Funding by Purpose

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

• Independent Living Centers (ILCs)
  ILCs may pay for AT—including home modifications and vehicle modifications—for eligible applicants out of federal Title VII Part B funds. Unfortunately there can be a long waiting list to receive this financial assistance.
• Independent Living Assistive Technology Services
  This state funded MRC program helps people with severe disabilities pay for AT devices and training, but not home modifications or vehicle modifications. Funds are limited and the program often keeps a waiting list.
• Brain Injury and Statewide Specialized Community Services (BISSCS)
  BISSCS is a state funded MRC program providing community services to people with externally caused traumatic brain injury (TBI). BISSCS AT funds are last resort resources, and only non-vocational needs are considered.
• Turning 22 Independent Living Program
  MRC’s state funded Turning 22 IL program assists youth with planning for residential services that they will need after high school graduation or "turning 22" years old. As funding permits, the program can purchase Assistive Technology to increase and support a consumer’s independence.
• Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)
  This state funded MRC program provides low-interest and no-interest loans for people to who need "access modifications"—like ramps and wider doorways—to their primary, permanent residence.
• Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (MATLP)
  The MATLP gives people with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF)

• The CICRF was established to help families bear the excessive financial burdens associated with the care of children with special health care needs and disabilities. Medically related home and vehicle modifications, medical transportation, and medical equipment are among the categories of expenses eligible for reimbursement. Read more about CICRF

Central Bank Special Needs Loans

• This Central Bank loan program provides fixed rate loans with longer repayment terms to help customers with special needs purchase AT, including vehicle and home modifications. Read more about Central Bank Loans

Citizen’s Bank EZ Home Improvement Loans

• Citizen's Bank provides qualified low and moderate income households with low-interest cash loans for home improvements, including home modifications, up to $10,000. Applicants may be renters or homeowners. The loans are not available in all areas of Massachusetts. Read more

Digital Federal Credit Union Loans

• The DFCU provides qualified applicants who are members of the American Association of People with Disabilities with "Access Loans" for AT, DME, and home modifications, and "Mobility Vehicle Loans" for vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loans offer longer repayment terms and financing for up to 100% of the purchase amount. Read more

Private Organizations

• The private organizations listed here provide AT funding or services for individuals on a case-by-case basis. Read more

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)

• Independent Living Social Services
  MCB provides AT devices and services for daily living needs with state funding. AT provided may include reading lamps, large print calendars, talking clocks and watches among other devices.
• Flexible Family Supports
  MCB uses federal funding (Title VII Part B) to provide for unique one-time needs faced by MCB consumers when they present obstacles to independent living and the needs cannot be met by any other source of funding. This is a very limited resource for AT needs that cannot be provided through other programs.
• Bridge Program for Blind Elders
  This federally funded (Title VII, Chapter 2) program provides independent living services to people who are legally blind and age 55 or older. IL services may include training, adaptive devices, as well as peer support.

Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)

• This state funded MRC program provides low-interest and no-interest loans for people to who need "access modifications"—like ramps and wider doorways—to their primary, permanent residence. Read more about HMLP

Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (MATLP)

• The MATLP gives people with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need. Read more about MATLP

Central Bank Special Needs Loans

• This Central Bank loan program provides fixed rate loans with longer repayment terms to help customers with special needs purchase AT, including vehicle and home modifications. Read more about Central Bank Loans

Citizen’s Bank EZ Home Improvement Loans

• Citizen's Bank provides qualified low and moderate income households with low-interest cash loans for home improvements, including home modifications, up to $10,000. Applicants may be renters or homeowners. The loans are not available in all areas of Massachusetts. Read more

Digital Federal Credit Union Loans

• The DFCU provides qualified applicants who are members of the American Association of People with Disabilities with "Access Loans" for AT, DME, and home modifications, and "Mobility Vehicle Loans" for vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loans offer longer repayment terms and financing for up to 100% of the purchase amount. Read more

Private Organizations

• The private organizations listed here provide AT funding or services for individuals on a case-by-case basis. Read more

Department of Mental Retardation

• Individuals who are clients of the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) may be eligible to receive AT through DMR’s Adaptive Technology Services. Read more about DMR Services

Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)

• This state funded MRC program provides low-interest and no-interest loans for people to who need "access modifications"—like ramps and wider doorways—to their primary, permanent residence. Read more about HMLP

Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (MATLP)

• The MATLP gives people with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need. Read more about MATLP

Central Bank Special Needs Loans

• This Central Bank loan program provides fixed rate loans with longer repayment terms to help customers with special needs purchase AT, including vehicle and home modifications. Read more Central Bank Loans

Citizen’s Bank EZ Home Improvement Loans

• Citizen's Bank provides qualified low and moderate income households with low-interest cash loans for home improvements, including home modifications, up to $10,000. Applicants may be renters or homeowners. The loans are not available in all areas of Massachusetts. Read more

Digital Federal Credit Union Loans

• The DFCU provides qualified applicants who are members of the American Association of People with Disabilities with "Access Loans" for AT, DME, and home modifications, and "Mobility Vehicle Loans" for vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loans offer longer repayment terms and financing for up to 100% of the purchase amount. Read more

Private Organizations

• The private organizations listed here provide AT funding or services for individuals on a case-by-case basis. Read more

Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Hearing Aid/AT Resources
  Need funding for a hearing aid or other related AT? MCDHH (at Mass.gov) provides this AT Web page with numerous useful resource links including: "Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids" (public and private sources), and "Hearing Aid Purchase Plan/Financing Information."
  
• Independent Living Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHILS)
  DHILS may provide loans of assistive communication equipment, (i.e. TTYs and assistive listening devices), loans of environmental alert systems, and help with applying for funding for needed AT. Under certain conditions DHILS can also assist with a hearing aid purchase.
• Department of Interpreter/CART Referral Services
  Access to sign language interpreter services and other interpreter/transliterator services, including Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART); the Department also maintains a fund for the purchase of interpreter and CART services for situations in which no one is legally responsible to pay for the service.
• Case Management and Social Services Department: AT Fund
  The Case Management and Social Services Department administers the MCDHH Assistive Technology Fund, which is last resort funding for AT for individuals denied services by other sources.

Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)

• This state funded MRC program provides low-interest and no-interest loans for people to who need "access modifications"—like ramps and wider doorways—to their primary, permanent residence. Read more about HMLP

Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (MATLP)

• The MATLP gives people with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need. Read more about MATLP

Central Bank Special Needs Loans

• This Central Bank loan program provides fixed rate loans with longer repayment terms to help customers with special needs purchase AT, including vehicle and home modifications. Read more about Central Bank Loans

Citizen’s Bank EZ Home Improvement Loans

• Citizen's Bank provides qualified low and moderate income households with low-interest cash loans for home improvements, including home modifications, up to $10,000. Applicants may be renters or homeowners. The loans are not available in all areas of Massachusetts. Read more

Digital Federal Credit Union Loans

• The DFCU provides qualified applicants who are members of the American Association of People with Disabilities with "Access Loans" for AT, DME, and home modifications, and "Mobility Vehicle Loans" for vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loans offer longer repayment terms and financing for up to 100% of the purchase amount. Read more

Private Organizations

• The private organizations listed here provide AT funding or services for individuals on a case-by-case basis. Read more

Executive Office of Elder Affairs: Aging Services Access Points (ASAPS)

• Direct services are provided to elders at 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) around the state, including help accessing needed AT through state and federal funding sources (i.e. the Home Care Program, the Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver Program, and the Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Program). AT devices provided may include ramps or other home modifications, lift chairs, hearing aids and other sensory aid devices.
  Read more about ASAPS

Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)

• This state funded MRC program provides low-interest and no-interest loans for people to who need "access modifications"—like ramps and wider doorways—to their primary, permanent residence.
  Read more about HMLP

Massachusetts Assistive Technology Loan Program (MATLP)

• The MATLP gives people with disabilities and their families access to low-interest cash loans to buy the assistive technology devices they need.
  Read more about MATLP

Central Bank Special Needs Loans

• This Central Bank loan program provides fixed rate loans with longer repayment terms to help customers with special needs purchase AT, including vehicle and home modifications.
  Read more about Central Bank Loans

Citizen’s Bank EZ Home Improvement Loans

• Citizen's Bank provides qualified low and moderate income households with low-interest cash loans for home improvements, including home modifications, up to $10,000. Applicants may be renters or homeowners. The loans are not available in all areas of Massachusetts. Read more

Digital Federal Credit Union Loans

• The DFCU provides qualified applicants who are members of the American Association of People with Disabilities with "Access Loans" for AT, DME, and home modifications, and "Mobility Vehicle Loans" for vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loans offer longer repayment terms and financing for up to 100% of the purchase amount. Read more

Private Organizations

• The private organizations listed here provide AT funding or services for individuals on a case-by-case basis. Read more

Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA is the largest single medical care system in the United States and it is one of the largest purchasers of assistive technology for people with disabilities. Access to eligibility and benefits information is provided here.

• Independent Living Services
  Independent Living services (IL services), including AT, are available through the VA and their Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment division to eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities.
• Housing and Home Modification Grants
  The VA has 3 accessible-housing related grants programs: the Specially Adapted Housing Grant, the Special Home Adaptations Grant, and the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant.
• Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service
  The VA’s Prosthetics and Sensory Aids program may buy AT devices for veterans receiving VA care for any condition.
• Hearing Aids and Eyeglasses
  Certain veterans are eligible for hearing aids, audiology tests, eyeglasses and eye exams through the VA.
• Services for Blind Veterans
  Various AT devices and services may be available to blind veterans enrolled in the VA health care system.