hits and misses of accessing assistive technology in schools … 2013... · 2015-08-11 · hits and...

Hits and Misses of Accessing Assistive Technology

in Schools through Reuse

Session Code: EDU-07

1 January 31, 2013 | 1:15 pm

Carolyn Phillips

Liz Persaud

Sharon Alderman

Amber Fulcher

Thank you for attending this session

• CEUs – Session Code: EDU-07 • More info at: www.atia.org/CEU

• For ACVREP, AOTA and ASHA CEUs, hand in completed Attendance Forms to the REGISTRATION DESK at the end of the conference. Please note there is a $15 fee for AOTA CEUs.

• For general CEUs, apply online with The AAC Institute at www.aacinstitute.org

• Session Evaluation • Please help us improve the quality of our conference by completing your

session evaluation form.

• Completed evaluation forms should be submitted as you exit or to staff at the registration desk.

• Handouts • Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

• Handout link remains live for three months after the conference ends.

2

http://www.atia.org/CEU

http://www.aacinstitute.org/

http://www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

Learning Objectives

Develop a general understanding of assistive technology

reutilization as an interim solution or a means of providing

timely assignment of a permanent device needed by a

student.

Identify and understand the governmental and/or

organizational obstacles to sharing unused equipment and

the business case for overcoming those structural barriers.

Explore existing models of AT reuse in schools that can be

replicated and expanded to increase access to needed

technology.

3 Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

AT REUSE

• Federally-funded AT Act Programs • In every state and territory

• Reutilization is a mandated activity

• Nonprofit organizations • Many that offer services to people with disabilities also

reutilize AT

• Sometimes partner with AT Act Programs

• Informal community groups

4

Assistive Technology Reuse Closes the Gap By:

• Allowing trials for possible solutions – buy only when it

works

• Providing interim equipment while waiting for the

permanent solution

• Providing permanent solutions where no funding is

available for new devices

• Providing duplicate devices in warranted situations:

Jack’s Story

• Replacing equipment lost in disasters: personal and

state-wide

5

Assistive Technology and Strained Resources

• Schools are obligated to provide an AT device when it is

identified in a student’s IEP or by state grant requirements.

• Education budgets are suffering additional strain from the

economy, especially unemployment and declining home

ownership (with property taxes as a primary support of schools in

some states).

• Circumstances sometimes warrant duplicated devices at home

and school. Most often that is not funded.


What Is Your Experience?

• School

• AT Act Program

• AT Reuse Program

• Schools (K-12, Higher Ed.)

• Are you currently doing AT Reuse in Schools?

• How?

• What kind?

• Who’s involved?

• What are your barriers?

7

Types of AT Reuse Activities

• Loan

• Exchange

• Refurbishing

• Reassignment

• Recycling

• Remanufacturing

8

New England Takes the Lead

Starting a School Exchange

In 2007, the NE programs collaborated to create

the regional Community AT Exchange www.getATstuff.com

FYs 08-12 – over $$$ 2,414,680 “saved” by consumers

on the web-site alone


http://www.getatstuff.com/

Teamwork!

New England States Build on Success

CT created

the AT School Swap site

and logo

Mass Match has implemented AT School Share

and provided web-site revisions via The Shapiro Grant

Maine gave us inspiration

and OT expertise

Launched VT AT School Exchange 2008

with 47 of 64 SUs/SDs participating by 2012

Step 1: Identifying the Need

Survey of potential school users:

Connecticut: survey results were encouraging

Maine: State Special Education Directors Conference,

90% would use an AT Swap site

Vermont: 86% of Supervisory Unions/Districts said they

would be willing to share AT


Step 1: Identifying the Need

Conferences, webinars and presentations with

stakeholders at the table:

State Dept. of Education

State Special Education Directors

State Special Education Advisory Council

OTs, PTs, SLPs

University Special Ed and General Ed Faculty



Barriers To

School Reuse ? • District boundaries and concern about

use of local taxes

• Restrictions imposed by funding sources;

Federal, Local Organizations, Medicaid

• Lack of readily available information

about needs and equipment availability

• Balancing limited time vs. limited funds to

facilitate state exchanges and transport

• What is your experience?

Step 2 – Creating a Model Program

Connecticut AT Act Program used getATstuff.com

• to create and implement an exchange site for schools only

• and a Demonstration Site: log in – demo, demo

http://demoatss.cttechact.com/exchange/school/login.php

• Created to track inventory and make unused equipment

available to other schools through loan or surplus

• CT called it AT School Swap and created a great LOGO







Step 3: Introducing AT School Swap in CT

• In Spring 2008, Connecticut introduced CT AT School Swap at a Professional Development Workshop to teams of education professionals.

• Teams were given an AT toolkit, a demonstration of AT

School Swap, and an opportunity to create an account.

• CT Shared all infrastructure with New England states. • The Vermont AT Reuse Coordinator attended. It was wonderful!

16

Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts


Overview of VT’s AT Reuse Project Structure

In Fall of 2007

VocRehab VT and VT Family Network Collaborated to

Hire a Coordinator to carry out visions for state and national

objectives

• Community Reuse Development Network

• Medicaid Equipment Reuse Project

• School Exchange Reuse Project


Step 3: Introducing AT School Swap in VT

• In August 2008, Vermont introduced AT School Swap (now

VT AT School Exchange) via e-mail invitation to all

Special Services Coordinators to attend multiple webinars

• Schools can: • Post “Available Items”, locate “Needed Items” or post a Needed Item

• Use a Toll Free phone # or e-mail for personal assistance. • to facilitate connection with national and local resources including community web-sites, PIOC

• VT Medicaid Reuse Program Items Available and vendors loan, refurbished or retail items

• associates informal state network of items available across local organizations

• 16 districts were participating one year later

• In 2012 - 47 of 64 SUs/SDs participate; have on-line accounts

• Additional Available Services, www.atp.vt.gov/get-at-stuff


http://www.passitoncenter.org/

http://www.atp.vt.gov/get-at-stuff






Step 3: Introducing AT School Swap MA

• In November 2008, Massachusetts introduced AT School Swap

(now called AT School Share)

• Shapiro Grant received in July 2010 for Boston pilot:

• For PT students to catalog and post devices to site

• To train school staff

• To develop online school AT kit for educators

• To develop a sustainability plan

• Schools can upload their AT inventory and make certain equipment they are

not using available to other Massachusetts schools or school systems.

• Schools can also use the AT School Share site to list their school system's

inventory without making equipment available for loan.

• Visit AT School Share

19


http://www.massmatch.org/school_swap/

Step 4: New England states look to improve

• The VT Web site alone was not widely used, yet remains a marketing tool for many successful school exchanges

• Web-Site enhancements were needed to

• make sites more relevant for school use

• by having a way to track device assignments

• to enhance an inventory management of all school AT

• MA received the Shapiro Grant in 2010 to develop the Web-Site - Visit AT School Share

• VT will try www.VT.AT4ALL.org with a one stop shop for VT AT Program device loans, as well.


http://www.massmatch.org/school_swap/

http://www.vt.at4all.org/

Step 4: Consider Concerns and Feedback

• Concern of school administrators over sharing on donating devices purchased with Federal or local tax dollars - VT hopes to share Memo soon

• Regulations affecting device reuse based on source of funding for original acquisition – Medicaid, Children with Special Health Needs (require return)

• Liability concerns – Info on the Pass It On Center Web-Site

• Staffing to maintain current inventory tracking – web-sites could assist

• Adequate device specification and/or description in listings to determine if it meets the prospective student’s needs – Education and FAQ’s

• Web-sites not currently used as hoped – improvements should show benefit

21





Lessons Learned

• School systems need a champion for participation.

• Schools need to identify resources to manage the initial and ongoing demands of inventory updating.

• The school exchange site (swap site) is more successful if ancillary services (training, education, toolkits, incentives, continued support, national resources (PIOC) are offered.

• The program gains momentum as more schools participate and resources increase.

• Departments of Education are interested in participation, when the value to schools is shown by consistent growth.

22


Cost to run a School Exchange Web-Site?

VT Example:

Original Conversion and population of State Schools - $1,000

AT4ALL- checking on recent cost ?

Web Hosting Annual fee $100 to $245

Phone Annual Fee - Toll Free Service $124

Marketing Annually - $400 mailing posters

Staffing .25 FTE to start, .10 to .25 FTE with > participation

Staffing .50 FTE in pre-Fall and Fall Back to School

Savings of over $30,000 and growing slowly, in a small state. 23


VT Documents upon request

• AT School Exchange Introduction Packet:

• Intro Poster, Intro Letter and VT Terms and Conditions

• Administrative Sign Up Sheet for Authorization of Web-Site Use

• Representative Posters - School Personnel to ID their Rep

• Monthly Newsletter Update – Current format to be redesigned


State of Vermont AT Reuse Project and Vermont Family Network _Doc Sample AT School Exchange Intro Letter

January 22, 2013

Dear Special Services/Education Administrators:

The Assistive Technology Reuse Project is pleased to offer a solution to facilitate sharing of technology and professional expertise. Many educators and administrators have indicated that surplus equipment in their schools could be used by other students and professionals. 47SUs/Districts are currently participating and we are still growing. Statewide and national connections are also accessed to meet your needs.

This free, secure web-site will facilitate increased capacity for professional and student access to assistive technology and information about existing technology. There is an opportunity to post all technology for loan, sale, donation including items currently in use and not available. We are looking for feedback regarding improvement of features of an on-line inventory that would be most helpful for you.

The www.Vermont.ATSchoolSwap.com was modeled after the New England AT Exchange community based web site www.getATstuff.com. You can peruse this community site to see how the school site operates. You can also try out the demo sites provided by the Connecticut AT Program.

Demo Sites:

http://demoatss.cttechact.com/exchange/school/login.php log in: demo, demo

Please contact me for registration information and with any questions you may have.

Scan and e-Mail or FAX the authorization form to 802-….. attention: Sharon and please confirm received

Thank you,

Sharon Alderman CONCERN:SPAM FILTERS - Note: Administrator Position changes

Please ADD to safe-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

http://vermont.atschoolswap.com/


mailto:[email protected]





PASS IT ON CENTER

Take advantage of our free resources to

support AT Reuse

31 Optimizing AT Resources in Schools

32

Questions?

Contact us

Carolyn Phillips

[email protected]

Liz Persaud

[email protected]

33

DISCLAIMER

Pass It On Center is supported under cooperative agreement #H235V060016 awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office

of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and is administered by Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act

Program, a program of the Alternative Media Access Center of The Georgia Institute for Technology (Georgia Tech.) However, the

contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the policy or opinions of the Department of Education or Georgia Tech, and

the reader should not assume endorsements of this document by the Federal government or Georgia Tech.

Sharon Alderman

VT AT Reuse Coordinator

[email protected]

Toll Free 888-827-2714

Amber Fulcher - VT AT Director

[email protected]



