AT Reutilization

1
AT Reutilization Loan in Utah

• The Utah Assistive Technology Program
• Presenters
• Martin Blair, Project Director
• Heather Butikofer, State Coordinator

2
UATP and Utah

• UATP began operation in 1989
• 15 of 29 counties are frontier or sub-frontier
  (smaller than rural)
• 76 of population lives in 6 of total land area
• Most communities are IT connected

3
Barriers to Obtaining AT in Utah

• Where do we fit in the system
• Limited funding
• For example, the IL fund is exhausted by middle
  of its fiscal year
• Availability of devices
• Provider/user connection

4
Overcoming Barriers

• UATP asked by AT Council to
• Provide AT training, supports, and limited
  funding to ILCs.
• Collaborate with Access Utah Network (AUN)
• Statewide information and referral
• Online AT exchange
• Marketing/advertising
• Member of advisory board

5
Statewide Collaborations

• Independent Living Centers
• 6 main offices and 4 satellite offices located
  throughout the state
• Access Utah Network
• The Arc of Utah
• Utah Center for Assistive Technology
• Computer Center for Citizens with Disabilities
• Train approx. 80 educators throughout
• Utah Disability Law Center
• Disability Resource Centers
• Utah Assistive Technology Foundation
• Several others

6
Collaborating Agency Goals

• Get AT into hands of people w/disabilities in
  rural areas of UT
• Match correct AT with the correct person through
  short- and long-term loans

7
Fostering Statewide Agency Collaboration

• Grants 8 recipients include ILCs and
  University/College DRCs
• Data May August 2006
• Reutilized 5
• Loaned 16
• 18 people borrowed devices
• Demonstrated 112
• 104 people received device demonstrations
• Data September December 2006
• Reutilized 7
• Reutilized device value - 13,045
• Loaned 23
• 16 people borrowed devices
• Demonstrated 175
• 257people received device demonstrations

8
Media Attention 2004 to present

• Newspapers 10
• Newsletter/Magazines 9
• TV News 2

9
Fostering Statewide Agency Collaboration

• UATP and Shriners Hospital
• Two major AT donations in past year valued at
  170,000
• Distribute AT to agencies and organizations
  through state AT ends up in people hands

10
CREATE (Citizens REutilizing Assistive
Technology)

• Executive Committee Representatives UATP,
  ILCs, Access Utah Network, Utah Center for
  Assistive Technology
• Year 1 Plan
• Work with Voc Rehab and ILCs to refurbish and
  distribute equipment
• Focus on primary need Mobility equipment
• Establish policies procedures
• Gather data to use in pursuing funding
• After funding secures hire a full-time person
  to oversee the program
• Expand the CREATE Program to serve the entire
  state

11
CREATE Solutions

• Communication with disability orgs and people
  with disabilities
• Transportation easy to get AT into program,
  difficult to distribute
• Public not understanding what is available

12
Fostering Local Collaborations

• UATP AT Lab
• Student Projects
• People with disabilities and caregivers
• Hands-on-experience for students
• AT Lab Senior Volunteer
• Refurbished equipment donated to EI system
• Multiple customized pieces of AT (i.e. travel bed)

13
Fostering Local Collaborations

• Collaborations 2-way relationships
• Assisted Living/Nursing Homes
• UATP reutilizes AT for them
• They give UATP AT to reutilize and get back into
  the hand of people who need it
• Local Businesses
• Standers give UATP parts and equipment and refer
  people to us
• UATP allows Standers staff to work with students
  on brainstorming and developing new products
• Eagle Scout Projects
• The Eagle Scout completes his project
• UATP gains needed service

14
UATPs Role in AT Reutilization and Loan

• Support existing reutilization loan performed
  statewide
• Support and build upon existing reutilization and
  loan in local area
• Information sharing training
• Expertise support statewide and locally

15
Contact Us

• Heather Butikofer
• heather_at_cpd2.usu.edu or 435-797-7412
• Marty Blair
• martin.blair_at_usu.edu or 435-797-3886