Michigan's Assistive Technology Program
Assistive Technology Connections
Vol. 6, No. 12, December 2005
Assistive Technology Connections is a service of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, A.T. Project. Funding is by the Assistive Technology Act received through Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
In This Issue:Calendar:
- December 2nd Grassroots-Senior and Adaptive Sports Workshop sponsored by Michigan Recreation and Park Association (MRPA), 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Foster Community Center, Lansing Contact MRPA for more information at 517-485-9888
Mark your calendars!
- March 25 2006 Walk-N-Roll sponsored by CACIL, MACIL, MDRC, and SILC, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Holt High School Gymnasium Contact Trisha at 517-371-4872 or email trisha@misilc.org
- April 28-29 Michigan Hear Here 2006 Conference and Expo Crowne Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids Contact 517-487-2583.
New Tech Act Update:
Michigan submitted a State Plan for Assistive Technology (SPAT)
which was approved at the federal level in late August. MDRC
will begin receiving funding under the new Act in December. The new
AT Act makes significant changes to the way Act funds are used.
The AT Program will not be able to offer GREEN sub grants as we've
done over the past three years. We do plan to support local activities
through sub grants for specific projects.
Highlights of the State Plan:
Michigan will operate the Michigan AT Loan Fund to provide low
interest loans to people with disabilities so they can purchase AT.
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition will partner with United Cerebral
Palsy of Michigan and the Financial Health Credit Union to operate
this program. These same partners operate the Michigan Telework
Loan Fund which provides loans for the purchase of equipment for
people with disabilities to work at home or operate home businesses.
http://www.michiganloanfunds.org/
Michigan will administer the AT Xchange (ATX) for individuals with
an AT device wishing to either sell it or give it away. The ATX will be a
website ad service that connects buyers and sellers of devices. Local
organizations will help promote this service.
Over the next three years, Michigan will increase the number of people
reached through demonstrations of AT in the state through the support
local device demonstrations in underserved regions.
State Leadership Activities: Michigan's program subcontract with consumer-
directed local organizations to provide technical assistance statewide.
Michigan will also provide, in partnership with local groups; toll free
information and referral services, information through presentations at
conferences; and collaboration on publications and training materials
about AT. The program will provide AT Connections, an email-based
newsletter published 10 times a year on Michigan AT activities,
coordination and collaboration on statewide issues, and a website.
Resources:
Assistive Technology Act of 2004: http://www.ataporg.org/pl105.asp
New Tool! We heard about this through the UP AT Assessment Center's
Sara Menzel. The "Key to Access" is not much bigger than a car key. The
Key enables people to take Assistive Software with them on a portable USB
MP3 Player. By just inserting the MP3 Player into any USB Port, the
floating tool bar will appear and the user can select any of the eight
different tools including a screen reader. The software never needs to be
installed on a computer. All personal settings are saved on the Key to
Access so that no matter which computer is used, the access will be the
same. http://www.premier-programming.com/keytoAccess/Key.htm
List Information:
To Subscribe:
Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@match.org. In the body of the message, write: subscribe atconnections youremail@youraddress (replace with your email address.)
To Unsubscribe:
Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@match.org. In the body of the message, write: unsubscribe atconnections youremail@youraddress (replace with your email address.)
If you have problems or questions about this list send an e-mail message to Kathryn Wyeth or call 1(800)760-4600.
"The contents of this web page were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal government."
Search This Site and Communities of Power: