  • Coordination and Collaboration

Membership

AT Act Advisory Council Membership List

January 2018

Name

Category

Chiango, Lisa

Consumer rep

Dixon, Tory

Independent Living Centers

Doonan, Owen

Consumer rep

Dias, Robert Mass Office on Disability (MOD)

Gefteas, Peter

Consumer rep

Hatch, Kevin

Consumer rep

Herrera, Ileana

Family rep

Kane, Theresa

The Polus Center

Kongtcheu, Phil

Consumer rep

Landry, Linda

Disability Law Center(DLC)

LaSante, Susan

Family rep

Mercier, Tom

Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS)

Nettles, Lee

Consumer rep

O'Dell, Jonathan

Mass. Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)

Remy, Paul

Consumer rep

Sargent, Randi

Family rep

Shor, Ann Mass. Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

Sigmond, Carl

Consumer rep

Silver, Evan MA Commission for the Blind (MCB)

Spalding, Jae

Consumer rep

Vega, Martin

Consumer rep

We Want You!

The AT Advisory Council currently has open positions for individuals with disabilities who use AT. The council meets quarterly to discuss the needs of AT users and make decisions regarding the AT Act programs. If you are interested in serving as a representative of AT consumers in Massachusetts, please email info@massmatch.org.

Nomination Form (Word)

Meeting Minutes

Links open in a new window (and all files are Word unless otherwise indicated).

2017

June 2017 April 2017

2016

December 2016 September 2016
June 2016 March 2016

2015

December 2015 September 2015
June 2015 March 2015

2014

December 2014 September 2014
June 2014 March 2014

2013

December 2013 September 2013
June 2013 March 2013

2012

September 2012 June 2012
March 2012 January 2012

2011

October 2011 July 2011
March 2011  

2010

December 2010 September 2010
June 2010 March 2010

2009

December 2009 September 2009
June 2009 (rtf) February 2009

2008

October 2008

2007

February 27, 2007 Meeting Minutes (FlashPaper doc)