National Employment Conference 2012 The RESNA Catalyst Project’s SMALL INVESTMENTS – BIG SAVINGS

1. National Employment Conference 2012The RESNA Catalyst Project’s SMALL INVESTMENTS – BIG SAVINGS A look at how vocational rehabilitation agencies save money by partnering with Assistive Technology Act Entities Paul Galonsky & Brian Bard

2. Panel Members • Paul Galonsky – Project Associate, RESNA Catalyst Project • Brian Bard – Grants Management Specialist, AT programs, Training and Program Services Division (TSPD), RSA, U.S. Department of Education

3. Presentation Goals • Describe Assistive Technology (AT), the AT Act, and the AT Act Entities • Describe the RESNA Catalyst Project • Illustrate how AT Act Entities work with VRs • Illustrate how AT Act Entities save VRs money • AT Act Entity resources available for VRs

4. Assistive Technology Devices The term ‘assistive technology device’ means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. (The AT Act of 1998, as amended in 2004)

5. Assistive Technology Services A service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection of acquisition and use of an Assistive Technology device. (The AT Act of 1998, as amended in 2004)

6. History of the AT Act • State AT programs were originally established under the Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988 (Tech Act). The act was reauthorized in 1994. • In 1998, the Tech Act was repealed and the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act) was authorized. • The AT Act of 1998 was reauthorized in 2004. The 2004 amendments to the AT Act again made significant program changes and requirements, including the change to formula grants. • With each reauthorization, the program requirements increased the focus on direct services and coordination.

7. Who is RESNA?www.resna.org • RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. • RESNA advances the field by offering certification, continuing education, and professional development; developing assistive technology standards; promoting research and public policy; and sponsoring forums for the exchange of information and ideas to meet the needs of our multidisciplinary constituency. 

8. What is the RESNA Catalyst Project? www.resnaprojects.org The RESNA Catalyst Project is a sponsored project of RESNA, RESNA operates the Catalyst Project under a new grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education (RSA).

9. The RESNA Catalyst Project is funded to provide assistance to the AT Act Grantees to assist them in increasing awareness, access, acquisition, and advocacy to assistive technology (AT) devices and services for consumers with disabilities of all ages. • The project works with the 56 statewide AT programs, the 57 protection and advocacy for AT programs, and the 36 alternative financing programs. It also works with 19 access to telework financial loan programs.

10. AT Act ProgramsFormula Grants administered by RSA Formula AT Act grants (50 states, D.C., and five territories) Total = $26 million yearly, Average award = $400,000 Typically referred to as “Statewide AT Programs” A Statewide AT Program provides information about what devices and services are available and where to obtain them; device loan and demonstration centers in which an individual can try-out devices and/or borrow devices for a short period of time, funding resources for purchasing or acquiring assistive technology, and device exchange and recycling programs that provide individuals with used equipment at little to no cost.

11. Statewide AT Programs AT Act Programs AT Act Requires State-level Activities (at least 60 percent) State financing (financial loans, purchase through co-ops, etc). Device reutilization (exchange, repair, recycling of AT devices) Device loans (short-term loans of AT devices) Device demonstrations (demonstration of a variety of AT devices)

12. AT Act Programs AT Act Requires State Leadership Activities (no more than 40 percent) • Training and technical assistance • Public awareness, including information and referral • Coordination and collaboration • Transition (school-based and/or community-based)

13. AT Act Programs Discretionary Grants Alternative financing programs (AFP) are in 36 states and 3 territories & Telework programs are in 18 states and 1 territory Alternative Financing Programs provide affordable financial loans to purchase assistive technology. Typical assistive technology purchased through this funding include: modified vehicles, home modifications, hearing aids, vision aids, and adapted computers.  

14. 2011 Data State-level Activities Number of Individuals Served State Financing activity 4,736 Reutilization of devices 31,577 Device Loans 33,823 Device Demos 53,487 State-leadership Activities: Training 108,047 Information & Assistance 1,143,802 AFP (loans) 1,320 Telework (loans) 118 Grand Total served 1,376,910 (Public awareness reached an estimated 84 million people)

15. Collaboration between AT Act Entities and VR

16. Statewide AT Act Programs who’s Lead Agency is VR

17. VR Collaboration Survey Results Does your AT program coordinate or collaborate with VR in your state? Percent Number of responses Yes 90.0 27 No 10.0 3 If yes, do you have a formal agreement with VR to provide state-level and/or state leadership activities? Percent Number of responses Yes 38.5 10 No 61.5 16 (Statewide AT Program/VR Collaboration 2012, RESNA February 2012)

18. Survey Results, Cont’d. Does your AT program have a formal agreement with VR that includes receiving funds from VR? Percent Number of responses No 65.5 19 Yes 34.5 10 Does your AT program collect data in the area of coordination/collaboration with VR? Percent Number of responses Yes 69 20 No 31 9

19. Publication SMALL INVESTMENTS – BIG SAVINGS

20. About The publication contains four case studies from Statewide AT programs that describe how their VR agencies have realized savings by partnering with each program.

21. CASE STUDY ONE Remote AT Training and Consultation Services: Assistive Technology of Alaska’s “TeleAT” Saves Money for Alaska’s State Vocational Rehab Agency

22. Calculating the Savings

23. CASE STUDY TWO “Try before You Buy” Device Loan Program: Connecticut Tech Act Project Saves Money for Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

24. Try Before You Buy Cost Savings Data

25. CASE STUDY THREE “Pennsylvania’s Assistive Technology Financing Opportunities Gets People To Work”

26. From 2010 through 2011, • PATF worked with OVR to: • Provided 13 Guaranteed Loans ($173,523) with partial OVR funding.  The amounts listed below are dollars guaranteed by PATF: • 10 loans for adapted vehicles ($164,578) • 2 loans for hearing aids ($7,245) • 1 loan for a lift on a vehicle ($1,700) • Provided 21 Traditional Loans ($553,262) for vehicles.  OVR paid for vehicle adaptations. • Provided 103 Information and Assistance services to OVR and OVR consumers helping consumers access OVR services

27. AT for Employer/Business Web Portal www.atconnects/employers.com

28. Summing up the benefits of partnering with AT Act Entities

29. Services provided by statewide AT programs that VR agencies use that have resulted in cost savings…

30. Try Before You Buy Services -Device Demonstrations. Statewide AT Programs offer device demonstration services so that an individual with a disability can compare several devices to find the device just right for the individual. • Try Before You Buy Services -Device Loans. Statewide AT Programs provide device lending libraries so that an individual can borrow devices and try them in their work and home environments, to see if they really are the right fit for the job.

31. Distance Device Training. Statewide AT Programs have trainers that can show how a device can be used and how to operate the features of a particular device. As the Statewide AT Program covers the entire state, often the program used distance technologies to reach individuals in remote areas. • Distance Device Consultations. Statewide AT Programs use distance technologies to answer questions about specific devices. The technologies allow them to respond to questions in a timely manner.

32. Benefits of AT Programs to VR Agencies • Money Savings: • - Device demonstrations help in choosing the right product. • - Device loans can insure the right product through direct use. • - In some cases, device loans may eliminate the need to purchase or rent a device. - Big savings purchasing lightly used AT at reduced cost, including potentially free devices through reutilization programs and open-ended device loans. - Savings result if consumer goes with an alternative financial loan to acquire the needed AT. • - Savings result if a case is closed!

33. Benefits of AT Programs to Consumers • Relieve VR wait lists. In some cases, the only services some consumers may need to gain or maintain employment are AT services. They may choose to use our AT services as opposed to waiting for VR services. • Help consumers without solid employment goals. Some consumers may come to VR for the wrong reasons. An employment goal is not required for AT programs. • Help consumers who aren't eligible for VR services.

34. Links RESNA Catalyst Projecthttp://www.resnaprojects.org/ Department of Education AT website http://www2.ed.gov/programs/atsg/index.html

35. Thank you!Contact Information: Paul Galonsky pgalonsky@resna.org 703-524-6686 Brian Bard brian.bard@ed.gov 202-245-7345