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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP

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What is assistive technology?

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It's a general term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for individuals who have disabilities. These devices help create opportunities for more independence by helping people perform tasks they wouldn't have otherwise been able to accomplish. These devices also help facilitate communication.

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How do I know which assistive technology is appropriate?

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If your child isn't making progress with their speech therapy or their behaviors have increased because they aren't able to express what is wrong, these are some good reasons to look into AT. If your child is of school age, you can talk to your schools speech therapist and request (in writing) for your child to be evaluated by the school district. A word of caution if you hear a speech therapist say, " let's see how  your child does with the speech program or some other explanation to wait. There are some professionals who hold a personal belief that AT devices hinder speech. If your child needs a new way to communicate or their behaviors are escalating and you get push back from your school's speech therapist, seek an outside evaluator.

 

Many schools outsource this service to the IU's. If your child is not of school age or you want to be able to have more input as to the type of AT device your child gets, then you can outsource this to a qualified provider. It will take more legwork on your part to submit paperwork for borrowing one.

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One difference between getting an AT device privately is that there is flexibility with trialing AT devices and programs. The IU usually will go the full 6-8 weeks even if the device isn't working for the child.  This process can unnecessarily prolong the child getting the technology he/she needs if the correct device isn't picked from the start. Also getting an AT device through school, the device belongs to the school not your child.

 

Below are a list of qualified providers to get started.  You will need to trial several programs both electronically and non-technical forms of communication like PECs. The provider should supply you with forms to "try before you buy" an AT device with a recommended program. Each trial usually take several weeks. When you find a program that works best for your child, then the provider will help you go through the insurance company to purchase an AT device. If not, you can try another recommended device/program until your child finds one that fits his/her communication needs. 

 

​Ask the provider about he SETT Process (Student Environment Tasks to be done and Tools to achieve tasks. It's an assessment tool that determines a student's strengths and weaknesses in different settings. It helps determine products and strategies to help address the student's needs.

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Here's a downloadable comprehensive PowerPoint presentation that includes the most common AT and more information about SETT.

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Evaluators

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Good Shepherd Rehabilitation has an Assistive Technology Department has assistance in these areas Augmentative and Alternative Communication ( AAC), Adaptive Computer Hardware / Software, EADLs (Environment Control System Aids for Daily Living), Adaptive Wheelchair Seating and Mobility and Switch-Adapted Toys, mobile technology. They also teach typing skills.

Where: Health & Technology Center, 850 S. 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18103

Call: 1-888-44-REHAB (73422)

Website: www.goodshepherdpediatrics.org

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Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, start, and maintain employment. Your local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation can arrange for a free evaluation of your assistive technology needs. Your local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, including the Bureau of Blind and Visual Services, can also help you to choose and to get the assistive technology that is recommended by the evaluation. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation must provide assistive technology needed for an employment outcome even if you can get the assistive technology elsewhere. Based upon your financial resources, you may have to pay for part of the cost of assistive technology devices and services. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation may provide assistance to

employers who make workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities. You have the right to file an appeal if you disagree with a decision made by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. There are deadlines to file an appeal. The Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program helps individuals with appeals and other issues concerning the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The telephone number for the Client Assistance Program is 215-557-7221 or 888-745-2357. www.equalemployment.org

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Valley Therapeutics

Your child will be evaluated for assistive technology and matched up with a device. Easy intake process. See website for list of insurances accepted.

Coopersburg Office: 551 E. Station Avenue, Coopersburg, PA 18036

Phone: 484-863-9220

Emmaus Office: 431 Chestnut Street, Emmaus, PA 18049
Phone: 484-863-9220

Website: http://www.valley-family.com/

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Assistive Technology Resource Centers

 

The Advocacy Alliance

The Eastern PA Health Care Quality Unit's iPad Lending Library is a FREE service that loans iPads to be used as assistive technology devices. This service is available to individuals with developmental disabilities who reside in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Pike Counties. The iPad will be made available to you at your location within 4 business days of the receipt of your library request form and be on loan for 4 weeks. East iPad is equipped with the following applications to enhance communication:

Speak it! Text to Speech, Touch Chat, iCommunicate, I Can Speak, Taps Speak Choice, MyTalkTools, and Proloquo2Go.

Where: 744 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

​Call: (610) 435-9050

Contact: Heather Coleman

Email:  info@theadvocacyalliance.org

Website: http://www.theadvocacyalliance.org/Contact/contact.html

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The Arc of Luzerne County

Serves Luzerne, Schuykill, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe and Carbon counties.

Contact: Valerie Cameron

Call: 570-763-5920

Email:vcameron@arcluzerne.org

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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)

Mission: To provide education and financing opportunities for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. They offer low interest loans to purchase the equipment and software. The Mini-Loan program offers loans to pay for hearing aids, portable ramps, flashing fire alarms, manual wheelchairs, computers and tablets with specialized software, scooters, batteries and chargers, and environmental controls. It's available to all ages, all incomes and all disabilities.

Where: 1004 West 9th Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Call: 888-744-1938

Email: PATF@patf.us

Website: www.patf.us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaATF/

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Temple University

Assistive Technology Lending Library-Pennsylania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) is a program of the Institute on Disabilities, Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service at Temple University and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the AT Act of 1998, as amended. PA's AT Lending Library is supported by state and federal funds, and contributions from users.

Where: Institute on Disabilities, 1755 N 13th Street, Room 411S, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Voice: 800-204-7428
TTY: 866-268-0579

Email: atlend@temple.edu

Website: http://www.disabilities.temple.edu/tech/

 

FOR PARENTS:

What is LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning?

LAMP is an AAC technology specifically designed for individuals with Autism.

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©2017 Autism Speaks Inc has a web page resource guide to assistive technology

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/assistive-technology

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Assistive technology under the IDEA 2004 law.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

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The Center on Technology and Disability Parent Resource Portal has webinars and resources that are relevant to your child's needs.   http://www.ctdinstitute.org/area/families

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What does the law say about Accessible Instructional Materials?

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter14/s14.106.html

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The Peal Center has a web page devoted to resources relating to Assistive Technology.

http://www.pealcenter.org/help-assistive_tech.php

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Mom's with Apps Blog

Was created by four moms who were developing family-friendly apps and connected over Twitter in November of 2009. The blog supports the thoughtful use of technology with a family-friendly point of view. Go to http://blog.momswithapps.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momswithapps

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Families at the Forefront of Technology (FFT)

Their story on Woman's Day: http://www.womansday.com/life/a59040/mother-of-invention/

Website: http://www.familiesforefront.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesForefrontTechnology/

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FOR PROFESSIONALS:

 

​Ideas on how to use assistive technology in the Classroom

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Assistive technology in the Classroom

 

The Center on Technology and Disability Teacher Resource Portal has webinars and resources that are relevant to teachers.

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The Arc's Tech Toolbox™ is a place to find, share, rate and review technology for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). There are already over 500 apps and devices listed. You can also read stories of how people have used each product and their view of the product's strengths and weaknesses. 

Website: https://toolbox.thearc.org/

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How can I get AT funded in the state of Pennsylvania?

The Assistive Technology must be considered a medical necessity and prior authorization may be required. Some primary insurances might cover the cost but if not, medical assistance or Medicaid will cover the cost. Here is a downloadable document about funding Augmentative Communication Devices from the Disability Rights Network.

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Appealing to Medical Assistance: All decisions regarding your Medical Assistance, including assistive technology, must be given to you in writing. If you disagree with a decision, if you do not get a written decision, or if the Department of Public Welfare or managed care health plan fails to act within a reasonable amount of time, you have the right to file an appeal with the Department of Public Welfare and ask for a fair hearing. If you are in a Medical Assistance managed care health plan, you also have the right to file a grievance or a complaint with the health plan. There are deadlines to make your appeal and to file your grievance or complaint. Read carefully all letters provided to

you, and meet all deadlines.

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PASS program through the Social Security Administration Under the Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS), a person on SSI can set aside income, other than SSI, to pay for items or service s needed to achieve a specific work goal. The money or assets set aside will not count against the person’s eligibility for SSI or SSI check amount. For example, money can be set aside to pay for items needed to help the person get to and from work and to do his or her job at work. This can include assistive technology devices and services. A person can also set aside 12 money for installment payments. Social Security does not pay for the assistive technology device or service. The person on SSI pa

ys for the items or services from the money set aside under the PASS. For more information, please contact Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (a service of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania): 800-692-7443 (voice) or 877-375-7139 (TTY).

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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)

Mission: To provide education and financing opportunities for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. Loans and mini-grant programs cover hearing aids, portable ramps, flashing fire alarms, manual wheelchairs, computers and tablets with specialized software, scooters, batteries and chargers, and environmental controls. It's available to all ages, all incomes and all disabilities.

"How Waiver Participants Enrolled in Community HealthChoices Can Access Assistive Technology.”

NEW Funding Your Assistive Technology Guide

Where: 1004 West 9th Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Call: Rebecca Strobel, LVCIL Community Support Coordinator, at 610-770-9781 x153

Email: rebeccastrobel@lvcil.org

Website: www.patf.us or https://patf.us/what-we-do/financial-loans/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaATF/

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Area Agency on Aging

Your local Area Agency on Aging may pay for home modifications and durable medical equipment, medical supplies, and assistive devices. You must be age 60 or older to qualify. All other resources must be exhausted before an Area Agency on Aging will pay for the assistive technology. Please contact your local Area Agency on Aging, or contact Pennsylvania’s Department of Aging at (717) 783-6207 (voice). The website is: www.aging.state.pa.us

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Telecommunication Device Distribution Program

Pennsylvania’s Telecommunication Device Distribution Program provides specialized telecommunication devices for free to persons with disabilities. A telecommunication device is equipment needed by a person with a disability so that he or she can communicate by wire or radio with another person. Devices provided include TTY, voice carry over telephone, CapTel telephone, in-line amplifier, voice activated dialer, talking telephone, photo telephone, and many other devices. To qualify for the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program, you must:

1. Have an individual gross income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level. (In 2010, 200% of the federal poverty level for an individual is about $21,660.)

2. Be six years of age or older; and

3. Have one of the following disabilities certified by a licensed doctor, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, or qualified State agency: deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing; hearing loss or speech impairment; or have a disability and require technology to use telecommunication equipment independently. For more information, please call 800-204-7428 (toll free voice) or 866-268-0579 (TTY).

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PA ABLE Savings Program

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​Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), a part of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, may help you find other sources of funding. The telephone number is 800-204-7428 (toll free voice) or 866-268-0579 (TTY).

Website: https://techowlpa.org/center/piat/

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​​The Recycled Equipment Exchange Program is a classified listing of used assistive technology devices offered for sale or for free. For more information, please contact Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology at 800-204-7428 (toll free voice) or 866-268-0579 (TTY).

Website: https://techowlpa.org/reep/

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