Cathy Bly

Cathy has worked for the eastern AT Regional Center for three and a half years. The Center is operated by Easter Seals in Boston and Cathy coordinates it with Meaghan Fitzgerald (below). Cathy holds a Masters of Education as a teacher of students who are blind or have low vision. Prior to coming to the ATRC she worked for various school districts in Massachusetts. Low-vision herself, Cathy uses the Zoomtext screen magnifier at work in addition to various hand-held magnifiers, a 4x telescope, and an MP3 player for audio books.

About working at the ATRC, Cathy says, "This is a wonderful job. We're a free program. Anyone from Massachusetts can make an appointment to visit our center to learn about all types of AT, and they don't need documentation for a disability. We educate people about AT so they are able to make their own conclusions about what device or devices are best for them. We're empowering them to make their own decisions, not telling them what they should or should not do."

One of Cathy's favorite work moments:
"A woman came in who was hard of hearing and didn't speak English very well and we showed her the Pocket Talker--such a simple amplification device--but she was in tears trying it out. We were all choked up because it made such a difference for her."

Cathy's favorite pastime:
"Travel! Someday I'd like to go to Italy. I'd also love the chance to live abroad and flex my Spanish."

Meaghan Fitzgerald

Meaghan has worked with Cathy to coordinate the eastern AT Regional Center for the last seven months, although she started at Easter Seals in 2006 as an AT specialist. Originally from Omaha, NE, Meaghan grew up working with kids with disabilities through her mother's children's respite care center. She moved to Boston to take the Easter Seals job after completing graduate school in Chicago to be a Rehab. Engineer.

"I'm a big huge nerd," Meaghan freely admits. "I'm obsessed with math. Last year for Halloween I went as a math nerd and my favorite TV show is the Big Bang Theory."

Uncharacteristic of the stereotype, however, Meaghan's favorite part of her job is interacting with people... in addition to having her hands on the technology. "What's really enjoyable is getting to introduce people to different types of technology and getting the word out there. Most people think AT is a wheelchair or something really high tech. They don't understand all of the in-betweens."

Meaghan says she enjoys demonstrating the low-tech equipment as well, especially when "someone sees something that makes the simplest tasks that much easier, the appreciation that you see from that. All of a sudden this other area of their life opens up. It's neat to see."

Still, we wondered, as a rehab engineer, aren't you yearning to someday design and fabricate equipment?

Meaghan responded in a low voice: "I'm dying to."

Ferol Smith

Since coming to Easter Seals in 2006, Ferol has gone back to school to get her Masters in Public Administration. Her favorite part of her new job is talking to clients about the technology they are looking to obtain. "I talk with Meaghan in Boston a lot to better understand what the equipment is. It's all so interesting." In just a few short months she's processed upwards of 25 applications for the Long-Term Device Loan Program. "It's really picking up. People are learning this is out there for them to obtain equipment they need."

Since she's a former operations data manager, we couldn't help but ask, do you have any nerdy interests like Meaghan?

"Well...I do have a new interest in knitting and crocheting, that I picked up from one of our employees at Easter Seals who recently retired. She showed me how. So I've become a knitting fool! At lunch time a little group of us are knitting and crocheting in the break room. That's my nerdy thing."

Leonidas Tonevski

Leo has worked for almost four years as the assistant director of the AT (financial) Loan Program at Easter Seals in Worcester. Originally from Worcester, Leo came to Easter Seals after working in the alumni relations department at Nichols college. The move, he reports, was perfect for him. "I've known Easter Seals for many years. And I've always wanted to work for a non profit."

We asked him what he likes best about working for the financial loan program?

"Being able to help people with disabilities lead more independent lives. I receive a lot of calls each day, and process a lot of applications, and we really help out a lot of people. Plus we get phone calls and letters and cards thanking us for the program and they're just very happy. I feel like I've touched a lot of people. They're all really special to me."

Leo's interests are decidedly less nerdy than his colleagues; he loves to play and watch soccer, tennis, baseball and football.

Dawn Matthews

Dawn has coordinated the western AT Regional Center for the last four years. The Center is housed at United Cerebral Palsy in Pittsfield. Dawn is a Pittsfield native and says she loves working in her home community. "I know lots of people here," she emphasizes, "and I love going out into the community with my bag of tricks."

The tricks, of course, are devices that open eyes to what is available for increasing independence. Dawn says she enjoys raising AT awareness among educators, elder service providers, rehabilitation counselors, as well as persons with disabilities. "Often times we hear people saying that they doubt there is anything out there to help them, but then when they come in and see what's here, the simple fixes, then they get pretty excited. We've had some pretty emotional moments here."

Since coming to work for the ATRC, Dawn has completed the AT Applications Certificate Program through the California State University at Northbridge (CSUN). Asked what she'd like us to emphasize in this newsletter, Dawn echoes Cathy Bly: "These services are free. The loan program is free. Come in and learn, try, and borrow equipment!"

Contact MassMATCH program staff:

Catherine Bly and Meaghan Fitzgerald, ATRC Coordinators
89 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
617-226-2640 or 800-244-2756 Voice
617-737-9875 FAX
ATRC@eastersealsma.org

Ferol Smith
Director of the MA AT Loan Program
Easter Seals MA
800-244-2756 ext. 428 or 431 (Voice) or 800-564-9700 (TTY)
FSmith@eastersealsma.org

Leonidas Tonevski
Assistant Director, MA AT Loan Program
Easter Seals MA
484 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
508-751-6428 (Voice)
508-751-6444 (FAX)
LTonevski@eastersealsma.org

Dawn Matthews, ATRC Coordinator
208 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-442-1562 Voice
413-499-4077 FAX
ATRC@ucpberkshire.org

1. Lack of self-determination, self-awareness and self-advocacy on part of the individual with a disability (and/or advocate).
2. Lack of adequate long range planning on part of sending and receiving agencies (timelines).
3. Inadequate communication and coordination.
4. Failure to address funding responsibility.
5. Inadequate evaluation (documentation, data, communication, valued across settings) process.
6. Philosophical differences between sending and receiving agencies.
7. Lack of understanding of the law and their own responsibilities.