Assistive Technology Award Program Detailed Program Outline

 Click here to go directly to the Assistive Technology Award Program Application

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of the Assistive Technology Award Community Outreach Program is to optimize the learning capabilities of students with disabilities through the purchase of specialized adaptive equipment. The program works with teachers, schools and families to identify an individual student’s specific educational needs, then provides funds to purchase assistive technology that will optimally address that need. Only those students who are classified as developmentally disabled, which include diagnoses such as all autism disorders, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and are enrolled in special education support from a school will be eligible to receive funding from the Assistive Technology Award Program. The program offers solutions to low-income families and students for specialized equipment that cannot be purchased through other public/private programs.

The program allows for personal ownership of equipment that will enhance learning capabilities, rather than loaned equipment. Program goals include:

• Lift disabled students to a higher learning plane and improve academic achievement, helping them keep pace with non-disabled peers
• Enhance quality of life and increase independence of disabled students
• Foster equality in schools and increase the success of inclusive environments
• Enable educators to proceed more efficiently through their annual education plan
• Raise parental morale by providing a local, expedient, efficient funding source.

Since its inception in 1999, the Assistive Technology Award program has awarded 240 students a combined total of $200,000 to purchase assistive technology to help them learn. This technology has included: laser light activated computers, communication boards, sound boards, hearing aides, specialized learning software, touch screens, braces for teeth and speech software, cleft palate operations, tape recorders, mobility gait trainer, brailier, hand/foot braces, van lifts, little fingers keyboard and alpha talker.  These devices have helped students communicate, listen, comprehend, write, complete homework, interact, travel and/or walkall of which are essential for learning. 

STATEMENT OF NEED

The majority of the local community’s investment plans prioritizes the local need to “enhance the physical and mental health of people through improved access to services and treatment.” The Plan specifically identifies the need to provide “access to services that will help stabilize the functioning” of people affected by chronic mental and/or physical health problems. The Arc Foundation’s Assistive Technology Award program is designed to provide access to equipment for students grades K-12 who fall through the cracks of normal funding streams. As recipient families tell other families challenged by disabilities about this funding source, the number of requests continues to grow. Financial support is needed to fill this growing need.

According to the National Council on Disability (NCD), school outcomes for disabled youth remain dramatically inferior to the achievements of their peers.

• More than 40% of secondary-aged students with disabilities do not attain a high school diploma
• Dropout rates for youth with disabilities are three to four times higher than dropout rates for youth without disabilities.
• As a result of this lack of education and other factors, people with disabilities are far less likely to find a job. Two-thirds of working-age people with disabilities are not working. The employment rate among people with disabilities has not increased in the last decade.

Assistive technology represents one of the most important modalities for enabling students with disabilities to participate and learn. Studies conducted by the NCD to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with assistive technology showed that one of the strongest benefits was time savings. Of 136 disabled persons surveyed, 48% reported saving an average of 16 hours a week in reading, writing, studying, or learning through the use of assistive technology. This savings allowed extra time for recreation, visiting family/friends and participating in community activities. When asked to estimate the impact of equipment on their quality of life on a scale from 1 to 10, respondents reported an increase from 3 to 8.4 points as a result of assistive technology.

It is clear that assistive technology enables disabled students to develop skills and relationships. The student's progress however, is dependent on that technology being available. A primary barrier is cost. Though health insurance has traditionally financed assistive devices that are medically necessary, it does not finance assistive technology needed for learning. The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities ranked technology needs as the third largest problem facing disabled people in Indiana. The problem is even greater for students in grades K-12. Public and private programs provide tremendous financial and service support for disabled people ages 0-8 and 18-seniors; however, there is a lack of equal support for the school-age years.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION OBJECTIVES

In previous years (annually in September), applications were sent to Special Education Directors, teachers or representatives of cooperatives of the school systems in the 16 counties that make up Easter Seals Arc's territory.  Please note:  beginning in September 2008, applications are not being sent to the school systems, but are only available to be printed from our website.  School systems can then distribute the applications to students who qualify.  Most often it is a coordinated effort between the teacher/therapist/parent/guardian for the completion of the application.  Applications returned to The Arc Foundation with a postmark deadline of December 31, 2009 Qualified completed applications include:

1. Parents/Guardian must complete and sign the application information to the best of their ability.  *Only one application and request per student.

2. Applicant must gain a written recommendation from a teacher/therapist that describes how this equipment will improve the lifestyle of the student and/or list previous use of similar equipment.

3. Parent/Guardian of student must provide up to one 8.5X11  (handwritten or typed) page of information that explains the circumstances surrounding their need of assistance for the purchase of the equipment.

4. Applicants must enclose specific item name, model number, and the prospective vendor’s name, address, and phone number.  *The Arc Foundation will not accept a request that totals over $1,000, due to lower funding levels.

5. Applicants must enclose a copy of their IEP or any other official document that declares the type of disability

6. Applicant must send this portion of the application along with any other supporting materials postmarked no later than December 31, 2008 to:

Each year, a Selection Committee created by the Arc Foundation is responsible for the overall stewardship of the Assistive Technology Award program. The Selection Committee is chaired by a member of the Arc Foundation’s Board of Directors.  It maintains members from Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana’s management, representatives from the school systems or similar private/public programs and other agencies.  The Selection Committee is responsible for general guidance, avoidance of service duplication, selection of the award winners, monitor the appropriate purchases, and evaluation.

The Selection Committee meets to review applications in the winter of each year and will only consider complete applications requesting specialized equipment not covered by other private/public programs. The criteria used to approve grants may include, but is not limited to: number of total dependents in household; primary/secondary weekly gross income; type and severity of disability; amount of request; type and cost of equipment; financial need as described in application, funding denials or partial payments and current outstanding medical bills. The guardian signature acts as a release to allow the Arc Foundation to contact school officials to gain specific information about the applicant. Grant recipients are approved in regular board meetings.  Written notification regarding requests are sent to recipients’ homes. Award checks are written directly to the vendor to pay for the family’s cost of purchasing the requested equipment.

PROJECT EVALUATION

Each year, Easter Seals Arc and its Arc Foundation’s staff and Selection Committee measure the success of the Assistive Technology Award program through regular communication with educators and parents and via an annual survey. The thresholds of quality include.

• Child who has mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities and who is enrolled in a public special education curriculums within the territory receives an application
• Educators are well informed and able to assist families in the submittal of the application
• Families are provided with information about new technology that can help their child learn
• Needed equipment is purchased and used to enhance the learning process
• Other sources are fully researched before a grant is awarded

At year-end, The Arc Foundation publishes an annual report with the results of the program and written comments about each threshold. The Arc Foundation also promotes annual results in newspapers, newsletters and by mail to major donors. Each year, application requirements are reviewed and changed as needed.

COLLABORATION/DUPLICATION

Both Easter Seals Arc and the Arc Foundation have a strong history of collaborating with other agencies to support the people we serve. To implement this program, the Arc Foundation gains support from every school system in Allen County and many in outlying counties. Over 300 teachers receive and distribute information to special education students and families. Turnstone Center for the Disabled, Anthony Wayne Services, and caseworkers from other agencies help substantiate the student’s need of the equipment requested.  Vendors provide discounts for equipment and create a purchase invoice required for the application.

The Selection Committee for the Assistive Technology Award program may include representatives from Turnstone Center for the Disabled, League for the Blind and Disabled, Partnership for Assistive Technology with Indiana Schools and special education administrative and education staff. To avoid service duplication, The Arc Foundation partners with other private and public causes that hold similar award programs. When appropriate, the Arc Foundation refers families to these other sources.

EXPANSION EXPLANATION

Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana became an Arc of Indiana affiliate in 1956 with a territory of Allen, Dekalb, Huntington, and Steuben Counties.  The organization also became an Easter Seals affiliated in 1999 and maintains a territory of Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Elkhart, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, St. Joseph, Wabash, Wells and Whitley Counties.  The organization has been very conservative in the creation of duplicate efforts when outreaching its facilities, staff, programs and/or services.  When doing so, it strives to communicate and cooperate with the local providers of people who have a disability.  Local Arc providers of people who have disabilities are aware of these outreach efforts of the assistive technology award program.  The Assistive Technology Award program; however, is proven to be wanted and needed by all counties involved

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1954 as a grass roots organization, ES Arc empowers people with disabilities to learn, live, work and play in our community. ES Arc’s mission was revised during 2007 to now read: “To provide support and encourage the fulfillment of dreams for people with diverse abilities and needs.” The agency’s 16-county service area includes Allen, Adams, Blackford, DeKalb, Elkhart, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, St. Joseph, Wabash, Wells and Whitley Counties. Each year, ES Arc serves 2,000 people who have some form of disability and their families. The agency’s wide range of programs enables it to serve all ages, from infants through retirement, as well as entire family units. Individuals with severe disabilities make up the fastest growing segment of ES Arc’s client population. All of the adults served and over 30% of families with children served meet federal poverty guidelines.

Though there are other organizations that serve the disabled, Easter Seals Arc has established the most comprehensive array of services for people with disabilities in Northeast Indiana. The goal of this comprehensive service system is to help individuals become as independent as possible. To achieve this, ES Arc hosts over 20 different core programs including a Child Development Center, Adult Day Care, Personal Development Center, Nursing Services, Healthy Families, respite programs, Alternative Families for Children and Adults, Semi-Independent Living, Medicaid 24-Hour Waiver, Targeted Case Management, Recreation, Day Habilitation, Affirmative Work, Work Crew, Supported Employment and Advocacy Programs. The agency will also continue operating eight group homes, a respite house and Medicaid Waiver apartments. Clients benefit from these programs/services by building relationships and skills, enjoying leisure activities, being integrated into the community, obtaining employment and becoming tax-paying citizens. These elements benefit the community by reducing tax-supported public services such as unemployment, welfare, health care and the judicial system while increasing local and wage tax provisions.