State-level Activities

These activities are based on the AT Council’s recent AT strategic plan and 2002 AT Provider Survey. The activities were proposed to the state Advisory Council on May 4, 2005. The activities described below are the direct result of the Advisory Council’s discussion regarding the AT Council’s proposed activities. UATP was explicitly told NOT to duplicate existing services. Rather, to serve as a “glue” to hold the statewide network together and to fill gaps, where necessary. UATP was asked to fill gaps by providing support to emerging groups in underserved areas and/or to provide limited services in underserved areas until a local entity can be found and trained to fill the gap(s). To address the continuing needs of existing AT services, UATP has been asked to provide ongoing technical assistance in an effort to improve the overall network/AT system in a consistent manner. In the case of state financing activities, UATP has been asked to serve as the administrative entity of the community-based Utah Assistive Technology Foundation. The guiding vision of the AT Council and Advisory Council that serves as a basis for the activities described below is that “all people in Utah have timely access to needed assistive technology devices and services.”

State Financing Activities

Utah will implement two different State financing strategies: (1) low-interest loan program in conjunction with the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation and Zions Bank; and (2) Access to Telework program in conjunction with these same partners.

Low Interest Loan Program. Since 1993, the UATP has provided administrative support to the non-profit community-based organization, the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation, in its assistive technology (AT) low interest loan and loan guarantee programs. The low interest loan program, whereby consumers can receive a 2%-3% consumer loan for the purchase of AT devices and services will continue to be provided statewide for all Utah citizens regardless of race, age, disability, national origin, color, and gender. On behalf of the Foundation, UATP will actively market the program through flyers, brochures, conference presentations and Foundation website maintenance. We will receive applications sent via surface mail, fax or email, prepare and submit the applications to Zions Bank (the lending institution partner) and conduct loan applicant followup evaluation as required by RSA. Zions Bank will continue to receive prepared application summaries, make loan eligibility determinations and process and close loans directly with consumers. Our experience indicates that this program enables individuals who could not otherwise acquire AT to afford the AT devices and services they need to be independent. The basic criteria for participation in this program are: (a) having a disability, (b) requiring AT (determination made by the consumer, not the Foundation or UATP) to improve independence, and (c) financial ability to repay the loan to the bank. Financial criteria are set by the bank and are generally non-negotiable. The bank adheres to equality in lending principles (i.e., loan approval/denial is based on ability/probability of loan repayment and not on other factors).

Access to Telework. Since 2003, the UATP has administered the Access to Telework program for the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation. The Foundation has provided funding for required state match in order to qualify for federal support. Federal funds have been reserved for endowment building and low buy-down purposes. All administration expenses are paid by the Statewide AT Program or by federal grants awarded to the Statewide AT Program to operate this alternative State financing initiative. The program is almost identical to the low interest loan program, except that the AT loans are reserved for individuals with disabilities seeking technology to work from home or a telework center. The loan application process, approval and closing process is identical to the low interest loan program described above. UATP administrative support is also identical. This program will increase the ability of people with disabilities who desire to work with the opportunity to purchase needed equipment to help them gain and maintain a job.

How Funds Will Be Used

Activities:

1. Maintain and host current UATF website (content from UATF).
2. Assist in fund leveraging activities (by providing partial support to the UATF executive director who has been charged by her board of directors to seek and secure ongoing, permanent administrative funding) to increase UATF endowment and provide for program permanence. This may include helping the Foundation garner additional state funding or funding from private sources.
3. Respond to applicant inquiries, and receive and process submitted applications with lending institution.
4. Conduct/enter initial survey data entry from applicant materials.
5. Provide Spanish translation of UATF application and marketing materials.
6. Provide public awareness and marketing assistance such as exhibits, information fairs, and public conferences to advertise UATF services/products.

Device Reutilization Program

Device reutilization is administered by several entities in Utah. The AT Council and Advisory Council believe that the existing network in Utah is generally sufficient, though limited assistance may be needed to fill minor service gaps. The various entities involved in device reutilization cover the entire state and address all age groups and disabilities. However, the Advisory Council has identified one area where UATP funding should be used to assist individuals with disabilities to acquire AT through reutilization efforts: assist local/state reutilization efforts to be successful. During year one, we have been asked by the Council to assist The Arc of Utah in its Connections through Computer program.

Connections Through Computers Program. In 2003, the UATP assisted the Arc of Utah to design and implement a statewide computer recycling initiative entitled, “Connection through Computers.” The Arc of Utah receives up to 15 computers per year from the Utah Department of Administrative Fleet and Surplus Services. It also receives a similar number from private donations each year. These computers are rebuilt with modems and an operating system, and provided at low or no cost to individuals with intellectual, cognitive and related developmental disabilities and their families throughout Utah. Computers may be adapted with screen enlargement/magnification software and Internet software. Each of these adaptations enable individuals with disabilities to interact with instructional content and/or other people. Many individuals and families indicate that a low cost, low speed Internet connection is sufficient to enable them to connect electronically to resources and others who can provide peer support. Use of the computer also enables the development of skills that can be used in an employment situation. Though we won’t provide computer training, we will help The Arc of Utah to provide technology to make computer training (and practice at home) possible. Based on the training and ongoing technical assistance from our staff, The Arc of Utah will work with families to learn about adaptive software/hardware and methods for funding these assistive technologies. Computers obtained through the Utah surplus mechanism must, by state law, be provided to individuals with cognitive disability over the age of 22 years. Those obtained through private donation are provided to consumers with cognitive disability based on income eligibility, regardless of age of the person.

UATP will provide limited funding, training and technical assistance to The Arc of Utah as they develop and expand the Connections through Computers program. Funds will likely be provided to the Arc of Utah to refurbish used computers and to administer this program statewide (this includes advertising, delivery and set up of computers for individuals with disabilities, and program evaluation).

As UATP becomes aware of other entities interested in developing and implementing equipment reutilization programs (we will continue to actively seek these programs), we will network them with existing programs to help them become established. For example, some parent groups in rural areas of the state have banded together to share information and equipment resources. If we can coordinate efforts with them and find ways to assist in the initial implementation of their programs, we will increase the availability of assistive technology for consumers in these rural areas.

In addition, the Utah Advisory Council has asked that UATP use its funds to advertise existing equipment reutilization programs available in Utah to individuals with disabilities and service providers, and provide them (particularly the CIL network) with ongoing training and technical assistance in the areas of equipment maintenance and repair, reutilization program administration, and AT device adaptation. We have been advised to develop and maintain a virtual network of reutilization programs statewide so that consumers can make one inquiry via telephone or Internet and be put into contact with a reutilization program available in their area that will serve their needs.

How Funds Will Be Used

Activities:

1. Assist the Arc of Utah in developing and administering the Connections through Computers program. The nature of this relationship has not yet been defined. During year one, UATP will work with The Arc Board of Directors and staff to determine specific activities and the potential of a subcontract (in year two or near the end of year one) to The Arc to administer and expand this program.
2. Locate and assist entities (such as parent or consumer groups; may include senior centers or Area Agencies on Aging) involved in AT reutilization efforts. We will determine how best to assist them (through technical assistance, training or financial assistance) and provide that assistance. This will be the determination of the consumer-majority Advisory Council. We anticipate that if this type of request arises, the Council will determine the level, if any, of assistance to be provided during its next regularly scheduled meeting.

UATP can’t pretend to know all of the possible resources available to Utahans with disabilities and their families. Our Advisory Council believes it is essential to leave open the possibility of assisting those who are trying to implement programs and who need various types of assistance to do so.

3. Advertise to consumer and family disability groups, disability-related service provider groups and agencies/organizations that serve senior citizens the existing equipment reutilization programs available in Utah thus creating a statewide virtual network of AT reutilization programs.

Device Loan Program

The Advisory Council has explicitly charged the UATP to actively help consumers locate equipment loan/lending programs in their local area that will enable consumers to use, on a trial basis, AT to meet their specific needs in targeted areas: education, employment, community integration, and accessible information technology. Device loan programs increase access to AT by giving consumers the option to try out and use AT equipment prior to purchase. Further, UATP has been asked to NOT duplicate device loan programs with its funds, but to assist in coordinating the several existing programs in Utah to improve access to AT by consumers. The AT Lab at Utah State University, however, is the exception to this charge. The AT Lab serves as the UATP hub for device loan coordination activities. As such, the AT Lab will provide limited device loan services mainly for northern Utah and as a supplement to existing programs where service gaps are identified. As it currently stands, the focus of northern Utah device loan activity will be in early intervention and community integration areas. These appear to be the greatest gaps in the northern part of the state. We will work with the AT Council to identify and address service gaps in other parts of the state.

UATP has been advised by the Advisory Council to develop a virtual network device loan programs throughout Utah. Currently, this includes all six Centers for Independent Living, the Utah Center for Assistive Technology, the Computer Center for Citizens with Disabilities, the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Utah Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Area Agencies on Aging.

How Funds Will Be Used

Activities:

1. UATP will semiannually survey each known AT loan program and list the following information on the UATP website with links to each program’s website. We will describe each program by:
   • Location served (by city and/or county)
   • Contact Person
   • Telephone number/ contact information
   • Summary of what type of AT is available at each site (e.g., mobility, communication, ADL, self-care, etc.)
   • Time frame that the lending programs are willing to lend the products/devices to the consumers (e.g., 2 weeks, 30 days, 60 days, etc.).
2. We will establish a central location (i.e., toll free number or website, or both) to serve as single point of contact that consumers can call to get information about lending programs, find out whether a particular product is available for loan, and if so where the nearest lending program is located. We will likely use the statewide information and referral organization in Utah. Details of this collaborative relationship will be worked out during year one.
   • In year three, consider developing a statewide procedure that will accomplish the following:
     • Uniform method of gathering equipment lending data for all participating organizations;
     • A real time list of equipment available at each site; a central virtual inventory for consumers and service providers to view.
3. Provide limited device loan to consumers of all ages, in northern Utah and across Utah where service gaps exists. This activity will be in collaboration with existing device loan programs.
4. Provide programmatic assistance to device lending programs on how to maintain and repair equipment, and administer a device lending program.

Device Demonstration Program

Device demonstration programs are established in many parts of Utah, but this is an initiative for which the Advisory Council has requested greater concerted effort from UATP. In northern Utah UATP has taken the lead with the local CIL to serve as its demonstration center through UATP’s AT lab. Individuals with disabilities, their family members and service providers can visit the lab during normal business hours or by appointment to learn about a variety of AT solutions including mobility devices, augmentative/alternative communication devices, and adapted computer hardware and software. Visitors try out and compare similar technologies to help them evaluate AT that will best meet their needs. This experience enhances consumer judgment regarding the technologies they may purchase in the future. Device demonstration improves a consumer’s ability to make informed choices about needed AT.

The AT Lab at Utah State University is the primary device demonstration center for northern Utah and will provide technical assistance (how to implement, maintain and expand) to demonstration centers located in centers for independent living (CIL) statewide. Together, the AT Lab, the CILs and several other entities comprise an AT demonstration network that meets the needs of consumers statewide, across all disabilities and ages. The Advisory Council charged UATP with developing a virtual network of these centers so that consumers will have a single point of contact (telephone or Internet) to access AT demonstration centers thus improving their access to AT.

How Funds Will Be Used

Activities:

1. Develop an AT demonstration display for the AT Lab focused on technology in education, employment and community integration domains. This center will be used by consumers referred by the northern Utah CIL; families and students enrolled in the 4 school districts in Utah, including those professionals who serve them (i.e., special education teachers, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists); and other individuals interested in how AT can improve and enhance independent functioning. Students from Utah State University who use the lab as a training facility will assist in the development and operation of the demonstration center.
2. Provide funding for CILs and other community organizations to develop and implement AT demonstration kits in communities statewide. This will include making available approximately $500 for each CIL to update its demonstration center. This will comprise a $3,000 annual investment for the UATP. In future years as more funding becomes available, UATP will increase this annual allotment. We will include specific guidelines for use of these funds:
   • Demonstration items must be visible to “walk-in” customers.
   • Use of demonstration items must be tracked and/or counted, including information on consumer outcomes (e.g., did demonstration result in acquisition of needed technology?)
   • Review demonstration inventory annually.
   • Method for ensuring that AT-related staff receive appropriate training on ALL devices included in the demonstration kit.
3. Develop and disseminate to consumers and providers a list of entities statewide that provide device demonstration. This list will include a summary of devices available for demonstration purposes, operating hours for the demonstration center, other pertinent contact and resource information. At present, this list includes:
   • The AT Lab at Utah State University
   • CILs statewide
   • Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT)
   • Computer Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCCD)
   • Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI)
   • Utah Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (UCDHOH)