National AT Act Entities Conference Washington, DC Dave Matheis, July 2014

 Experience of KATLC (Kentucky’s AFP)  Leadership of the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation  Emphasis at the federal level as an anti- poverty strategy  The obvious need of individuals with disabilities

 Kentucky Assistive Technology Loan Corporation  Began lending in summer of 2000  Have loaned more than $8.5 million  Fifth Third Bank as lending partner  60% of our loans are for hearing aids and 25% or for vehicles and/or vehicle modifications  Governing statute limits what KATLC can get involved in

 Instituted a Benefits Analysis Service fee for counselors to use when WIPAs were suspended  Well received by counselors who were now guaranteed of receiving the report to use as a counseling tool  Paid for 469 Benefits Plans in first full year of service  Preliminary data indicates rehabilitation rate of SSA Recipients who received a benefits analysis is 38% higher than those who didn’t

 Held on October 10 th,  To begin a dialogue and build a framework on how the asset-building community and disability community could work together to develop programs that stimulate economic self- sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.  Sponsors included KYOVR, Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA), Fifth Third Bank, KATLC, Center for Accessible Living, Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Kentucky SILC.

 Technical assistance provided by Southeast Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Center (Atlanta)  Attendees included representatives from various disability-related agencies and service providers, Louisville Metro Government, Bank on of Louisville and Lexington, IDA providers, and others  Got the conversation started  Created partnerships that that became the foundation for several collaborative initiatives

 Immediately following the Summit, TACE trained KYOVR’s 16 field managers and selected counselors in asset development and financial education  In the fall of 2013, KYOVR and TACE cooperated on a pilot to incorporate asset development into vocational rehabilitation counseling  Counselors in two selected districts received training and technical assistance from TACE to incorporate financial goals into two or three Individual Plans for Employment  Pilot is ending and results are being studied

 The SILC incorporated asset development activities into the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL)  KYOVR and SILC will conduct at least four regional asset development summits (in partnership with other state and local partners)  KYOVR, SILC and the state’s centers for independent living will work together on a Car Individual Development Account (IDA) with the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA)

 Partners with KDVA’s existing state-funded car IDA for domestic violence survivors  Participants must earn less than 200% of federal poverty level;  Unlike the federal AFI IDA, earned income is not required;  The savings match is 1:1 – participants save up to $2,000 and $2,000 will be earned in match;

 Participants are required to complete ‘Car Maintenance 101’ and a Car-IDA workbook;  Financial education and case management for participants are required;  Cars can be purchased outright or money can be used as down payment for a loan;  Pilot targets two rural areas of the state in far western Kentucky and northeastern Kentucky

 Since it is an independent living service, two CIL satellite offices are collaborating, developing IL goals for participants  KYOVR is funding the program with Social Security Reimbursement proceeds

 Partners include KYOVR, Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kentucky Asset Building Initiative (KASI), KATLC, KDVA, and SILC  Local partners include Bank On, local asset building coalitions, individual banks, and community action agencies  Owensboro in December of 2013 and Bowling Green in May of 2014  Plans for Ashland in October

 The Institute on Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Has selected Kentucky as one of two states (along with Minnesota) for a project to provide enhanced services to 500 individuals who are SSDI recipients  As part of model being tested, VR counselor, benefits planner (CWIC) and job placement provider must work as a team to provide just-in-time services  Financial education and planning will be a vital part of the service model  Developing a financial assessment tool and a directory of resources for the project

 Have developed a partnership with Louisville Metro Community Services in the Louisville Metropolitan area  Using their Community Financial Empowerment Certification program to train KATLC and KYOVR staff  Collaborating with their effort with the National Disabilities Institute’s LEAD Center to provide a range of financial capability services and extending these services to low-income individuals with disabilities

Contact Information: Dave Matheis Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (502)