Assistive Technology

The authors advise Congress on how to meet the growing demand for long-term care and cope with rising health care costs by supporting HCBS. The main recommendations are: promote care coordination and disease prevention; strengthen the nonprofit home health nurse workforce; and ensure the financial viability of home-based care.

The Easter Seals Project ACTION commissioned this report to make the use of mobility devices in transportation safer and easier. A diverse advisory group used several research methods to create best practices in vehicle and equipment design, wheelchair design and usage, transit operations and training, and policy. The appendices provide links to regulatory sources and sample brochures. Riders, manufacturers, transit operators, researchers, and policymakers may all find this useful.

Wisconsin Pathways to Independence convened a series of symposia to improve the process of maintenance and repair (M&R) for mobility assistive technology (AT) and its effects on outcomes such as employment. The symposium report presents current knowledge and sums up future objectives. The mobility survey reports on user experience and employment outcomes. Finally, the current practices report analyzes the processes involved in M&R to identify aspects that increase complexity and time of repair.

Access Training helps therapists and support professionals to improve skills in assessing the assistive technology (AT) needs of persons with disabilities. This document reports on the project's accomplishments in 2006, namely two major training events. One focused on serving people with mobility needs, the other on people with sensory and learning disabilities.

This resource guide was developed to help CILs: 1. understand specific needs and problems that are unique to older persons as they age, 2. understand the network of aging organizations including their organizational structure and funding sources, 3. help identify ways to network with these established “aging” agencies and 4. locate and tap into some of the monies that are available for “senior” programs. The guide has 13 sections covering topics from assistive technology to collaboration ideas.

Each year, nearly 100,000 Mississippians receive services from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. The expansion of programs and comprehensive assistive technology services is bringing to life a vision that people with disabilities will have the necessary skills and opportunities to be productive participants in the workplaces of the 21st century. The website offers information on benefits planning, vocational rehabilitation assistance and much more.

The Town of Littleton, NH has received a $270,000, three-year grant through the Real Choice Systems Change to develop and maintain an infrastructure for the removal of barriers preventing persons who are aging and others with disabilities from fully participating in community life. This document includes a description of the grant and a power point presentation that outlines details and challenges in the development of this Model Community.