Michigan's Assistive Technology Program
Assistive
Technology Connections
Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2007
In This Issue:
- Calendar
- Resources Available for Community Groups
- Loan funds move to UCP of Michigan!
- Study Participants Wanted
- Community Connection's AT Demonstration Program
- Subscription Information
Calendar:
Michigan - Technology Blizzard Version 5.0
Friday, February 9, 2007 8:30 am – 4:30 pm: Dickinson Center 18000 Newburgh Road (north of 6 Mile Rd.)Livonia, Michigan 48152 -Investigate how assistive technology leads to independence and success for people with visual impairments or learning disabilities.
Visit vendors! See new products! Dialog with knowledgeable speakers! Attend discussions with expert technology users!
Sponsored by: Livonia Public Schools, Wayne County
RESA, Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
Detroit Public Schools and Lincoln Park Public Schools.
For more
information,
- Julie Burger-734-744-2525 x72292 jburger2@livonia.k12.mi.us
- Mary Beth Kullen - 313-272-3900, kullen@gdabvi.org
Other locations/mark you calendar!
- March 19-24, 2007 California State University at Northridge (CSUN) Center on Disabilities' 22nd Annual International Conference: Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Los Angeles, CA Contact: Center on Disabilities, CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Building 11, Suite 103, Northridge, CA 91330; phone: 818-677-2578; e-mail: conference@csun.edu; web site: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm.
- March 22- 23, 2007 Assistive Technology Across the Lifespan Conference Where: The Holiday Inn Convention Center Stevens Point, WI. For general information contact: Mary Chapin mchapin@cesa6.k12.wi.us Phone: (800) 991-5576 or (920) 424-2247
- March 28 - 30, 2007 Bridges to Better Advocacy Co-sponsored by: Advocacy,
Inc., Austin, Texas National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project,
A Project of Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn (An
affiliate of Hilton Hotels, formerly The Capitol Place Hotel) 500 North
IH 35
Austin, Texas http://www.nls.org/2007%20AT%20Conference.htm - June 15-19, 2007 RESNA 2007 Annual Conference Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php.
- October 18-20, 2007 Closing the Gap 25th Annual Conference & Preconference Workshops - October 16-17, 2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.closingthegap.com
Resources Available for Community Groups
Michigan's Assistive Technology Program has copies of the DVD "Freedom
Machines" available to community groups to show to the public in
order to
increase awareness of assistive technology. This documentary is a
public television program and national outreach campaign, looks at our
beliefs about disability through the lens of assistive technology. The
program
explores how human experience and technological innovations are outpacing
social policies-and the perceptions that have guided them. The DVD includes:
captioning, descriptive video, Spanish, lesson plans and community group
presentation advice, other resources.
More information about "Freedom Machines" is available at http://www.freedommachines.com/. For information about how to obtain a copy Freedom Machines DVD for your community group, please contact Kathryn Wyeth at kdwyeth@prosynergy.org or (517)333-2477 ext 335.
Assistive Technology Loan Fund and Telework Loan Funds Transfer to UCP of Michigan!
The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund was established by the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition's (MDRC) Assistive Technology Program. MDRC joined with United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan, the Financial Health Credit Union and disability organizations throughout the state to offer this innovative program. Since the inception of the fund, MDRC has worked in close collaboration with UCP and are please to maintain a collaborative relationship as they take over ownership of these two funds. For more information, http://www.michiganloanfunds.org.
Study Participants Wanted:
Researchers at the University of Arizona and Northern Iowa University are seeking parents who have visual impairments to participate in a telephone interview. The purpose of the study is to learn about the strategies, concerns, and experiences these parents have as they raise their children. Parenting partners of participants will also be invited to participate in the study. To participate, please go to http://www.ed.arizona.edu/rosenblum/recruit.htm or contact Dr. Sunggye Hong by telephone at 319-273-7954 or by email at hong@uni.edu.
Community Connections Establishes AT Demonstration Program:
With funding from Michigan's Assistive Technology Program, Community
Connections in Benton Harbor, MI has established an assistive technology
demonstration program. Community Connections is a center for independent
living serving citizens in Berrien and Cass counties. They
worked in partnership with consultant Stephen Blosser, Assistive Technology
Specialist from Michigan State University's Resource Center for People
with Disabilities in the development of the demonstration program. Joe
Appelget, has been an Assistive Technology Apprentice with Stephen and
has successfully completed an AT Specialist online course through California
State University Northridge/Center on Disabilities. He is now on staff
at Community Connections.
Consistent with Michigan's state plan for assistive technology, this program uses funding from the AT Program to serve people who have been unserved and are not eligible for AT services through other agencies. Between March 06 and November 06, the organization provided demonstrations of 605 devices to 247 people. MDRC is continuing to partner with Community Connections into 2007.
Of these 247 people, there were many successes. For example, a man from Berrien County who has quadriplegia received a demonstration of devices using sip and puff controls via computerized devices to control home devices like lights, fan, tv, home security. He was only receiving 10 hours of personal assistance a day and remains alone and in bed the other 14 hours. These devices will not only enable him to continue to live independently in the community, but enhanced his quality of life.
For more information, please contact Community Connections at (248) 925-6422 or write to Kathy Ellis, Executive Director at kellis@miconnect.org.
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