Title: The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended
1 The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as
amended Statewide AT Programs
2This 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
3History 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)
4Purpose 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.
5AT Act Entities
- Statewide AT Programs
- Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs)
- Protection and Advocacy for AT Programs (PAATs)
6Statewide 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. - Â
7Alternative 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
8Protection 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.
9Goals 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
10Lead 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.
11State-Level Activities Core Activities
- State Financing Systems (includes alternative
finance programs) - Device Reutilization Programs
- Device Loan Programs
- Device Demonstration Programs
12State Leadership Activities
- Training and Technical Assistance
- Transition Assistance
- Public Awareness
- Coordination Collaboration
13Statewide AT Program Requirements
- Statewide
- The program must geographically reach the entire
state - Comprehensive
- The program must serve all disability types and
AT needs
14Statewide 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.
15Program 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.
16Restrictions
- 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.
17Additional 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.
18Additional 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).
19Additional 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.
20Section 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 Â Fax 703/524-6630 Â TTY
703/524-6639Email Catalyst_at_resna.org - Website http//www.resnaprojects.org/
-