The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended

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The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended & Statewide AT Programs This PowerPoint will allow you to Briefly describe the history of AT legislation Describe ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended


1
The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as
amended Statewide AT Programs
2
This PowerPoint will allow you to
  • Briefly describe the history of AT legislation
  • Describe the purpose of the AT Act
  • Describe basic requirements for Statewide AT
    Programs

3
History of AT Act Legislation
  • 1988-Technology Related Assistance Act 1988 (Tech
    Act)
  • Defines AT devices and services, recognized value
    of AT
  • Creates state programs focused on use of AT
  • Oversight - National Institute on Disability and
    Rehabilitation Research
  • 1994- Tech Act Reauthorized
  • Systems change activities to promote access to AT
  • Mandates stakeholder involvement in activity
    planning
  • 1998- Assistive Technology Act of 1998
  • Systems change activities to promote access to AT
  • Alternative Financing Programs Introduced
  • 2004-AT Act of 1998, as Amended
  • Focus on direct service by Statewide AT Programs
  • Oversight - Rehabilitation Services
    Administration (RSA)

4
Purpose of the AT Act
  • Supports state efforts to improve the
    provision of assistive technology to individuals
    with disabilities.
  • Covers people with disabilities of all ages
    and all disabilities, in all environments.

5
AT Act Entities
  • Statewide AT Programs
  • Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs)
  • Protection and Advocacy for AT Programs (PAATs)

6
Statewide Assistive Technology Programs
  • Information about what assistive technology
    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
  • Device exchange and Device Reuse that provide
    individuals with used equipment at little to no
    cost
  • Affordable loan programs that allow individuals
    to borrow money to purchase AT.
  •  

7
Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs)
  • Assists Individuals in obtaining 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

8
Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology
Programs (PAATs)
  • Offers legal and advocacy services to assist
  • individuals with disabilities obtain assistive
    technology.
  • Works with numerous funding sources, including
    Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance companies,
    special education programs, and state vocational
    rehabilitation (VR) agencies.

9
Goals of the Statewide AT Programs
  • Increase access to and the acquisition of AT
    across all ages all disabilities in 4
    functional areas of life
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Community Living
  • Information Tech Telecommunications

10
Lead Agency Implementing Agency
  • Lead Agency
  • Controls and administers the funds made available
  • through the grant awarded to the state.
  • Implementing Agency
  • Carries out responsibilities under the Act
    through a
  • subcontract or another administrative agreement
  • with the Lead Agency.

11
State-Level Activities Core Activities
  • State Financing Systems (includes alternative
    finance programs)
  • Device Reutilization Programs
  • Device Loan Programs
  • Device Demonstration Programs

12
State Leadership Activities
  • Training and Technical Assistance
  • Transition Assistance
  • Public Awareness
  • Coordination Collaboration

13
Statewide AT Program Requirements
  • Statewide
  • The program must geographically reach the entire
    state
  • Comprehensive
  • The program must serve all disability types and
    AT needs

14
Statewide AT Program Requirements
  • Advisory Council
  • Provides consumer responsive, consumer
    driven advice to plan, implement, and evaluate
    state program.
  • State Plan
  • Outlines three year plan for services
    developed with input from Advisory Council.
  • Data Collection
  • Annual collecting and reporting of data on
    activities.
  • Program Review
  • Verifies state program is conducting program
    consistent with intent of AT Act.

15
Program PlanningUse of Funds
  • At least 60 of funds must support State Level
    Activities.
  • States can claim flexibility and use 70 of
    funds to carry out only two or more State Level
    Activities
  • States can claim comparability for a particular
    State Level Activity if that service is already
    performed by another in the state.
  • At least 5 of funds used for State Leadership
    Activities must be spent on Transition Activities.

16
Restrictions
  • Funds cannot be used for direct payment of an AT
    device.
  • Supplement vs Supplant - Funds cannot be used to
    supplant (take the place of) other federal
    funding required to provide service/ device.
  • Activities carried out in state must comply with
    Section 508 standards.

17
Additional Points of Information
  • Sunset provision has been eliminated.
  • Program was authorized for 6 years (2005-2010)
    therefore, reauthorization is long overdue.
  • Federal and State agencies are not authorized to
    reduce medical or other assistance or alter
    eligibility for a benefit or service under any
    federal law as a result of the AT Act.

18
Additional Points Continued
  • Program now operates with formula-based funding.
  • AT Act authorizes a minimum award of 410,000 for
    state grants programs. Some Statewide AT
    Programs funded under the AT Act receive a grant
    award below the minimum provided under the
    statute (410,000 for states and 125,000 for
    territories).

19
Additional Points Continued
  • Indirect costs are limited to no more than 10 of
    each states grant award.
  • Many State AT Programs have successfully
    leveraged additional state, federal and private
    funds which has enabled them to expand programs
    and provide additional AT-related services to
    individuals with disabilities.

20
Section 6 of AT ActNational AT Programs and
Resources
  • RESNA Catalyst Project -National Technical
    Assistance Project for all AT Act Entities
    (Statewide, AFP, Telework, PAATs)
    www.resnaproject.org
  • Center for Assistive Technology Act Data
    Assistance (CATADA) National Technical Assistance
    for Data Collection and Reporting Data
  • ATconnects.org-National Public Internet Site
    www.ATconnects.org

21
  • For more information contact
  • RESNA Catalyst Project1700 North Moore Street,
    Suite 1540Arlington, VA 22209-1903Phone
    703/524-6686  Fax 703/524-6630  TTY
    703/524-6639Email Catalyst_at_resna.org 
  • Website http//www.resnaprojects.org/
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