Initiative Description
NMTAP has partnered with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) of the NM Department of Health in a beta project to improve access and use of AT for participants. After many interactions and discussions with the DDSD staff on all levels, it became clearer that AT advances for persons receiving services was needed. DDSD funds were used to contract with a national agency, Tech First Shift, that specializes in a curriculum to shift the culture for services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Lessons Learned/Replication
While services provided to individuals on the DD Waiver, there seems to be a "business as usual" attitude even with some of the therapy services. An initiative was started within the DDSD Community Program Bureau started a pilot project with 9 service providers, 10 vendors of AT, and the NMTAP staff to increase the awareness and value of available AT for independence for waiver participants. This is a project which entails extensive training around a paradigm shift is extending into the next year but has already increased consciousness for all parties. It is anticipated that will lead to an ongoing project using AT services from NMTAP throughout the state.