Episode: Assistive Technology
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
video transcript
What We Learned
People who are considered low-income may get financial assistance to purchase an augmentative communication device (ACD) from a special Texas program. It is the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) program at Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Find it at http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/stap.shtml When recommending an ACD, size matters as does the age and activities of the end user.
Definition
Assistive technology (AT),as was first published in the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (The Tech Act), is any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology (AT) is sometimes used generically and can include assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.
We learned that there are two types of assistive technology, assistive technology products and assistive technology service. Examples of AT products include wheelchairs, computers, ramps and communication devices. Examples of AT service include interpreters and service dogs. We also learned that some AT products and services can receive favorable tax treatment. See “Tax Options and Strategies for People with Disabilities.” by Steve Mendelsohn for more information.
USATechguide
We learned we can go to http://www.usatechguide.org/ to see evaluations of assistive technology products as well as place our own evaluations.
Resources
Assistive Technology Conferences
- CSUN, California State University at Northridge every Spring: http://www.csun.edu/
- Closing the Gap, Minneapolis, MN every Fall: http://www.closingthegap.com
- South by SouthWest, in Austin, TX every Spring: http://sxsw.com/
- SXSW is particularly interesting because of new off-the-shelf products that are accessible, not because it may be required by law but rather, because it was a good design idea.
Helpful Sites
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/report2/
Jamie Judd-Wall
Jamie Judd-Wall is the founding Executive Director of TELL Enterprises. An educator with over 20 years of classroom and administrative experience, she brings a wealth of experience in the field of Special Education to TELL Enterprises.
Jamie holds teaching and administrative certifications in both Texas and California. She holds five certifications from the Texas Board of Educator Certification: General Education Instruction, Special Education Instruction, General Education Supervision, Special Education Supervision, and Mid-Management and three certifications from the California Teacher Licensing Board, General Education, Special Education and Resource Specialist Instruction. The Neuroscience Institute at the University of Indiana has certified Jamie in Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy. In addition, Jamie is certified by the Dispute Resolution Center as a Mediator and the Texas LEAD Center in the DuPont Leadership Program. She is also a certified by the Rehabilitation Engineers and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) as an Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP). Each of these prestigious national organizations required Jamie to take and pass arduous certification testing prior to being awarded the certification.
Jamie is an accomplished educational author. She is the author of the VoCAT Curriculum, currently in use at Austin Community College. She has contributed articles to many national publications, Learning with Technology, Using Voice Recognition Software, Making and Using Modifications. She created the Assistive Technology Screener, The 8-Step Method of Assistive Technology Assessment and The Portfolio Assessment for Students with Severe to Profound Disabilities. Jamie is a sought after presenter at local, state and national conferences.
Contact
http://tellenterprises.net/
amie@tellenterprises.net
Britt Sitzes
For over a decade, Britt has been involved directly in the assessment of individuals with significant mobility and/or postural impairments; identification and recommendation of adaptive equipment in order to facilitate functional independent mobility; design of custom and/or customization of equipment to support interface between human and equipment; documentation of justifications for recommended equipment in order to procure funding from Federal, State, and commercial third party payors; fitting and reassessment of effectiveness of recommended equipment in regards to individuals’ mobility and/or positioning goals. Britt has been an Occupational Therapist since 1988 and has worked primarily in community-based programs. From 1996 to 2002, Britt participated on a medical mission team to Costa Rica where his primary role was working with children with mobility/positioning impairments.
Britt’s Guide to Choosing Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Look for a company that is established and has an AT Professional on staff.
- Beware of sit-and-go type chairs that can’t be changed to fit your needs.
- Make sure the vendor from whom you buy also repairs.
- The delivery person should be same person that did the fitting.
- Make use of “word-of-mouth” recommendations.
Contact
2211 Denton Drive, Suites G, J, & L
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 833-9956
Fax (800) 530-4382
Austin@nsm-seating.com
Mikail Davenport
Mikail Davenport
Mikail Davenport is a 61-year old native Texan who contracted polio at age two. After numerous reconstructive surgeries, he was able to walk unaided until age 40, when post-polio syndrome forced him back into daily wheelchair usage.
In 2000, Mikail started competing in 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon wheelchair racing events with the Blaze Sports Austin Wheelchair Team, placing first in most of the them until 2003, when after finishing the Motorola Marathon in Austin he conquered another health challenge: lung cancer.
Less than one year after doctors removed half of his left lung, he successfully completed the daunting 237-mile Sadler’s Ultra Challenge Handcycle Race in Alaska, finishing 18th out of 24. This was followed by the Marathon of the Americas in San Antonio in 2003 & 2004, also using his handcycle. He also participates every year in other events, such as the Marathon to Marathon in West Texas.
In 2004, he founded “Disabled, Not Unable”, an educational organization that assists persons with disabilities to fully develop their physical, mental, and spiritual conditioning to the utmost of their ability. He supports the organization through his website design and consulting business.
In 2005, he retired from racing and completed the 350-mile Capitol Ride ‘05 to raise awareness of the capability of Texans with disabilities and cancer survivors
In 2006, he participated in the 650-mile Mexico to Louisiana commemorative ride along the El Camino Real with able-bodied cyclists from The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience.
In 2007, he rode 750 miles across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, self-contained and with no support to again raise awareness of the diverse issues of Texans with disabilities before the 80th Texas Legislature. This ride garnered support from people around the United States in support of Texans with disabilities and many positive–impact bills passed in the Legislature.
He is an interfaith minister and provides spiritual direction for Texas prison inmates.
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