November is Assistive Technology (AT) Month

Pennsylvania's Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT) is Pennsylvania's statewide, cross-age and cross-disability program under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as amended. In accordance with the priorities in the Act, the program focuses on activities designed to help people learn about and obtain the assistive technology devices and services they need. This issue of Inside Information highlights PIAT's new device reutilization and device demonstration efforts.

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Greetings!

I am pleased to announce that the Institute on Disabilities has moved its offices to the sixth floor of the University Services Building on Temple University's main campus. Our "official" new address is 1601 North Broad Street, Suite 610. Now faculty, staff, and students at the Institute are all in one building if not all on one floor. Our new space is finally both adequate and accessible! A plus is that we have a wonderful view of Philadelphia from the many windows bringing light into our offices.

Mark your calendar for February 20, 2007 when we will welcome you to our new home and celebrate Valentine's Day by raffling off the beautiful, hand-made Amish ACES quilt.

Diane Nelson Bryen, PhD
Professor and Executive Director

Our Mission

In partnership with people with disabilities, families and allies from diverse cultures, the Institute on Disabilities works to change systems so that people can live, learn, work, play and worship in communities of their choice. The Institute on Disabilities is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of interdependence, contribution, and inclusion. This mission is accomplished through training, technical assistance, services and supports, research, dissemination, and advocacy.

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DONORS

Many thanks to our friends listed below for supporting the Institute on Disabilities and our special funds...

INSTITUTE ON DISABILITIES

• Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Lynn Ruffenach

FRIENDS OF ACES

• Ms. Amy S. Goldman
• Ms. Lisa G. Matz

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LENDING LIBRARY

• Ms. Evelyn I. Boyer
• Ms. Alexis J. Cackowski
• Ms. Shirley Chesmer
• Mrs. Audrey M. Dowd
• Mr. Bryan J. Dowd
• Ms. Helen G. Ermiles
• Ms. Kara Gagen
• Ms. Amy S. Goldman
• Mr. John P. Jenkins
• Ms. Mildred B. Mullen
• Ms. Lisa L. Racz
• Mr. David F. Stephens

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PIAT PROGRAM FOCUS
Recycled and Exchanged Equipment Partnership (REEP)

How can you find previously owned Assistive Technology (AT) devices that are lower priced than new, or even free? What can you do with devices you have outgrown, or are no longer used or needed?

In partnership with a number of organizations across Pennsylvania, PIAT’s REEP activities help find "Wnew homes" for used devices.

REEP EXCHANGE ON-LINE CLASSIFIED LISTING—This is a free, statewide "classified" listing of previously-owned equipment through which Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families can locate such equipment available for donation or sale.

In November, 2006, the Institute on Disabilities unveiled the new online REEP Exchange, enabling individuals to directly list the items they have for sale or donation. The new listing is easy to use and provides important information about the available items. Potential buyers can review the items on the site and communicate directly with the sellers about the item. There are no limitations to the type of AT devices that may be listed. Assistance in posting or searching, as well as a "paper" copy of the listing, is available through PIAT upon request.

INTO NEW HANDS, a program based in Pittsburgh and operated by Three Rivers Center for Independent Living, accepts devices no longer in use and reconditions and redistributes them at no cost. Consumers own the devices but are encouraged to return them to the program when no longer required. Contact Thom Gressman at 800-633-4588, tgressman@trcil.org for more information and availability of specific devices.

LIBERTY WHEELs is operated by Liberty Resources, a Center for Independent Living in Philadelphia. Established in 2003, the program reconditions or repairs AT devices, primarily power and manual wheelchairs. Devices may be provided on "open-ended" loan with the understanding that the device must be returned to Liberty Wheels when no longer needed. For information, contact Gretchen Bell, Program Manager, at 215-634-2000, GretchenBell@libertyresources.org.

INTERFAITH SPECIALTY SERVICES (ISS) is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization in Philadelphia that provides non-denominational services and supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities who desire participation in communities of faith. WIDOW'S MITE, a program of ISS, accepts and redistributes "previously owned" durable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities. For more information, contact Angela Lundy, Executive Director, at consult_iss@hotmail.com

ATMATCH.COM is a fully accessible auction site that serves as a comprehensive entry point for AT equipment and services. PIAT promotes this national resource, where users can find specific AT devices at reasonable prices, post equipment for sale, and locate state AT resources.

Did you know...

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation provides affordable loans to purchase Assistive Technology.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PATF LOANS, CALL 888-744-1938 (VOICE/TTY) OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.PATF.US

DEVICE DEMONSTRATIONS

PIAT's New Partners

PIAT provides a variety of opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families to have a "guided exploration" of a specific device or category of devices to match the right device with the right person. To help users make an informed decision about AT, device demonstrations can be arranged through any of PIAT's Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRCs) across the state.

For example, Institute on Disabilities staff in Philadelphia provide demonstrations on a range of AT devices, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and devices for people with low vision. And as a key partner in Temple's Microsoft Accessibility Resource Center (MARC), Institute staff are available to demonstrate built-in access features as well as AT for computer access.

PIAT has announced two new partnerships to offer more demonstrations: Moss Rehabilitation Hospital located in Elkins Park will provide device demonstrations on computer access, and the Hearing Discovery Center in Darby will provide device demonstrations on amplification systems, amplified phones and other devices for people with hearing loss.

This year, PIAT has also funded comprehensive demonstration centers which both celebrate their grand opening in November. In central and western Pennsylvania, United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA in Camp Hill and Three Rivers Center for Independent Living in Pittsburgh will now offer AT device demonstrations.

PIAT has joined with Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) to promote access to print information. RFB&D, a national non-profit organization serving individuals who cannot effectively read standard print due to a visual impairment, learning disability, or other disability, provides access to an audio book library of over 100,000 titles. Pennsylvania is one of only five states selected for this partnership. PIAT is able to offer free demonstrations of the specialized digital reading devices, as well as a sampling of books from RFB&D.

FOR MORE ABOUT THE DEVICE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM, VISIT: HTTP://DISABILITIES.TEMPLE.EDU OR CONTACT ANN DOLLOFF AT 800-204-7428, ATDEMO@TEMPLE.EDU.

TO CONTACT THE PARTNERS DIRECTLY:

MOSS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL: KATHY ELOKDAH– 215-663-6405, KELOKDAH@EINSTEIN.EDU

HEARING DISCOVERY CENTER : DONNA SCHUMACHER– 610-237-6222 X56, DSCHUMACHER@SCS-DELCO.ORG

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF CENTRAL PA : JACKIE WARDLE– 888-790-3925, JWARDLE@UCPCENTRALPA.ORG

THREE RIVERS CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING : KEVIN HUWE– 800-633-4588, KHUWE@TRCIL.ORG

RFB&D: VISIT: WWW.RFBD.ORG SUSAN ROUSE– 610-265-8090 EXT. 26

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT REEP AND ALL OF ITS PARTNERS, LOG ON TO HTTP://DISABILITIES.TEMPLE.EDU, E-MAIL: ATREUSE@TEMPLE.EDU OR CALL PIAT AT 800-204-7428 (TTY: 866-268-0579)

ACES celebrates 19th year ...and goes to South Africa

On Friday, July 21, 2006 more than 100 people gathered in Shusterman Hall on Temple University's main campus, to celebrate the 19th graduating class of ACES, Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports.

Created by Dr. Diane Nelson Bryen, Executive Director of the Institute, the ACES program has now supported more than 300 people with significant disabilities, allies and professional interns from 30 states and territories, from a dozen universities, and 15 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Germany and, in 2007, Australia.

Today, ACES graduates are college students and college graduates, mothers, lecturers, poets, writers, computer programmers, tax payers, volunteers, policy makers, and even a high ranking member in former President Clinton’s administration. All are speaking out for themselves and for others.

And this year, ACES supported the establishment of a sister program in South Africa call FOFA, meaning "to soar" or "to fly."

'Free Speech Now' Award

Each year, the ACES Free Speech Now Award is given to an individual who advances the free speech rights of Americans with significant disabilities. This year's winner is Colin Portnuff. Mr. Portnuff has been active in establishing the Advocacy Committee of the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. He has seven design patents, and is co-founder of Island Joe's Tropical Café in Portland, Oregon where he lives with his family. Unable to accept his award in person, he sent a video of his extraordinary speech.

MR. PORTNUFF'S SPEECH IS POSTED ON THE INSTITUTE'S WEB SITE AT http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/assistive/aces/freeSpeech2006.htm

News

• Institute on Disabilities /PIAT will be coordinating the "AT Pavilion" at the World Congress & Expo on Disabilities to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center November 17-19. It's the world's largest disability event, dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities by sharing the latest techniques, technology and information. The AT Pavilion will display state-of-the-art assistive technology (AT) including augmentative communication, computer access, environmental controls, devices for people with hearing and vision disabilities, and AT for daily living. Admission to the Exhibit Hall is free with advance registration, at www.wcdexpo.com. Click on the yellow ticket for a free coupon!
• Diane Bryen, the Institute's Executive Director, along with Associate Director Amy Goldman and Project Coordinator Priscilla Danielson attended the 12th Biennial International Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) in Düsseldorf, Germany where Dr. Bryen presented on "ACOLUG: Augmentative Communication On-line User's Group," and on "Equal Access to the Courts for People with Significant Disabilities." Ms. Danielson presented on "Building AAC Capacity with Family and Consumer Cohorts."
• The Institute has launched an exciting new program: Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking-Inclusive Education. Teachers, parents and professionals attend a series of sessions as a team to help create a successful inclusive education experience for the individual child.
• In August, the Institute's Information Technology Coordinator, George Heake hosted more than 100 people in person and "virtually" via web cast, for a workshop on creating accessible electronic documents.

Donated quilt to be raffled; Proceeds to benefit ACES program

A beautiful, hand-made quilt was donated by the mother of a former ACES graduate during this year’s ACES closing ceremony in July. The queen-size quilt in the Lone Star pattern was created by the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous. Her son and daughter attended ACES two years ago and when she asked Diane N. Bryen, founder of ACES and Institute Executive Director, what she could do in appreciation of the program, Dr. Bryen suggested the quilt.

"Since the family are members of the Amish community in Pennsylvania, and I knew of the mother's ability as a quilter, I thought it would be a good fit," Dr. Bryen says. "The quilt exceeded my expectations. It's a lovely, one-of-a-kind piece of art."

To fulfill the quilter's intent, the Institute is holding a raffle—first prize is the quilt. All proceeds will to go to Friends of ACES.

Only 100 tickets will be sold at $50 each.

PRIZES:
First: The hand-made ACES Quilt
Second: Apple 30GB Color iPod
Third: Framed 24 x 36 poster of the ACES Quilt

Ticket drawing and awarding of the prizes will be held at the Institute on Disabilities' Open House, scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2007.

To purchase a raffle ticket, complete the form below and send it to:

Quilt Raffle / Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
University Services Building, Suite 610
1601 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

• Please make check payable to Temple University.
• Your raffle ticket will be sent to you through U.S. Postal Service.
• You do not need to be present at the drawing to win, but must present ticket at the time of prize pickup.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

November 2006

• 3 & 4 - C2P2 Transition to Adulthood Training
• 4 - Families First Training
• 9 & 10 - Mini Course Series: Dealing with Technology and Other Four Letter Words
• 10 & 11 - C2P2 Inclusive Education Training
• 14 & 21 - Families First Training
• 17 to 19 - World Congress & Expo on Disabilities, Philadelphia
• 27 - Institute on Disabilities Holiday Arts and Craft Sale

December 2006

• 1 & 2 - C2P2 Transition to Adulthood Training
• 2 - Families First Training
• 8 & 9 - C2P2 Inclusive Education Training

January 2007

• 19 & 20 - C2P2 Early Intervention 2-Day Training Session

February 2007

• 2 - C2P2 Early Intervention 2-Day Training Session
• 20 - Institute on Disabilities Open House and Quilt Raffle

NOTE: The Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families - For information on trainings for self-advocates & families in Pennsylvania, log on to The Partnership website at www.TheTrainingPartnership.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

With suggestions or comments about our newsletter, contact Susan Fullam, Dissemination Coordinator, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University: sfullam@temple.edu. Available in alternate formats, upon request.

Para información en español, favor contactar a Silvia Lee por teléfono al 215-204-9348 o por correo electrónico al latino@temple.edu

Institute on Disabilities, Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service at Temple University
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Ritter Annex Room 423 Philadelphia, PA 19122
215-204-1356 Voice/TTY
215-204-6336 Fax
http://disabilities.temple.edu

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