VT Assistive Technology Exchange for Schools and Community

VT Assistive Technology Exchange for Schools and Community Sharon Alderman VT Assistive Technology Reuse Coordinator Vermont AT Reuse, Voc. Rehab Vermont & Vermont Family Network

Objectives • Describe basic process used to implement www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com to exchange unused or reusable assistive technology (AT), durable medical equipment (DME), adapted transportation between schools. • Including use of www. get. ATstuff. com & • Referrals to other resources

Objectives continued • Describe the history & funding used to implement the VT AT School Exchange. • Identify school administration concerns. • Describe current status and future plans. • Consider the pros and cons.

New England's AT Act Programs • In 2007, the NE programs collaborated to create the regional AT Exchange www. get. ATstuff. com • gives Reuse Data needed for Federal reporting • FY-08 -09 – over $638, 382 “saved” by consumers $$$

Community ACCESS VT www. get. ATstuff. com • VT Focus is on Access • Go to www. get. ATstuff. com - No computer? call Nation Wide Toll Free 888 -827 -2714 • Approximately 40 -50% non-internet users • Encourage users to Post Items Needed • Call Toll Free Anytime

Teamwork! How about a School Exchange CT created the AT School Swap site Mass Match is implementing AT School Swap and providing web-site revisions

Why did we identify the need? We have been hearing from administrators and educators for some time regarding this need so we: Surveyed potential users…. • 86% of schools stated they would be willing to share AT • Comments: “This could be a collaborative opportunity that goes well beyond AT” • “This is key for us, we need support, connection with others, assistance in assessment” • “Yes, we are really just tapping the surface of this area. ”

Developing Vermont’s AT School Swap Logo courtesy of the Connecticut AT Program Vermont. ATschoolswap. com - modeled after the CT AT School Swap E-mail intro to VT Special Ed Directors April 08 Survey Monkey - Survey request completed May 08

Survey input… Challenges: • “Keeping the inventory updated and available to all of us. . . changes happen so rapidly. There will need to be someone dedicated to keeping this going. ” • “Because of the distance between schools in the state, we would need a good description of the device as we could not see the device before purchase. The challenge with any database is making sure it is always up to date. ”

Developing Vermont’s AT School Swap • Tele – Conferences - intro of CT Demo Sites and the very successful www. get. ATstuff. com site July 08 through Feb 09 • Executive Committee Special Ed Directors Aug. 08 • www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com launched Sept. 08 • 16 VT Supervisory Unions/Districts participating June 09 • 30 of 60 VT Supervisory Unions/Districts participating +I-Team Present

ACCESS AT School Swap • Special Services (Ed) Administrator authorizes an individual(s) to post available or needed devices. • Anyone can request e-mail updates of. Items Available and Items Needed – includes all www. get. ATstuff. com listings.

Go to www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com Request an Account

Special Services Invitation Letter State of Vermont AT Reuse Project and Vermont Family Network October 19, 2010 Dear Special Services/Education Administrators: The Assistive Technology Reuse Project is pleased to offer a solution to facilitate sharing of technology and professional expertise. Many educators and administrators have indicated that surplus equipment in their schools could be used by other students and professionals. 23 SUs/Districts are currently participating and we are still growing. Statewide and national connections are also accessed to meet your needs. This free, secure web-site will facilitate increased capacity for professional and student access to assistive technology and information about existing technology. There is an opportunity to post all technology for loan, sale, donation including items currently in use and not available. We are looking for feedback regarding features of an on-line inventory that would be most helpful for you. The www. Vermont. ATSchool. Swap. com was modeled after the New England AT Exchange community based web site www. get. ATstuff. com. You can peruse this community site to see how the school site operates. You can also try out the demo sites provided by the Connecticut AT Program. Demo Sites: http: //demoatss. cttechact. com/exchange/school/login. php log in: demo, demo http: //demoatss. cttechact. com/exchange/school/admin/ log in: admin, demo Please contact me for registration information and with any questions you may have. FAX the authorization form to 802 -241 -2174 attention: Sharon and confirm received Thank you, Sharon Alderman CONCERN: SPAM FILTERS - Note: Administrator Position changes Please ADD to safe-mail: sharon. alderman@ahs. state. vt. us, info@vermont. ATschoolswap. com

Vermont Terms and Conditions

Authorization Form- Coordinator Assigns a contact for the entire supervisory union, one or several schools

Posters provided for each school to ID Contact for Reuse

Contact Authorized User to Post Items Available or request Items Needed

ATSS Monthly Updates (incl. get. ATstuff): • E-mail updates to all Special Services Coordinators, authorized users, and interested parties • ATSS Items Available, Items Needed • get. ATstuff. com IA and Items Needed (next slide) • Encourages participation - limited participation OK • Facilitate exchanges with Local & Interstate Resources: (Re. Store, Wayward Wheels, DME vendors) , REM (NH), NEAT (CT)

Ask a question or request an e-mail Excel list? Call Toll Free 888 -827 -2714

AT School Swap and MORE…. Post a Needed Item on AT School Swap - we assist with your search: AT School Swap web-site– Adaptive Trike, Swing, Rifton Stander & Two Rifton Chairs, Gait Trainers…. Local and Nation Wide resources – 2 PDAs for students in Barre, VT from Kansas AT Program PT Mat platform From Refurbished Equipment Marketplace NH From get. ATstuff. com Stander from Individual in CT, Free speech recognition program, free cassette recorder, free adaptive winter sled, low cost stroller, pool equipment

Exchange - Positives & Lessons Learned • Schools are Giving and Getting Needed Items • • • Professionals are guiding Items offered and received (students matched) Direct Web-site Device Exchanges: • Minimized as both schools must be participants • The web-site alone works for some; most need assist & follow up ATSS participant posts items available on get. ATstuff and ATSS: if Non-ATTS School receives item - it is not captured on the ATSS web-site. ATSS - Needed Items posted – Items found through ATSS VT referral service. ATSS participant received: from www. get. ATstuff. com or other referral • $6500 stander – Saved $5000 • $1200 electric bed (2) – Saved $2400 • $450 manual wheelchair Saved $450 • Optelec - Donated Saved $2500 • Mat Platform –REM in NH Saved $ 800

AT School Swap Lessons Learned • Web-site alone does not meet needs- need coordinator • Teaching use of the site-system grows independence • Needs: • clarify Federal/State directives - disposition of Federal equipment • clarification of AT Program reporting • AT ACT Programs- Additional spreadsheet needed for some items

Special Services Admin Concerns • Liability concerns – Jessica Brodey, Pass It On Center • jbrodey@jmbpolicy. com – JMB Policy Consulting • Funding source requirements: • Schools want to know it is OK to sell, loan and donate? • In VT - CSHN & Medicaid equipment – Offer return • Federally Funded Equipment – regulations are somewhat complicated and need clarification (OMB) • Office of Management and Budget (regulations-circulars) • Funds for someone to manage inventory-transport? • Nevertheless - 30 of 60 districts with 73 authorized users participate

AT School Swap FTE, Marketing and Web-Hosting • 20 -25% FTE for 2 months - approximately • Marketing, distribution lists, teleconferences • Currently between 10 – 25% FTE a week • 25% at the beginning of the school year • $1, 000 + web-site conversion from CT • $285 a year Web-Hosting – Agora-Net • $400 yr. approx for marketing (excluding exhibit table costs) • $124 yr. Toll Free phone plus calls made (ATSS and GAS)

ATSS - MA received Shapiro Grant - to enhance ATSS and the site • MA Plans a Useable AT Inventory online for tracking • Professional sharing of information statewide as desired • Items can be posted as Currently in use, not available for exchange • Bulk upload of devices - possible through Excel • Editing capability to ensure accurate reporting • Mass. Match site has wonderful for Ed Only info. - linked to ATSS http: //www. massmatch. org/

Nickolas’ Story - Working Together Nickolas is a 13 year-old boy who has multiple disabilities that impact, among other things, his ability to walk. He had been using a walker to assist him in ambulating, but recent medical complications have made the use of a wheelchair necessary. His school began the process of applying for funding nearly a year ago and a manual chair was selected. It was hoped that he would be able to get a power chair, so that he could navigate his new middle school and home. Unfortunately, his family was informed that he could not have a power chair unless he could demonstrate that he could use one. The fact that he couldn’t demonstrate competence without access to a power chair was an obstacle to his mobility independence. As an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) in Vermont, I was familiar with the website www. get. ATstuff. com as a resource for a range of Assistive Technology and durable medical equipment. With the knowledge that Nick and his family would be moving to Massachusetts in early June, I offered to see if we might locate some equipment that he could use in his new house.

Imagine my surprise when I found the listing for a Quickie power wheelchair for free! Through email correspondence with the chair’s owner, I learned that her son had outgrown the chair and gotten a new one. She wanted the chair to go to someone who could use it. After obtaining details about the chair we arranged to pick it up and found a high-end chair. After charging it up, we brought it inside and put Nick into it. After a look around, he reached out and I helped him put his hand on the joystick. With a little help, his proud parents and other family members looking on, Nick navigated the chair down the hall to the Jacuzzi (his favorite!). This was the first time in more than thirteen years that Nick had been able to go where he wanted and under his own power. For the rest of my visit, I didn’t see him rely on anyone else for mobility. He used that chair to go everywhere. Nick is back at school and working on independently navigating the halls for longer distances. He has tricked out his chair with cool teen-age trinkets and is seen as just one of the kids. He has been accepted as part of his middle school’s community. When he outgrows this chair, his family plans to pay forward the gift of independence and dignity to someone else. Aunt Maureen 8 -27 -2009

Thank you and feel free to call: Vermont AT Reuse Coordinator • Sharon. Alderman@ahs. state. vt. us - Voc Rehab Vermont –VT AT Reuse Project • Sharon. Alderman@vtfn. org - VT Family Network • Nation Wide Toll Free 1 -888 -827 -2714; • Waterbury VT 802 -241 -2387

VT Assistive Technology Exchange for Schools and Community Sharon Alderman VT Assistive Technology Reuse Coordinator Vermont AT Reuse, Voc. Rehab Vermont & Vermont Family Network

Objectives • Describe basic process used to implement www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com to exchange unused or reusable assistive technology (AT), durable medical equipment (DME), adapted transportation between schools. • Including use of www. get. ATstuff. com & • Referrals to other resources

Objectives continued • Describe the history & funding used to implement the VT AT School Exchange. • Identify school administration concerns. • Describe current status and future plans. • Consider the pros and cons.

New England's AT Act Programs • In 2007, the NE programs collaborated to create the regional AT Exchange www. get. ATstuff. com • gives Reuse Data needed for Federal reporting • FY-08 -09 – over $638, 382 “saved” by consumers $$$

Community ACCESS VT www. get. ATstuff. com • VT Focus is on Access • Go to www. get. ATstuff. com - No computer? call Nation Wide Toll Free 888 -827 -2714 • Approximately 40 -50% non-internet users • Encourage users to Post Items Needed • Call Toll Free Anytime

Teamwork! How about a School Exchange CT created the AT School Swap site Mass Match is implementing AT School Swap and providing web-site revisions

Developing Vermont’s AT School Swap Logo courtesy of the Connecticut AT Program Vermont. ATschoolswap. com - modeled after the CT AT School Swap E-mail intro to VT Special Ed Directors April 08 Survey Monkey - Survey request completed May 08

Why did we identify the need? We have been hearing from administrators and educators for some time regarding this need so we: Surveyed potential users…. • 86% of schools stated they would be willing to share AT • Comments: “This could be a collaborative opportunity that goes well beyond AT” • “This is key for us, we need support, connection with others, assistance in assessment” • “Yes, we are really just tapping the surface of this area. ”

Survey input… Challenges: • “Keeping the inventory updated and available to all of us. . . changes happen so rapidly. There will need to be someone dedicated to keeping this going. ” • “Because of the distance between schools in the state, we would need a good description of the device as we could not see the device before purchase. The challenge with any database is making sure it is always up to date. ”

Developing Vermont’s AT School Swap • Tele – Conferences - intro of CT Demo Sites and the very successful www. get. ATstuff. com site July 08 through Feb 09 • Exec. Committee Special Ed Directors Aug. 08 • www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com launched Sept. 08 • 16 VT Supervisory Unions/Districts participating June 09 • 30 of 60 VT Supervisory Unions/Districts participating +I-Team Present

ACCESS AT School Swap • Special Services (Ed) Administrator authorizes an individual(s) to post available or needed devices. • Anyone can request e-mail updates of. Items Available and Items Needed – includes all www. get. ATstuff. com listings.

Go to www. Vermont. ATschoolswap. com Request an Account

Special Services Invitation Letter State of Vermont AT Reuse Project and Vermont Family Network October 19, 2010 Dear Special Services/Education Administrators: The Assistive Technology Reuse Project is pleased to offer a solution to facilitate sharing of technology and professional expertise. Many educators and administrators have indicated that surplus equipment in their schools could be used by other students and professionals. 23 SUs/Districts are currently participating and we are still growing. Statewide and national connections are also accessed to meet your needs. This free, secure web-site will facilitate increased capacity for professional and student access to assistive technology and information about existing technology. There is an opportunity to post all technology for loan, sale, donation including items currently in use and not available. We are looking for feedback regarding features of an on-line inventory that would be most helpful for you. The www. Vermont. ATSchool. Swap. com was modeled after the New England AT Exchange community based web site www. get. ATstuff. com. You can peruse this community site to see how the school site operates. You can also try out the demo sites provided by the Connecticut AT Program. Demo Sites: http: //demoatss. cttechact. com/exchange/school/login. php log in: demo, demo http: //demoatss. cttechact. com/exchange/school/admin/ log in: admin, demo Please contact me for registration information and with any questions you may have. FAX the authorization form to 802 -241 -2174 attention: Sharon and confirm received Thank you, Sharon Alderman CONCERN: SPAM FILTERS - Note: Administrator Position changes Please ADD to safe-mail: sharon. alderman@ahs. state. vt. us, info@vermont. ATschoolswap. com

Vermont Terms and Conditions

Authorization Form- Coordinator Assigns a contact for the entire supervisory union, one or several schools

Posters provided for each school to ID Contact for Reuse

Contact Authorized User to Post Items Available or request Items Needed

ATSS Monthly Updates (incl. get. ATstuff): • E-mail updates to all Special Services Coordinators, authorized users, and interested parties • ATSS Items Available, Items Needed • get. ATstuff. com IA and Items Needed (next slide) • Encourages participation - limited participation OK • Note facilitated exchange with Local & Interstate Resources: (Re. Store, Wayward Wheels, DME vendors) , REM (NH), NEAT (CT)

Ask a question or request an e-mail Excel list? Call Toll Free 888 -827 -2714

AT School Swap and MORE…. Post a Needed Item on AT School Swap - we assist with your search: AT School Swap web-site– Adaptive Trike, Swing, Rifton Stander & Two Rifton Chairs, Gait Trainers…. Local and Nation Wide resources – 2 PDAs for students in Barre, VT from Kansas AT Program PT Mat platform From Refurbished Equipment Marketplace NH From get. ATstuff. com Stander from Individual in CT, Free speech recognition program, free cassette recorder, free adaptive winter sled, low cost stroller, pool equipment

Exchanges - Positive Outcomes & Lessons Learned • Schools are Giving and Getting Needed Items • • • Professionals are guiding Items offered and received (students matched) Direct Web-site Device Exchanges: • Minimized as both schools must be participants • The web-site alone works for some; most need assist & follow up ATSS participant posts items available on get. ATstuff and ATSS: if Non-ATTS School receives item - it is not captured on the ATSS web-site. ATSS - Needed Items posted – Items found through ATSS VT referral service. ATSS participant received: from www. get. ATstuff. com or other referral • $6500 stander – Saved $5000 • $1200 electric bed (2) – Saved $2400 • $450 manual wheelchair Saved $450 • Optelec - Donated Saved $2500 • Mat Platform –REM in NH Saved $ 800

AT School Swap Lessons Learned • Web-site alone does not meet the needs • Encouraging - teaching site use grows independence • Needs: • clarify Federal/State directives - disposition of Federal equipment • clarification of AT Program reporting • Additional spreadsheet needed

Special Services Admin Concerns • Liability concerns – Jessica Brodey, Pass It On Center • jbrodey@jmbpolicy. com – JMB Policy Consulting • Funding source requirements: • Schools want to know it is OK to sell, loan and donate? • In VT - CSHN & Medicaid equipment – Offer return • Federally Funded Equipment – regulations are somewhat complicated and need clarification (OMB) • Office of Management and Budget (regulations-circulars) • Funds for someone to manage inventory-transport? • Nevertheless - 29 of 60 districts with 64 authorized users participate

AT School Swap FTE, Marketing and Web-Hosting • 20 -25% FTE for 2 months - approximately • Marketing, distribution lists, teleconferences • Currently between 10 – 25% FTE a week • 25% at the beginning of the school year • $1, 000 + web-site conversion from CT • $285 a year Web-Hosting – Agora-Net • $400 yr. approx for marketing (excluding exhibit table costs) • $124 yr. Toll Free phone plus calls made (ATSS and GAS)

ATSS - MA received Shapiro Grant - $45, 000 to enhance ATSS and the site • MA Plans a Useable AT Inventory online for tracking • Professional sharing of information statewide as desired • Items can be posted as Currently in use, not available for exchange • Bulk upload of devices - possible through Excel • Editing capability to ensure accurate reporting • Mass. Match site has wonderful for Ed Only info. - linked to ATSS http: //www. massmatch. org/

Nickolas’ Story - Working Together Nickolas is a 13 year-old boy who has multiple disabilities that impact, among other things, his ability to walk. He had been using a walker to assist him in ambulating, but recent medical complications have made the use of a wheelchair necessary. His school began the process of applying for funding nearly a year ago and a manual chair was selected. It was hoped that he would be able to get a power chair, so that he could navigate his new middle school and home. Unfortunately, his family was informed that he could not have a power chair unless he could demonstrate that he could use one. The fact that he couldn’t demonstrate competence without access to a power chair was an obstacle to his mobility independence. As an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) in Vermont, I was familiar with the website www. get. ATstuff. com as a resource for a range of Assistive Technology and durable medical equipment. With the knowledge that Nick and his family would be moving to Massachusetts in early June, I offered to see if we might locate some equipment that he could use in his new house.

Imagine my surprise when I found the listing for a Quickie power wheelchair for free! Through email correspondence with the chair’s owner, I learned that her son had outgrown the chair and gotten a new one. She wanted the chair to go to someone who could use it. After obtaining details about the chair we arranged to pick it up and found a high-end chair. After charging it up, we brought it inside and put Nick into it. After a look around, he reached out and I helped him put his hand on the joystick. With a little help, his proud parents and other family members looking on, Nick navigated the chair down the hall to the Jacuzzi (his favorite!). This was the first time in more than thirteen years that Nick had been able to go where he wanted and under his own power. For the rest of my visit, I didn’t see him rely on anyone else for mobility. He used that chair to go everywhere. Nick is back at school and working on independently navigating the halls for longer distances. He has tricked out his chair with cool teen-age trinkets and is seen as just one of the kids. He has been accepted as part of his middle school’s community. When he outgrows this chair, his family plans to pay forward the gift of independence and dignity to someone else. Aunt Maureen 8 -27 -2009

Thank you and feel free to call: Vermont AT Reuse Coordinator • Sharon. Alderman@ahs. state. vt. us - Voc Rehab Vermont – VT AT Reuse Project • Sharon. Alderman@vtfn. org - VT Family Network • Nation Wide Toll Free 1 -888 -827 -2714; • Waterbury VT 802 -241 -2387