NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONFERENCE

2012

THE 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

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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

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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

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Assistive Technology Devices

The term ‘assistive technology device’ means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired

commercially, modified, orcustomized, that is used to increase,

maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with

disabilities. (The AT Act of 1998, as amended in 2004)

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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)

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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In 1998, the Tech Act was repealed and the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act) was authorized.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.

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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. 

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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).

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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.

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AT Act ProgramsFormula Grants administered by RSA

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.

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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”

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)

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Statewide AT Programs

AT Act Programs

AT Act Requires State Leadership Activities (no more than 40 percent)

Training and technical assistancePublic awareness, including

information and referralCoordination and collaborationTransition (school-based and/or

community-based)

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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.  

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2011 DataState-level Activities Number of Individuals

ServedState Financing activity 4,736Reutilization of devices 31,577Device Loans 33,823Device Demos 53,487

State-leadership Activities:Training 108,047 Information & Assistance 1,143,802 AFP (loans) 1,320Telework (loans) 118

Grand Total served 1,376,910

(Public awareness reached an estimated 84 million people)

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Collaboration between AT Act Entities and VR

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Statewide AT Act Programs who’s Lead Agency is VR

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VR Collaboration Survey Results

Does your AT program coordinate or collaborate with VR in your state?

Percent Number of responsesYes 90.0 27No 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 responsesYes 38.5 10 No 61.5 16

(Statewide AT Program/VR Collaboration 2012, RESNA February 2012)

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Survey Results, Cont’d.

Does your AT program have a formal agreement with VR that includes receiving funds from VR?

PercentNumber of responsesNo 65.5 19Yes 34.5 10

Does your AT program collect data in the area of coordination/collaboration with VR?

PercentNumber of responsesYes 69 20No 31 9

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Publication

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SMALL INVESTMENTS –

BIG SAVINGS

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.

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CASE STUDY ONE

Remote AT Training and Consultation Services:

Assistive Technology of Alaska’s “TeleAT” Saves Money for Alaska’s State Vocational Rehab Agency

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Calculating the Savings

Year # of Clients Trained

Cost for On-site Training

Cost for Distance Training (Bomgar)

Savings to VR Using Distance Training

Year One 6 $5,500 $3,063 $2,437

Year Two 9 $9,000 $600 $8,400

Year Three 18 $18,000 $600 $17,400

Year Four 25 $25,000 $600 $24,400

TOTALS 58 $57,500 $5,463 $52,637

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CASE STUDY TWO

“Try before You Buy” Device Loan Program: Connecticut

Tech Act Project Saves Money for Connecticut

Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

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YEAR # Clients AT Met Client’s Need

% AT Did Not Meet Client’s Need

% Client Tried Different AT

Cost Savings

2012 16 7 44% 4 25% 2 $2429

2011 15 11 73% 5 33% 1 $2979

2010 8 3 37% 5 62% 1 $499

TOTAL 39 21 54% 14 36% 4 $5907

Try Before You Buy Cost Savings Data

CASE STUDY THREE

“Pennsylvania’s Assistive Technology Financing

Opportunities Gets People To Work”

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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

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AT for Employer/Business Web Portal

www.atconnects/employers.com

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Summing up the benefits of

partnering with AT Act Entities

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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

Links

RESNA Catalyst Projecthttp://www.resnaprojects.org/

Department of Education AT website http://www2.ed.gov/programs/atsg/index.html

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Thank you!Contact Information:

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Paul Galonsky pgalonsky@resna.org703-524-6686

Brian Bardbrian.bard@ed.gov 202-245-7345