DCATP Continues 'Technology First' Initative

Initiative Description

DC Assistive Technology Specialists and Program Manager serve on the Department on Disability Services work group to develop a "Technology First" initiative in the District of Columbia. This national movement endeavors to integrate "smart" technology into the lives of persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities to live independently as possible in their community, home, and workplace. AT Specialists provide ongoing technical assistance on the benefits of AT in this emerging support system. The major collaborating organizations are the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Rehabilitation Services Administration, DD Council, Georgetown UCEDD, Quality Trust, Project Action, The Center for Accessibility at the Martin Luther King Library, St. John's Community Services, RCM of Washington, Connect DC, Federal Communications and Disability Cocoon. The Teach First Initiative can expand into a district-wide initiative with the potential of developing partnerships with the Department of Aging and Community Living, the Department of Behavioral Health, and The District Department of Transportation. The funding to implement the initiative includes DDS Local and Federal Funding, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the Partnerships in Employment Grant (PIE).

DCATPs' demo center continues to purchase new emerging tech solutions to add to its lending library and make readily available for demonstration; the Department on Disability Services (DDS) has identified vendors that donated the latest emerging technology devices to the demo center. The tech solutions acquired will be utilized to spread awareness of impactful tech solutions amongst people with disabilities, family members, and service providers. DDS has brokered a relationship between Disability Developmental Administration (DDA) Service Coordination and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD ). Assistive Technology Services Waiver providers should ensure they utilize the AT Center to assist people with IDD and their support planning team with making informed decisions before acquiring tech. DCATP can expand its services to providers that serve clients with intellectual/developmental disabilities—in collaboration with DDS, the DCATP staff exhibited at the first 2023 Mayor's Disability Tech Summit. DCATP provided technical assistance by identifying technology vendors for this summit. Fifty (31) tech exhibitors and sixty (60) organizations offer services to persons with disabilities. This summit will be an annual event and reflects the collaboration among District Partners and the stakeholders' workgroup. Some considerations for replicating this initiative should include Assessing the current service delivery system to identify barriers that prevent people with w/IDD from accessing tech; Developing a task force, Council, or Work Group to identify core strategies and activities to advance the initiative; Marketing Strategy for stakeholder engagement and awareness; Achieve Mayoral support via Proclamation or Executive Order; Secure Grant Funding opportunities for innovation programs. DCATP staff demonstrated devices and apps that improve the function of individuals with disabilities (vision, mobility, speech/communication, and hearing). Over six hundred and fifty (650)  people attended the event.

Year of Implementation

2023

State

District of Columbia

Initiative contact information

Alicia Johns
ajohns@uls-dc.org