28 Years of Mobile Assistive Technology Clinics at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare David C. Wilkie Manager, Assistive Technology/Mobile Outreach Clinics

Minnesota Hospital for Indigent Crippled & Deformed Children Gillette State Hospital for Crippled Children Gillette Children’s Hospital

1985 Windom - Why not come to us? Windom (165 miles) St. Paul

Cycle with sidecar becomes first outreach vehicle 1985 Seating & Adaptive Equipment Orthotics and Prosthetics Windom Director’s Desk for work bench

1986 Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center Northern Wisconsin Center Chippewa Falls, Wis. Seating, Adaptive Equipment and Orthotics

Typical problems in the early 80’s

First Van 1986

SCH connection Services for Children with Handicaps (now MCSHN) - kids July = Seating & Orthotics for Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center November = Seating & Orthotics for RTC & SCH

1989 STAR grant adds “assistive technology” services to unserved and underserved rural areas of the State STAR funds “AT” Clinics - far corners of the State

1990 St. Paul Chippewa Falls, WI Fergus Falls Windom St. Peter Moose Lake Austin (110) Owatonna (70) Thief River Falls (300) Worthington

Services expand in 1990 Ford Step Van from Friends of Gillette AAC, Computer Demonstration Equipment MCSHN, RTC continue Trade ramp for lift Patti joins Gillette

New truck has power lift - what a relief!

Set up at Mankato clinic Regional Treatment Center- PT/OT Gym Library (only once) Church - Chapel, Classrooms, Gym Hospital - Clinic & Conference Rooms Schools - Conference Room, Gym, Stage Warm up Room Performing Arts Make up Room American Legion/ VFW - Bingo Hall

Chuck Schemitsch modifies a brace at Mankato clinic

St. Paul Chippewa Falls, WI Windom St. Peter Moose Lake Austin Owatonna Thief River Falls Worthington Fergus Falls Brainerd (135) (75) St. Cloud Duluth (150) International Falls (290) Mankato (90) (180) Marshall Hibbing (190)

Snow! October 31, 1991 First clinic cancellation on November 1st - to St. Cloud (75 miles) The snow lasted through May that winter.

1995 St. Paul Chippewa Falls, WI Windom St. Peter Moose Lake Austin Owatonna Thief River Falls Worthington Fergus Falls Brainerd St. Cloud Duluth Eveleth Red Lake Alexandria Grand Rapids (180) Marshall Mankato Roseau (350) Monticello International Falls

1995 Arts for All at clinics in Brainerd & Owatonna Consultant to find minorities in greater Minnesota Diversity Training SureFit Patent Translate Brochures Translate Fliers

Development of Community Action Networks

United Way of Steele Co. funds Owatonna clinics Mankato United Way funds clinics in Mankato United Way of Mower County funds clinics in Austin United Way of Kandiyohi funds clinics in Willmar All Regional Treatment Center funding ends Willmar Planning Committee begins work to bring clinics to Willmar Rice Health Foundation funds Willmar clinics STAR funds ATNs, ATNs fund clinics Dr. Murphy joins Gillette and supports outreach clinics

1999 CMN Sponsors New Business Class Freightliner Truck - Diesel engine and air- ride suspension :)

2000 The Elephants are Coming in Mankato!

2002 Gillette receives contract from MCSHN to coordinate their PMR/Assistive Technology Clinics

WAISE Foundation funds Freightliner crew cab truck Work Benches Tools Demo Equipment –AAC –Computer Access –EADLs

Telemedicine evaluation clinic added in 2004 Seating evaluations with the staff of Rice Memorial Hospital PT, Vendor, Client, Family in Willmar Seating Specialist in New Brighton Saves evaluation time on the road

Current Specialty Medical and Assistive Technology Sites St. Paul Albert Lea Owatonna Baxter/ Brainerd Aurora Duluth Alexandria Grand Rapids Marshall Mankato/ St. Peter Roseau Willmar Bemidji International Falls Crookston Detroit Lakes

Historical Sites St. Paul Chippewa Falls, WI Windom Moose Lake Austin Owatonna Thief River Falls Worthington Fergus Falls Baxter/ Brainerd St. Cloud Duluth Eveleth, Hibbing, & Virginia Red Lake Alexandria Grand Rapids Marshall Mankato Roseau Willmar Cloquet Bemidji Detroit Lakes Park Rapids LaCresent & Winona Rochester New Ulm Red Wing International Falls Crookston Monticello Ah-gwah-ching St. Peter Fairbault Aurora Albert Lea

2005 Miles Saved 2000 = 254, = 273, = 882, = 963,

Number of Services

AT Services , Physician & NP Services

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Gillette Sign? Gillette Symbols - bird, tree, flower, etc?