The Essentials for Sustaining an AT Demonstration & Device Loan Program : Tools for Life’s Approach Carolyn P. Phillips & Doris Chadwell Georgia Department.

The Essentials for Sustaining an AT Demonstration & Device

Loan Program: Tools for Life’s Approach

Carolyn P. Phillips & Doris Chadwell

Georgia Department of Labor

Assistive Technology Project,

Tools for Life

phone: 404-638-0384

www.gatfl.org

Begin with the End in Mind!

Agenda A Little about TFL Activities Finding and Leveraging Resources Strategies for identifying resources Methods for bringing in additional support Collaborating and partnering with other

organizations Building in program efficiencies

Why is this Important to TFL? In Georgia, an estimated 1,250,000 people

have one or more disabilities.

Of these, nearly 14% or 656,097 have severe

disabilities requiring one or more kinds of assistive technology (LaPlante et al, Technology and Disabilities, vol. 6, pp. 17-28, 1997, and the Census Report) to live, learn, work, or play more independently.

AT Demo & Loan Library Structure Statewide with Regional Centers Work with the Experts Targeted Communities

Followed the Interest & Funding Streams

Assistive Technology Resource Centers Regional Approach IL and Community Centers

Benefit from ReBoot & FODAC Reutilization Programs Centralized Distributes some AT to ATRCs for Loan & Demo

Web Based Loan Library

Current ATRCs & Reuse Centers

STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL OF GEORGIA, INC

Combining Efforts to Better Serve Georgia!

LIFE ILC

BAIN ILC

Multiple Choices ILCDisAbility Link NW

A Holistic Approach to Direct AT Service Activities:

AT Loan Library AT Demos – Promote Choice AT Reuse AT Evaluations & Training Resource and Assistance

Georgia’s AT Act Program

Georgia’s AT Solution Site: www.gatfl.org

Advantages to this Strategy Built for Sustainability Building Capacity in local Communities Interagency Collaboration Agreements Saving Dollars in the Long run Bulk Purchasing

Tools for Life has found that the majority of Georgians with disabilities need the opportunity to try out different devices/tools before purchasing them, as well as assistance on a local level in finding resources.

Promoting the development of alternative funding sources such as : Equipment exchanges and recycling, Loan Programs, and Legislation.

Follow Trends Trained Volunteer Base – people with and without disAbilities

Early Challenges & Learning Opportunities

Finding Funding & Creating Sustainability

Establishing Policies & ProceduresFinding and Growing PartnershipsGrowing Knowledge and SkillsReducing Staff turn-overMaking it Easy for Access

Strategies for Identifying Resources Identify/Create a Map of Potential Strategic Partners

Share your Vision and desire to Partner Town Hall Meetings Presentations to Organizations & Agencies Create Opportunities for folks to help as they can

Tip! Think Statewide and Locally Pilot Collaboration on Local Level before moving Statewide

Consider: Who has similar Mission? Who could benefit from Sharing this resource? Who has a need? Who has funding? Who has Clients/Consumers? What points could you collaborate to create a win-win-win situation?

Strategies for Identifying Resources Communicate Your Vision with Potential

Strategic Partners

Plant Seeds and allow for growth

EXAMPLE: TFL tried to partner with the SILC 10 years ago. In the Fall of 2006 we established a stronger relationship and the SILC provided $32,000 for AT Demos and Loan Libraries in Rural Ga. We are actively growing this relationship.

Strategies for Identifying Resources

Georgia’s Identified Active Strategic Partners: Statewide

Vocational Rehabilitation Georgia ATRC & ReBoot Statewide Consortium Department of Education Georgia OTs, PTs and SLPs Associations Council on Aging Gov. DD Council Statewide Independent Living Council Aging and Disability Resource Centers ARC of Georgia Brian Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund ATA ATIA Individual Vendors IT Companies

Strategies for Identifying Resources

Georgia’s Identified Active Strategic Partners: Local

Earlier Intervention Programs – Babies Can’t Wait ALS, MS Society, Huntington’s Disease Association,

Learning Disabilities Association, etc. Local School Systems Walton Rehabilitation, Emory Rehabilitation, Shepherd

Spinal Center, University of Georgia Teaching Colleges and Schools for OTs & SLPs ATA – Tech-Able Member and Shares with other ATRCs

Strategies for Identifying Resources Georgia’s Identified Potential Strategic Partners: Communicating with:

Statewide Earlier Intervention Programs – Babies Can’t Wait Medicaid DHR - Division of MR/DD/Substance Abuse ALS, MS and HD Associations Georgia Employer Committee One Stops & Career Centers

Local More School Systems More ILCs Parent Mentor Groups Interagency Transition Councils

Strategic Partners are Valuable! Space & Utilities – Donated Staff – Shared & some Contractors Support – for Funding Initiatives Vendors – Demos and lower cost AT IT Companies – Demos and Grants Web-Site

Mindspring - Reduced Cost Designed and Maintained - TFL

Methods for bringing in Additional Support Activities Tip!

Grow the Seeds You have Planted! Nurture relationships and partnerships.

Establish fee for rental for high tech items.

Establish fee to support maintenance.

Establish fee-for-service for AT Evaluation and Training related to AT in your Loan Library.

Keep it Current and Clean – Visually Pleasing.

Stick by Your Word – to partners and Vendors!

Methods for bringing in Additional Support ActivitiesTip!Grow the Seeds You have Planted! Nurture these relationships and partnerships.Establish fee for rental for high tech itemsEstablish fee to support maintenanceEstablish fee-for-service for AT Evaluation and Training related to AT in your Loan Library.

Methods - Additional Support Activities

Diversify Funding Sources – Federal Funds –

AT Statewide Program $45,000 for 4 ATRCs and ReBoot State Funds

$197,000 from State Legislature Local Funds/Contributions

Space & Utilities - Some Grants

Private Grants Freedman MS HP

Provide Opportunities for People to Support – “Adopt AT” Program Buy an Item in “Memory of” or “Honor of”

Share Resources – If You Build it….

Collaborating and Partnering Georgia’s Approach:

Statewide Contributions: Vocational Rehabilitation – Consumers, Professional AT

Expertise at no cost, pay fee for High Tech Items, pay fee-for-service for some AT Evaluations and many Trainings

Georgia ATRC & ReBoot Statewide Consortium – Lead for the successful Initiative to get $197,000 PER YEAR from State for AT Demo, AT Reuse & Loan Library Activities.

Department of Education - Professional AT Expertise at no cost and pay fee for High Tech Items

Georgia OTs, PTs and SLPs Associations - Consumers, Professional AT Expertise at no cost, pay fee for High Tech Items (AAC devices), pay fee for maintaining of some devices

Collaborating and Partnering Georgia’s Approach:

Statewide Contributions:

Statewide Independent Living Council – Consumers, provided $32,000 to expand AT Demo and Loan Library Activities in rural GA and supports efforts to keep $197,000 from State

Aging and Disability Resource Centers – Consumers, pay fee-for-service for some AT Evaluations and Trainings and supports efforts to keep $197,000 from State

ARC of Georgia - Consumers and supports efforts to keep $197,000 from State

Brian Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund – Consumers, pay fee for High Tech Items (AAC devices), pay fee for maintaining of some devices and pay fee-for-service for AT Evaluations and Trainings

Building in Program EfficienciesLessons Learned Consumer Directed Provider and Vendor Input Interagency Planning in Beginning Strong Data Collection in Beginning - Database Solid Policies & Procedures Interagency Memorandum of Understanding Invest in Training Pilot Projects Learn from Others Make it Easy to Access Services

Building in Program EfficienciesConsider & Plan:

Repair and maintenance Vendor Warranties Develop Skills within Community

Policies & Procedures Be Consistent Details Matter Here!

Liability Surplus Plan Insurance Policies Easy to Access – Web Based and Walk-in

Begin with the End in Mind

Work Smarter ~ Not Harder!