AT4ALL Assistive Technology for All AT4ALL Assistive Technology for All Nebraska’s Exchange Program National Reuse Conference: May 8-10, 2006 “Won’t You Be Our Partner?”

History  Assistive Technology Partnership (vs. Project)  Established REEL in 1992 (Recycled Equipment Exchange Listing) History  Assistive Technology Partnership (vs. Project)  Established REEL in 1992 (Recycled Equipment Exchange Listing)

Technology …What a Concept

 Established TechConnectors which is now AT4ALL  Encourage direct participation of consumer and other programs  Avoid a central program model  Wanted to “be a repository of information – not a depository of equipment”  Established TechConnectors which is now AT4ALL  Encourage direct participation of consumer and other programs  Avoid a central program model  Wanted to “be a repository of information – not a depository of equipment”

 Features for consumers  Pictures of devices, URL to manufacturer of device, links to programs or other consumers listing equipment, reminders when items were due for return or when listing will expire, “ bookmark ” items when searching for equipment  Features for programs  Add consumers who did not have addresses, print out loan forms, print customized reports, d uplicate an entry for multiple items, bar coding capability, reminders of overdue items  508 Compliant  Features for consumers  Pictures of devices, URL to manufacturer of device, links to programs or other consumers listing equipment, reminders when items were due for return or when listing will expire, “ bookmark ” items when searching for equipment  Features for programs  Add consumers who did not have addresses, print out loan forms, print customized reports, d uplicate an entry for multiple items, bar coding capability, reminders of overdue items  508 Compliant

Task Bar Menu Main Content Box Searc h

Land of “Possibilities” (Not Make Believe) Our goals  Seamless service/one stop resource for consumer – reutilization/loans/demos  General public involvement  Increased partner participation  Inclusion of other states  Ability to grow/flexibility of site  Tracking information for easy data reporting  Systems change

“Would you be mine …?”  Identified programs involved in recycling, loan, and demo programs  Existing community programs  Faith-based, non-profit  Disability-related organizations  Existing state/federal agencies  NCDHH, NCBVI  Veterans organizations  Identified programs involved in recycling, loan, and demo programs  Existing community programs  Faith-based, non-profit  Disability-related organizations  Existing state/federal agencies  NCDHH, NCBVI  Veterans organizations

Incentives

“Could you be mine …?”  Incentives for Programs included:  Access to resources/sharing of resources  Cost savings  Reporting accuracy  Loan closet “buy out” - potential to work with Medicaid for funding items in loaner pool  Survey of Programs  Needs  Time  Money  Incentives for Programs included:  Access to resources/sharing of resources  Cost savings  Reporting accuracy  Loan closet “buy out” - potential to work with Medicaid for funding items in loaner pool  Survey of Programs  Needs  Time  Money

“Could you be mine …?” Solution  Request for Proposals (RFPs)/Mini-grants  1-year grant period  Maximum of $5,000  Funding Source  Federal Tech Act Dollars  $40,000 Solution  Request for Proposals (RFPs)/Mini-grants  1-year grant period  Maximum of $5,000  Funding Source  Federal Tech Act Dollars  $40,000

RFP/Mini-Grants Eligible Activities  Upgrading current or purchasing new computer equipment to utilize the website  Support staff to input & update inventory in the website throughout the 1-year grant period (or costs associated with importing data through web developer)  Support costs associated with internet access  Marketing materials and efforts  Operational costs including purchasing equipment to expand inventory, refurbishing costs, transportation costs, mailing equipment Eligible Activities  Upgrading current or purchasing new computer equipment to utilize the website  Support staff to input & update inventory in the website throughout the 1-year grant period (or costs associated with importing data through web developer)  Support costs associated with internet access  Marketing materials and efforts  Operational costs including purchasing equipment to expand inventory, refurbishing costs, transportation costs, mailing equipment

RFP/Mini-Grants Project Requirements  Key personnel to participate in training session on use of website  Inventory must be listed and maintained  Marketing materials must be distributed and include information about program participation with  Program agrees to participate in any publications, etc., that may be released to the media for the purposes of promoting the website  Key personnel to participate in focus/exit meeting Project Requirements  Key personnel to participate in training session on use of website  Inventory must be listed and maintained  Marketing materials must be distributed and include information about program participation with  Program agrees to participate in any publications, etc., that may be released to the media for the purposes of promoting the website  Key personnel to participate in focus/exit meeting

RFP/Mini-Grants Process  Public notice  30-Day application period  Applications reviewed and scored by ATP staff and Advisory Council Members Process  Public notice  30-Day application period  Applications reviewed and scored by ATP staff and Advisory Council Members

RFP/Mini-Grants In 2005  Sent out approximately 35 packets  Received 3 applications  Approved all 3  Outcomes  Increased available inventory on website from 471 items to 2435 items  Increased the number of hits to the website from 1060 to 7098  Increased marketing to areas/groups may have had difficulty reaching In 2005  Sent out approximately 35 packets  Received 3 applications  Approved all 3  Outcomes  Increased available inventory on website from 471 items to 2435 items  Increased the number of hits to the website from 1060 to 7098  Increased marketing to areas/groups may have had difficulty reaching

RFP/Mini-Grants In 2005  Challenges  New idea  Identifying programs  Encouraging programs to participate (sharing is good)  Technology  Outcomes  All 3 programs are participating (some delays)  Because of delays only have reporting from 2 of 3 programs  Positive comments on usability  Training  Increase/decrease in number of loans made  Marketing occurring through all 3 programs  2 programs used money to purchase additional equipment In 2005  Challenges  New idea  Identifying programs  Encouraging programs to participate (sharing is good)  Technology  Outcomes  All 3 programs are participating (some delays)  Because of delays only have reporting from 2 of 3 programs  Positive comments on usability  Training  Increase/decrease in number of loans made  Marketing occurring through all 3 programs  2 programs used money to purchase additional equipment

RFP/Mini-Grants In 2006  to 19 programs with reminders, form in electronic format on ATP website & AT4ALL website  Received 3 applications, approved 2  Challenges  Identifying programs  Encouraging program participation  Future goals  Identify small loan closets (churches, VFW, etc.)  Schools  Disability-related organizations  State programs - neighboring states In 2006  to 19 programs with reminders, form in electronic format on ATP website & AT4ALL website  Received 3 applications, approved 2  Challenges  Identifying programs  Encouraging program participation  Future goals  Identify small loan closets (churches, VFW, etc.)  Schools  Disability-related organizations  State programs - neighboring states

AT4ALL Neighborhood

“Won’t You Be Our Partner?”  Website     Contacts  Lisa Oberg, ATP Omaha (402) /1923  Patti Neill, ATP Cozad/NEAT (308)  Website     Contacts  Lisa Oberg, ATP Omaha (402) /1923  Patti Neill, ATP Cozad/NEAT (308)