In his compelling blog post about the day, Commissioner Carr reflects on how attentive the group was despite their hectic schedule and use of an Arabic translator. "Questions came readily, such as 'tell me more about the ADA' and 'how did assistive technology change your life' and 'what organized sports do Americans have access to?'" Carr notes that while the questions varied, all understood the progression of working to transition individuals with disabilities into community living to then successfully into the workforce. "We ended the forum with the realization that all of our communities, including the United States, have a lot of work to do before we ever see full community integration and acceptance. This small event was truly a global effort to develop an agenda for monumental change."

For Langley, a highlight of the afternoon was a visit to MassMATCH's Assistive Technology Regional Center in Boston (operated by Easter Seals). "It was moving to see how taken many of the delegates were by the technology. They wanted to buy Dragon Dictate before they left!" (Dragon is voice recognition software). "They also really loved the robots, and loved learning about the MV1 accessible van."

This was the first international delegation received by ATRC Co-coordinator Kristi Peak-Oliveira. "It was so inspiring to meet with people working to create the first AT programs for their entire countries" she says. "They were so friendly and appreciative to be here. Some were also really playful. We demonstrated Eye-Gaze [Tobii communication device that is controlled by the user's pupils], and one visitor kept using it to ask for my email address!"

Langley notes that the delegates were also eager for information about peer-learning and mentorship models, as well as how consumer-rights movements organize. "It was a remarkable afternoon," she reflects, "and a reminder of what we have accomplished in the U.S. and need to share."

For more about efforts in the Middle East to improve access to assistive technology, check out the November "Global Edition" of the Friends of ATIA newsletter (PDF). Among the articles is one by David Banes, deputy chief executive of Mada, the Qatar assistive technology and accessibility center.

Read Commissioner Carr's blog post, "Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Goes Global"

○ AT Regional Centers (ATRCs) 

The ATRCs are the cornerstone of MassMATCH services. MassMATCH partners with Easter Seals in Boston, and United Cerebral Palsy in Pittsfield to provide two ATRCs serving the eastern and western regions of Massachusetts. The Centers provide an opportunity to see, touch, and try assistive technology devices and are funded to demonstrate a range of devices for use by children, adults and seniors. Everything from magnifiers and assistive listening equipment to alternative keyboards, smart pens, iPads and apps are on hand. Loaner equipment is available for up to 4 weeks so that you (or your client) can "try before you buy" or fill a short-term need. If you decide to purchase, ATRC staff can help you navigate funding sources and providers. Educators, employers, therapists, as well as family members and AT users are welcome at AT Regional Centers. Learn more about the ATRCs (and search the inventory of the device loan library!) at this MassMATCH Web page.

○ AT Loan $ Program
The Massachusetts AT Loan Program gives individuals with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need or want.

○ Long-Term Device Loan Program
Another great resource is the Long-Term Device Loan Program. Easter Seals partners with MassMATCH to provide income-qualified applicants with equipment valued at under $500 for as long as they need it. Top priority is given to individuals who need AT for health and safety reasons, or for their primary means of communication, or for living at home after being discharged from a skilled nursing facility. Learn more about the Long-Term Device Loan Program at MassATloan.org.

○ Get AT Stuff
Looking for an affordable power or manual wheelchair? A specialized magnifier? A used accessible van? Try the Assistive Technology Exchange in New England! This is the online "Craig's List" of assistive technology and durable medical equipment. Here you can browse equipment available among the six New England states, post a device you have to sell, loan, or give away, even post a "device wanted" ad. Learn more at GetATStuff.org.

○ AT Funding Guide 

Everything you ever wanted to know about how AT and Durable Medical Equipment is (and isn't) funded in Massachusetts. The online AT Funding Guide covers public and private sources, from MassHealth to the Lion's Club. Advice is given for appealing denials and who to go to for assistance. Also check out the AT Advocacy Guide for finding expert help and advice with your specific funding issues.

○ Ask the Expert 

○ AT Services Directory

 

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. Of course many members do not neatly fit just one of these council categories! Here are our newest members:

 

Tory Dixon

Tory Dixon is an Advocate/Peer Counselor at Stavros for Independent Living in Amherst Massachusetts. When she started working at Stavros in 1994 she was the Outreach Specialist for the Assistive Technology Project. One of her primary roles back then was getting the word out to the disability community and the general public about what Assistive Technology is and how individuals can benefit by using AT in their daily lives. Currently she assists consumers of Stavros with applying for the Assistive Technology (financial) Loan Program. 

 

Tory uses AT in her professional and personal life. She is married and has three handsome young boys. Her eldest volunteers with her at AbliltyPlus, an adaptive ski program out of Mt. Snow in VT. As a child and young adult she swam competitively, and she is a two time Paralympian. Tory says, "I am always excited to learn about new technology that helps to improve everyone and anyone's quality of life."

 

Paul Remy

Paul Remy has Cerebral Palsy and is a wheelchair user. He uses AT to live independently and to do volunteer work for several organizations to help people with disabilities. A Sharon resident, Paul has also designed websites (www.kikotimaal.org and

www.fallrivermasscod.org) for two of the organizations. Besides being a client of Society for Human Advancement through Rehabilitation Engineering, Paul raises hundreds of dollars wheeling in this organization's annual Walk-A-Thon. He also loves to wage fierce battles on virtual reality chess boards at chess.com. Paul strongly believes that all people with disabilities must have access and use AT to maximize their full potentials.

 

  

Jeffrey Dougan

Jeffrey Dougan is the Assistant Director for Community Services at the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) and has worked there for about 11 years. Jeffrey's role at MOD is to offer technical assistance on the many disability related laws, both federal and state, and to assist state government, municipalities, and individuals in understanding those laws and how they interact. As an expert for the built environment, his job requires that he travel throughout the Commonwealth to meet with the 160 Commissions on Disabilities as well as state and local officials to educate people on the various codes that impact people with disabilities. Jeffrey, a resident of Scituate, also chairs the local Commission on Disabilities there.   

 

To see a complete list of Council members, information on membership, and the minutes of past meetings, please visit this MassMATCH AT Advisory Council Web page.

GetATStuff--the New England "Craig's List" for AT--currently
has hundreds of items available for sale or free throughout the six New England states.

As of this writing, GetATStuff highlights include:

13 Vision-related items

including a free Patriot Low Vision Reader in Lowell, MA!

2 Hearing-related items

21 Speech Communication-related items

including a free Zam Communication Device in Boston

5 Learning, Cognitive, Development related items

340 Mobility, Seating, and Positioning related items

including a Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair for sale for $150 OBO in Millbury, MA.

316 Daily Living related items

including a fully adjustable computer station for $75 in Watertown, MA

69 Environmental Adaptation related items

53 Transportation and Vehicle Modification related items

8 Computer related items

10 Recreation, Sports, and Leisure related items

Go to www.getatstuff.org to search items by category or geography or to list what you need. Go to the MassMATCH AT Swap and Shop web page to learn about additional AT reuse sites.

UN Convention Provides New Opportunities for Assistive Technologies

and Communication Technologies (G3ict)

The idea that international treaties or the United Nations
could have a positive impact on access to assistive technologies would seem bizarre at best... yet this is
exactly what has happened on a global scale since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) by the United Nations General Assembly. No one could predict this outcome, but the
Convention has been signed, to-date, by 153 countries--including the United States--and ratified by 106, which
means that it is legally enforceable in countries
representing more than 75% of the world population: a stunning success and one of the fastest rates of adoption of any international treaty in history.

So what's in it for AT users and vendors?

Read the rest in the November "Global Edition" of the Friends of ATIA newsletter.

Some users of wheeled mobility have difficulty getting comfortable and functional seating in their wheelchairs.  The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) will customize seating and controls for their clients, but other people with disabilities have little access to this kind of individualized support. To address this service gap, MassMATCH is partnering with staff at DDS and the Stavros Center for Independent Living to create a pilot adaptive seating and mobility clinic set to launch this spring.

 

The mobility clinic will be held in Amherst at Stavros. It will address the needs of individuals Stavros identifies as having significant seating issues. Seating customization and fabrication services will be provided by expert (OT/PT) fabricators and designers from DDS's Northampton AT Center. 

 

If the pilot proves successful, this collaboration may serve as a model for expanding mobility services elsewhere within the state. It may also  serve as an example of how state agencies can share resources to better serve more residents with significant disabilities!

AT School Share UPDATE

 

 

MassMATCH encourages the sharing of assistive technology among Massachusetts schools and school systems.  Our project, the AT School Share (formerly the AT School "Swap"), has now registered 12 participating school entities. The goal of the AT School Share is to create and coordinate a community of schools, districts, and collaboratives to share their unused AT devices; in this way students will acquire what they need more quickly and districts will better afford the technology that can make a real difference for learners with special needs. ATSS is also a means for members to keep track of their AT devices and a forum for school professionals to share AT know-how. 

 

In federal fiscal year 2010, MassMATCH received a $45,000 grant from the Shapiro foundation to pilot the ATSS within the Greater Boston area. As of this writing, 8 of the 12 registered entities are within that geographic area, 4 of which were added during FY2010. To help get participating schools to inventory their AT equipment, MassMATCH is partnering with Physical Therapy graduate students at Northeastern University. These students are learning about AT and school issues while helping interested schools catalog their AT and determine what may be available for sharing. In the coming fiscal year, MassMATCH will also be convening registered ATSS school personnel to discuss barriers for sharing and brainstorm systemic solutions.

 

Think AT School Share is a great idea? Know a school or school system you'd like to help get involved?  

 

Contact:

Kobena Bonney

MassMATCH coordinator and School Share administrator

 

Learn more at the School Share Web site