Accessing Potential through Assistive Technology (APTAT)

Initiative Description

In FY 2022 STAR partnered with the ADRS Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (RE&AT) program to utilize their assistive technology expertise to perform several of the activities which resulted in the formation of the Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology (APTAT) project. The RE&AT program provided a Rehabilitation Engineer who dedicated half of their time to planning, developing, and implementing the activities. Funding for their time was compensated through Tech Act monies. Through APTAT the public awareness, short term device loans, and training activities were fulfilled. As much as possible, APTAT also assisted with information and referral, technical assistance, and device demonstration. APTAT leveraged funding from ADRS Vocational Rehabilitation to purchase equipment for the lending library and also collaborated with ALS Association of Alabama to receive in-kind donations of equipment. Key participants that benefited from the performed activities include individuals from disability organizations, professionals in healthcare, and assistive technology evaluators for local education agencies.

Lessons Learned/Replication

A webinar series was established to provide remote AT training for participants statewide. Webinars were posted to a newly established YouTube channel for participants to reference in the future. APTAT also fulfilled training requests from conferences, workshops, and organizations. In total, APTAT provided 23 trainings that reached 472 participants statewide. APTAT re-established the short-term device loan program by acquiring a space for a loan closet, leveraging funding, collaborating for in-kind donations, and establishing a shipping and receiving process. As a result 160+ items were added to the inventory and we fulfilled loan requests from all major regions of the state. Vocational Rehabilitation was a key partner in this activity by assisting with additional funding and space. APTAT updated the StarTraining.org website, sent e-newsletters, developed Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages, and attended conference events to increase awareness of the activities to increase knowledge and access to assistive technology. Special effort was also made during trainings to mention the lending library in an effort to bring awareness. As a result of the activities APTAT performed awareness of the Tech Act program increased and we've received several inquiries for future partnerships. The success of the activities was a result of collaborative efforts with Vocational Rehabilitation and the combined knowledge and expertise of the RE&AT program. We were also able to tap into the network that the RE&AT program already had established with organizations across the state. Through this collaboration we confirmed that it is difficult to perform the activities adequately with limited staff and funding. For future collaborations it is advised to provide more guidance and understanding of the Tech Act upfront to partners and ensure that appropriate funding is provided for the activities. Moving forward APTAT will continue to perform activities of the Tech Act grant and with additional resources (funding, space, staff) will expect to expand their services.   

Year of Implementation

2022

State

Alabama

Initiative contact information

Ashley McLeroy
Ashley.McLeroy@rehab.Alabama.gov