Annual report

              Oklahoma ABLE Tech
The Assistive Technology Program
for the State of Oklahoma
Connecting Oklahomans with Disabilities to
Assistive Technology
http://okabletech.okstate.edu
2010
Annual
ReportKey Activities 2010
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Statistics
• 601 assistive technology (AT) devices loaned to Oklahomans in “try before you buy” short-term loan program
• 1246 AT demonstrations to Oklahomans - 393 were demonstrated by SoonerStart personnel to children 0-3 years old
• The Alternative Financing Program provided $506,203 in AT device low interest bank loans
assisting 86 Oklahomans with disabilities
• 177 AT devices exchanged from sellers to buyers for a savings of $345,211
• Sooner AMBUCS Share4Life Komputers, donated 517 recycled computers to individuals to
improve independent living and vocational skills
• 318 individuals received information and referral on AT devices and services
• AT training events served over 1,300 people
Highlights
• ABLE Tech serves individuals of all ages and all disabilities in Oklahoma.
• ABLE Tech and its partners provided 8 AT loan and demonstration sites to give Oklahomans
an opportunity to touch, try, and take home AT devices and improve independence in the
community, schools, and workplace.
• ABLE Tech provided training on accessible information technology including web access,
telecommunications, software accessibility, and procurement to 337 state agency and
postsecondary personnel.
• ABLE Tech provided training on AT devices and services to individuals, disability related
organizations, state agencies, and higher education students.
• “Fire Safety for Oklahomans with Disabilities” professionally installed 206 specialized smoke alarms in 111 households statewide.
• 37 Special Education Due Process hearings were resolved by the Special Education Resolution
Center - keeping state dollars in the classroom educating students. Due Process proceedings
cost the state an average of $300,000; therefore, resolved hearing requests saved Oklahomans approximately $11,100,000.
• The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project provided education, assistance and support to farmers,
ranchers and their family members with disabilities or debilitating injuries that limited their
abilities to perform farm tasks. ABLE Tech, through its partnership with Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services, Langston University, School of Physical Therapy and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation provided direct services to 52 farmers or their family members and com­pleted
29 on-farm site visits.
OKLAHOMA ABLE TECHType of Individual
AT Category
Demo and Loan Program Assisted Oklahomans
Other
3%
Individual with
Disability
50%
Family Member
30%
Hearing
20%
Other
7%
Vision
20%
Speech
Communication
11%
Environmental
23%
Computer
Related
9%
Education
14%
Health & Rehab
3%
Mobility,
Seating,
Positioning
10%
Programs are provided at no cost to Oklahomans.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Coordination and Collaboration
Oklahoma ABLE Tech maintains coordination and collaboration efforts among partners that provide funding that will enhance the opportunities for individuals to access and acquire assistive technology. Success Stories in Oklahoma
ABLE Tech ranks 3rd in the nation for
number of loans made out of the 26 financial loan programs
ABLE Tech ranks 1st in the nation for number of recycled devices out of 36 reutilization programs
ABLE Tech ranks 8th in the nation for
number of device demonstrations out of 55
AT demonstration programs
ABLE Tech ranks 17th in the nation for number of device loans out of 54 loan programs
54
0
0
55
27
27
26
0
13
3
0
36
18
1
8
17
Oklahoma’s National Ranking
ANNUAL REPORT 2010
Lynn is a Tulsa county woman with sudden severe hearing loss due to radiation and chemotherapy treatments. She was referred to one of Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s assistive technology device demo and loan programs, Total Source for Hearing - Loss and Access (TSHA) in Tulsa. Lynn does not want to purchase hearing aids at this time because of the possibility of further hearing loss and/or improvement. So the AT program was able to offer a variety of equipment she could use right away. The Pockettalker is a device that worked for her and she was thrilled to be able to hear voices again. She said that her quality of life and attitude changed immedi­ately
after being able to use the device. “Thank you for helping to make a huge, wonderful difference during this difficult time in my life,” said Lynn.
The Mary K. Chapman Center for Communicative Disorders partners with Oklahoma ABLE Tech and provides an Assistive Technology (AT) loan program to Oklahomans with disabilities. A Tulsa county child, Diego, is a non-verbal communicator. He attempts to use gestures and facial expressions to communicate his needs and wants. Due to his limited abilities to communicate he is unable to engage in many opportunities to discover, explore, learn about or interact with his
environment. The AT loan program provided Diego the opportunity to borrow the Vantage Plus and try this device in his home, with
successful results. Diego is now able to initiate and engage in
interaction with his family and clinicians because of the Vantage Plus. According to his mother he asks for the device every morning when he wakes up. A request for funding has been submitted for the Vantage Lite and while he is waiting for his own device he will continue to utilize the Vantage Plus, which is part of the loan
program inventory. Success Stories in Oklahoma
Dr Knight is a retired college professor, age 80, and she
contacted Oklahoma ABLE Tech for a demonstration
appointment to try out a variety of equipment to magnify reading materials. She was gradually losing vision and having difficulty identifying products on store shelves and reading. She tried a Ruby handheld magnifier to carry in her purse to help read small items when on the go. She also tried ZoomText magnification software for the computer to allow her to read and send emails as well as browse through websites. She enjoyed using a CCTV to magnify reading materials at home. She appreciated the ability to take home devices to try for a period of time for day-to-day activities. Her independence increased since she is able to read her mail and pay bills again. The ability to try the devices is a cost savings since she could compare features and cost without having to spend money for devices that may not fit her needs.
Kevin Janecke is a 59 year old who lost his sight in 1976 due to a gun shot. He lives with Alvin, his fourth guide dog from Leader Dog and Zoe. Kevin likes to come for Computer Assistive Technology (CAT) training at NewView
in Oklahoma City so Alvin gets out and gets some exercise.
Kevin is learning to use Window Eyes, an audible screen reader software that allows him to check his email. Also, Kevin uses Microsoft Word to type
documents and attach them to emails. He is hoping with his CAT training to take classes at Rose State College in grant writing.
Kevin states that the training he is receiving has helped to increase his
self-esteem and decrease his blood pressure. With his increased ability to
use assistive technology he is excited about pursuing the grant writing classes. Some ABLE Tech equipment he has tried includes, the Note Teller, a voice recorder, Olympus Digital recorders, Window Eyes, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Word.
The Oklahoma Alternative Financing Program
provided a loan for a gentleman in Pittsburg County. Mike has paraplegia and was interested in purchasing a wheelchair lift and seating for a 2009 Dodge Ram mega cab pickup truck. He had pre­vious
loans with BancFirst of McAlester and wanted to pursue the program because of the low interest rate that the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) provided. “The application process was simple and the people at BancFirst were easy to work with,” said Mike.
The lift system in the truck has improved his ability to go back and forth to work and his ability to be involved in his community. Mike collaborated with OkAT, Oklahoma ABLE Tech, BancFirst of McAlester and Stillwater, and the Oklahomans for Independent Living in McAlester.Oklahoma ABLE Tech Contact Information
OSU Seretean Wellness Center Director Robin Purdie
Director of Sponsored Programs Linda Jaco
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Program Manager Milissa Gofourth
Program Specialist and Marketing Coordinator Brenda Dawes
Alternative Financing Program Coordinator Lindsey Davis
Senior Administration Support Specialist Diana Sargent
Assistive Technology Specialist Shelby Sanders
Assistive Technology Specialist Tessa Stinnett
Oklahoma Special Education Resolution Center Jo Anne Pool
Administrative Assistant Shannon Esmeyer
Oklahoma AgrAbility Case Manager Sandra Stevenson
Oklahoma AgrAbility Program Assistant Stacy Bauter
OSU Seretean Wellness Center
1514 W. Hall of Fame Stillwater, OK 74078
1-800-257-1705 or 405-744-9748 Fax 405-744-2487
Info-line 1-888-885-5588 V/TTY
ABLE Tech Website http://okabletech.okstate.edu
AT Equipment Exchange http://oec.okstate.edu
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Partners
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Stillwater 1-888-885-5588
New View
Oklahoma City 405-232-4644
Mary K. Chapman Center for
Communicative Disorders
Tulsa 918-631-2913
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education 405-743-5542
SoonerStart Early Intervention
Program 405-522-5167
Hearing Loss Association of
Oklahoma City 405-717-9820
Total Source for Hearing-loss and
Access, Tulsa 918-823-8742
Department of Rehabilitation Services, AT Lab for Blindness and Low Vision, Oklahoma City 405-522-3442
AMBUCS Share4Life Komputers
405-360-1521
Development Disabilities Services
Division (DDSD), Tulsa 918-794-7632
Seretean Wellness Center
REAL SOLUTIONS FOR REAL PEOPLE
This program is funded by the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) of the U.S. Department of Education, Grant #H224A090036. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the policy of RSA/ED, and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.