AT NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 1, NO. 1
Assistive Technology
Plain & Simple
News from the Arizona Technology Access Program
Volume 1, No. 1 * Jan/Feb/Mar
Who - What - Where
The Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) was established in October
1994, and is part of a national network of technology-related assistance programs
funded by the U.S. Department of Education National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The Institute for Human Development at
Northern Arizona University was designated by the Governor to serve as the lead
agency and fiscal agent for the program.
The mission of AzTAP is to (a) increase access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services for individuals with disabilities and their families, and (b) facilitate the development of a consumer-responsive AT service delivery system. Program staff work with consumers, service providers, state agencies, private industry, legislators, and other interested individuals to facilitate the development of a statewide system to provide AT services.
AzTAP is staffed by nine employees. Pictured from left to right: Chris Geanious, System Support Specialist, Randy Collins, Training and Outreach Coordinator, Melvin Selestewa, Office Clerk, Edward Myers, Policy and Funding Specialist, Jill Sherman-Pleasant, Director, Zaida Lopez, Secretary, Pamela Alcala, Administrative Assistant, and not shown are Janis Nicols and Becky Burden, Graduate Assistants.
AzTAP STAFF
Assistive Technology Advisory Board
The Assistive Technology Advisory Board (ATAB) is a statewide team of consumers, providers, and other individuals who work within the AT service delivery system in Arizona.
The board prioritizes program activities, provides guidance to AzTAP, assists with monitoring and evaluating the program, and serves as a statewide network for addressing needed systems changes.
The current members of the ATAB are:
Ezward Bachard, Consumer Representative, Statewide Independent Living Council
Mike Buckley, Vendor Representative, Agassiz Healthcare Supply
Louette Coulson, Agency Representative, Division of Developmental Disabilities
froma Cummings, Consumer Representative
Julie Gasaway, Agency Representative, Arizona Department of Education
David Gilmartin, Consumer Representative
Mary Keeney, Provider Representative
Susan Le Hew, Agency Representative, Rehabilitation Services Administration
Dina Lesperance, Agency Representative, Arizona Center for Disability Law
Bethe Mahalik, Consumer Representative
Eve Picquette, Agency Representative, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Tom Simmons, Consumer Representative, Governor’s Councel on Blindness and Visual Impairment
Denise Thompson, Agency Representative, Arizona Office for Americans with Disabilities
By Definition
Assistive Technology (as defined in the Assistive Technology Act of 1998) is any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Inside this Issue
Supporting Assistive Technology in Arizona’s Communities....Page 2
Accessibility and the Web: Where we are headed...Page 2
The Direction of Assistive Technology Legislation....Page 4
Assistive Technology Resource Centers in Arizona....Page 4
What’s Happening (AT Calendar of Events)....Page 5
In the SpotLight....Page 6
A Message From The Director
Now that we are into 2001, it’s probably fair to say that many of the New
Year’s Resolutions that we earnestly made at the end of 2000 have vaporized
or just disappeared somewhere in cyberspace, but not all of them! AzTAP staff
got a jump on New Year’s Resolutions by deciding last fall to create a
quarterly newsletter about our activities. I am therefore, very pleased to demonstrate
that we have kept this New Year’s resolution and carried out our good
intentions. Welcome to the first edition of Assistive Technology: Plain and
Simple.
In 1998 when Congress passed the Assistive Technology Act reauthorizing the continuation of funding for the State Tech Act Projects, four priorities or required activities were established: (a) public awareness; (b) interagency coordination, (c) technical assistance and training; and, (d) outreach. We envision this newsletter as an information-sharing tool to enhance our ability to implement facets of these required activities.
Our goal is to increase AzTAP’s visibility as the coordinating entity for assistive technology in Arizona. We want you to learn about our programs and our collaborative partnerships, become more informed about the need for, benefits of, and other resources to access assistive technology devices and services in this state. There is much work that needs to done to make technology universally available to persons with disabilities, but as Calvin Coolidge once said “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.”
To Put It Plain and Simple
Supporting Assistive Technology in Arizona’s Communities
AzTAP recently awarded competitive grants in the amount of $10,000 each to three community-based organizations to promote the use of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. The review committee of the Technology Initiative Program (TIP), selected innovative proposals that targeted rural, traditional, or non-traditional underserved populations. Each of the awards is for a one-year term. Congratulations to the following organizations:
- New Way Learning Academy of Scottsdale, is an established private, nonprofit school for students with learning disabilities. They will use their grant funds to develop a summer Computer Tools Program to help learning disabled and underachieving high school students utilize four different assistive technology programs to enhance their classroom participation and productivity as well as to increase their successful use of technological aids after graduation.
- Valley Center of the Deaf is a private nonprofit organization in Phoenix operating under the umbrella of Catholic community Services. Their grant funds will go towards developing a non-sales environment technology center for the deaf and hard of hearing. The center will also provide outreach regarding assistive technology for the deaf and hard of hearing to senior citizens and individuals in rural communities.
- Arts for All/Third Street Kids is a community-based organization in Tucson that offers disability provider services and training in the visual and performing arts for children and adults with and without disabilities. Their grant will provide accessible communication devices for use by speech-impaired children and adults participating in Arts for All day programs, afterschool, respite care and/or arts classes. Additionally, they have purchased a Braille embosser and supporting software to produce Braille formats of scripts, playbills, newsletters, song sheets, programs and literature for persons who are blind.
The Web Geanious
(written by Chris Geanious)
Accessibility and the Web: Where We Are Headed
Recently, I received a phone call from a distressed friend who develops software for online university courses. Gary is an educator as well as a programmer and was very animated in his questions to me. His concerns? Web accessibility and the legal implications of inaccessible sites. He senses a time bomb ticking.
The source of my friend’s dismay concerns not only his own work. There are hundreds if not thousands of web pages and distributed software products that have been released by our university alone with no real regard for their accessibility. The realization is dawning that we, as web developers and online educators, have a lot of work to do.
The basis for these concerns is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm). In the ten years since its enactment, the ADA has changed the face of American society. It has done so primarily by tearing down barriers to physical access to many areas of our public places. The enactment of Section 508 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508home.html) is fueling the same transformation of our computers and the Internet. The result will be a level playing field and access to information by all Americans.
The problem at this point is that the word has not gotten out about these requirements for online content and software. And, unfortunately, the word will probably only get around once there are lawsuits regarding non-compliance with Section 508.
Below are links to Web sites with related information:
Is Your Site ADA-Compliant ... or a Lawsuit-in-Waiting? http://www.icdri.org/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/index.shtml
Applying the ADA to the Internet: A Web Accessibility Standard http://www.rit.edu/~easi/law/weblaw1.htm
City of San Jose Web Page Disability Access Design Standard http://www.sjhousing.org/dads.html
Accessible Web Design. ERIC Digest. http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed435384.html
Reception Invitation
The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) cordially invites you and a friend to a reception to learn about the “Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)” which will be coming to Phoenix in June 2001.
This dynamic in-service certificate program is designed for individuals who seek to enhance their professional development and skill level by earning a certificate in Assistive Technology Applications from California State University, Northridge’s College of Extended Learning. This 100-hour certificate program is made up of three platforms: 52-hours of on-line instruction, 40-hours of live instruction and an 8-hour application project. Come learn more about the program!!
February 13
6:00 — 7:30 PM (immediately following the AT Special Interest Group Meeting)
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earl Drive, Suite 110
Phoenix, AZ 85012
RSVP: kirk.behnke@csun.edu
Directions: Call Cheryl Belitsky or Martha Lewis at SWHD (602) 266-5976
Dollar$ and $ense
(written by Ed Myers)
The Direction of Assistive Technology Legislation
The upcoming year will produce a considerable amount of activity in the area of policy and funding for assistive technology both nationally and at the state level.
Beginning in January of 2001, Medicare will begin covering augmentative communication devices for Medicare recipients. This policy implementation will open the door to many persons who have speech/language impairments by providing access to these devices.
Guidelines for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which grants state employees with disabilities and the general public comparable access to information technology, will go into effect early in 2001. AzTAP will be working closely with Arizona’s Government Information Technology Agency to ensure that similar guidelines are implemented for the state of Arizona.
AzTAP will be working with the Governor’s Office on Developmental Disabilities to achieve passage of two Assistive Technology Bills. The first is a mirror of Section 508 and would make Section 508 state law. In addition, it would apply to all agencies and branches of state government that receive funding, unless there is an undue burden.
AzTAP is also working on the passage of legislation, which would allow school districts to transfer assistive technology to other school districts when the child leaves the district. In addition, it would allow school districts to transfer devices to other agencies as well as to parents after the child graduates from high school.
If you have any questions or would like more information please call: Ed Myers JD, Policy and Funding Specialist at 602-776-4699.
Reaching Out
(written by Randy Collins)
Who is Randy Collins?
Let’s start at the beginning, as in fact this is the beginning of a new newsletter and a new column. I’ll introduce myself and then tell you a bit about some of the plans I have for this column. Later you can share your input with me. I’d like to know what you would like to hear about or your feelings about a column I’ve written.
If you asked me to describe myself one of the first things I would tell you is that I am hard of hearing. It is surely a part of me as is the shiny bald spot on the top of my head. My first experience with Assistive Technology (AT) happened when someone at the Veteran’s Administration told me many years ago that my type of hearing loss wouldn’t benefit from hearing aids. I didn’t wear hearing aids for years until I discovered by accident that hearing aids would help me. Help me they did, they changed my world. And by the way, I have hearing aids from the Veteran’s Administration—they’ve changed too. AT will enhance the quality of life for all people who are disabled, and most people will be disabled at some point in their lives. So in a very true sense AT is for everyone.
As AzTAP’s Outreach and Training Coordinator, I will address Assistive Technology in terms of what is available, where you can find it, and possibilities for funding. AT is hot. It is a growing field and a popular one. Changes are rapid. That’s good news for all of us. In the future you’ll find good news here and as much about AT as we can cram in the column.
If you have any questions regarding AT training and outreach issues, please feel free to call me at 602-728-9533 (voice) or 602-728-9536 (TTY)
What’s New to View at the RRC’s
Assistive Technology Resource Centers in Arizona
Four Regional Resource Centers (RRCs) have been funded by AzTAP to provide direct assistive technology services to persons with disabilities.
Services provided by the RRCs include:
- Assistance with Self-Advocacy
- Equipment Loans
- Demonstration and Training
- User Support Groups
- Information and Referral (I&R)
- Assistance with AT Selection
- Outreach to Underserved Groups
- Outreach to Surrounding Communities
- Technical Suport/Troubleshooting
Adaptive Kitchen at Assist! to Independence
Regional Resource Centers in Arizona
|
ASSIST! to Independence Contact: Ann O’Connor PO Box 4133 Tuba City, AZ 86045 (928) 283-6261 Voice/TTY (928) 283-6672 Voice/TTY (928) 283-6284 Fax (888) 848-1449 Toll-Free E-Mail: assist@cybertrails.com |
Southwest Human Development Contact: Cheryl Belitsky 202 E. Earll Drive, Suite 140 Phoenix, AZ 85012 (602) 266-5976 Ext. 109 Voice (602) 274-8952 Fax (602) 266-5976 Ext. 324 TTY/TDD E-Mail: cherylb@swhd.org website: www.swhd.org |
Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT) Contact: Paula Feeney 4710 E. 29th Street, PO Box 13178 Tucson, AZ 85732-3178 (520) 745-5588 Ext. 1265 Voice (520) 790-7637 Fax E-Mail: tact1@qwestoffice.net website: www.atacess.org |
Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT) Contact: Paula Feeney 4710 E. 29th Street, PO Box 13178 Tucson, AZ 85732-3178 (520) 745-5588 Ext. 1265 Voice (520) 790-7637 Fax E-Mail: tact1@qwestoffice.net website: www.atacess.org |
What’s Happening
January
1/30/01 Arizona Technology Advisory Board Meeting
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Pamela Alcala, AzTAP
(928) 523-5879
Crowne Plaza North Phoenix @ Metrocenter
2532 W. Peoria
Phoenix, Arizona
February
2/13/01 AT Special Interest Group Meeting
4:30 -6:00 p.m.
Contact: Cheryl Belitsky
(602) 266-5976
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earl Drive, Suite 110
Phoenix, AZ 85012
2/13/01 CSUN ATACP Reception (see page 3)
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Contact: Cheryl Belitsky or Martha Lewis
(602) 266-5976
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earl Drive, Suite 11
Phoenix, AZ 85012
March
3/5/01 Dynamic Displays presented by Linda Burkhart
Contact: Cindy Blair
(602) 943-5472
UCP of Central Arizona
321 W. Hatcher Road, Suite 102
Phoenix, AZ 85021
3/19-24/01 CSUN Technology and Persons with Disabilities
Contact: www.csun.edu/cod/
(818) 677-2578
Los Angeles, CA
April
4/23-25/01 Inter Tribal Council on Aging Conference
Contact: Lee Begay
(602) 258-4822
Tucson, AZ
June
6/11-15/01 CSUN Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)
Contact: Kirk Behnke at kirk.behnke@csun.edu
Phoenix, Arizona
6/28-29/01 Access to Success; Statewide Employment Conference
Contact: Linda Lund-Wyatt
(602) 542-6049
July
7/5/01-7/6/01 Assistive Technology Summer Insititute
Contact: Jill Sherman-Pleasant, AzTAP
(602) 728-9534
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
For more disability-related events, please check the Institute for Human Development website at www.nau.edu/ihd
In the Spotlight
Zaida Lopez
The friendly voice answering the phone in our Phoenix office belongs to Zaida Lopez, AzTAP project secretary. Bilingual as the result of spending her first nine years in the Mexican State of Baja California, she is a graduate of Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix and has attended classes at both the Art Institute of Phoenix and Northern Arizona University. Zaida’s excellent communication skills can be attributed in part to her “MOUSEster” Degree in communication from “Disney University”. Zaida completed a six-month training program at Disney’s center in Orlando.
Easygoing, with an irreverent sense of humor, Zaida is responsible for handling the day to day AzTAP office activities including answering the phones, providing information to consumers, ordering supplies, handling the mail, typing and copying, etc. She is the person to contact for issues regarding accounts payable. Zaida came to AzTAP with a sensitivity to people with disabilities from her high school days and certainly has learned a lot about assistive technology since she began this job in November of 1999. We are glad she is a member of the AzTAP team!
