AT NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 1, NO. 4
Assistive Technology
Plain & Simple
News from the Arizona Technology Access Program
Volume 1, No. 4 * Winter 2001-02
This edition of Plain & Simple is devoted to Assistive Technology in the Workplace
By Jill Sherman-Pleasant, AzTAP Project Director
My
mom passed away suddenly two months ago, forcing my 75-year-old father to deal
head on with the issues of living alone after 54 years of marriage. For the
past fifteen years, my mom handled all the day-to-day financial transactions
for the two of them. This was a mutually satisfying arrangement. It was good
for my father because his reading abilities are impaired by macular degeneration.
And my mom basically had free rein with the checkbook, supporting many local
businesses through her frequent shopping trips in Florida’s Palm Beach
County. However, as a widower with poor vision, my dad was now faced with the
vision-related dilemma of how to pay his monthly bills.
Being the oldest and most favorite child (I can get away with writing this because my four siblings are not on the newsletter’s mailing list) and a so-called assistive technology specialist, I took it upon myself to speak to my dad about assistive technology options that might help him independently manage his money. I explained about low-tech items such as a plastic check-writing template as well as a high tech CCTV system that would magnify the print on his bills and other correspondence.
My father is not what one would ever call a technophile; “techno weenie” is a more apt description. He can handle the remote control for the television (after all he is a man), he dislikes the telephone, refuses to consider a hearing aid, and is as computer illiterate as they get. So my suggestions did not exactly meet with enthusiastic interest. He looked at me as though I was from another planet (does Arizona count in that category?). His immediate response was to tell me thanks, but no thanks. He later added he didn’t think he needed stuff like that right now, but would be willing to revisit the issue when he turns 80! Besides, he had his own “no tech” solution: he was going to hire a bookkeeper to come to the house twice a month to pay his bills.
So why am I telling you this little family story? First of all, our story is not unique. As the parents of the baby boom generation and the baby boomers themselves age, increased attention will need to be paid to maintaining independence through a continuum of services including assistive technology. Secondly, my conversation with my father was a reminder that although assistive technology options that enhance independent living are available, they may not be the solution of choice for everyone. Clearly, my father did not have any first hand experience with such products, nor did I have any devices with me that I could demonstrate, so lack of awareness certainly could be considered a barrier in this instance. But my father had his own ideas and resources to maintain his independence, and this was the path he chose to take at this time. Assistive technology professionals need to respect and honor the choices that consumers make.
For right now “no tech” seems to be the best tech for dad. But I have five years before his 80th birthday to again pitch my case for assistive technology. My mom passed away suddenly two months ago, forcing my 75-year-old father to deal head on with the issues of living alone after 54 years of marriage. For the past fifteen years, my mom handled all the day-to-day financial transactions for the two of them. This was a mutually satisfying arrangement. It was good for my father because his reading abilities are impaired by macular degeneration. And my mom basically had free rein with the checkbook, supporting many local businesses through her frequent shopping trips in Florida’s Palm Beach County. However, as a widower with poor vision, my dad was now faced with the vision-related dilemma of how to pay his monthly bills.
Independent Living for Native Americans
By Michael H. Blatchford, Executive Director, ASSIST! to Independence
Many people, when hearing the term independent living, probably think about the movement that started in Berkeley three decades ago with the radical notion that people with disabilities had a right to make their own decisions and life choices. At that time, many people with disabilities were still institutionalized, regardless of their function or cognitive level. Out of this movement grew the philosophy that people with disabilities (now called consumers) should have control and input into programs and services that affected their lives, and equal access to the community. Independent living is the right to control and take charge of your life. It doesn’t mean wanting to do everything by yourself or living in isolation. Independent living means having the same choices and control in your daily life that non-disabled friends, neighbors and family members take for granted. This includes taking risks, assuming responsibility, and having the same opportunities to succeed or fail.
In order to be considered an “Independent Living Center”, at least in the eyes of the federal government, an organization must meet the following criteria:
- have a Board of Directors comprised of at least 51% of people with disabilities
- have 2/3 of paid employees be individuals with disabilities and
- provide four core independent living services consisting of: Information and Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Individual and Systems Advocacy, and Peer Mentoring. Information & Referral provides an individual access as to what services are available, and then helps explain how to get appropriate services. Skills Training is tailored to personal need, and may be done on an individual basis or in a group. Some examples of this type of training include money management, personal care, coping skills, equipment maintenance, cooking and social skills.
(Tuba City Advisory Board)
Systems advocacy works to empower others to promote changes within their environments. An advocate is simply someone who knows the process for getting needed services, and will help you learn how to speak for yourself and gain access to those services.
Peer mentoring involves working with an individual with a disability who has gained a certain level of independence and community integration, and who is willing to share experiences and knowledge with the consumer.
In Native American culture, there is no one word for “disability”. A person will be described by their characteristics, such as ’walks with a limp’ or ’ slow to learn’. As a result, most native people, when asked, will not self-identify as being a person with a disability, and will typically not seek out services identified specifically for this population. In our culture, having these types of characteristics means that we are not in harmony with the four aspects of well-being, which creates an imbalance. To be in harmony, one needs balance between the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual parts of oneself. Sometimes a blessing or ceremony is helpful in gaining insight into an area that one has lost touch with in order to restore balance.
Independent living, and the independent living philosophy cannot be easily integrated into Indian Country without major adaptations, which allow services to be more culturally appropriate. In Native culture, our identity is strongly connected to our sense of place and our connection to the land. For most people with disabilities in the independent living movement, they strongly identify with being a part of the “disabled community”. The perspective for Native Americans is much different. For example, I am Indian first, a male second, and a person with a disability third. Our identity is in our cultural heritage, and the community we live in.
For many people living in urban areas, or for most people of the “dominant” culture, advocacy and indpendence revolves around individual rights and individual decisions; in other words the person with the disability is assertive and makes all their own decisions and choices. In Native culture, decisions are made by the family after options are presented. The choices being made do not only affect the person with a disability, but the entire family and ultimately the entire community. These are just a few of the examples of cultural differences and how they affect “independent living” for Native Americans.
ASSIST! to Independence has the unique distinction of being the only Independent Living Center and Regional Resource Center for Assistive Technology on tribal lands in the United States. Our mission is to provide culturally relevant services to a cross disability American Indian population, which will enhance quality of life and community access through maximizing independence and improving functional skills. Some major barriers to basic services on the Reservation include geographic isolation, language barriers, cultural differences, lack of resource information, lack of basic utilities, and lack of transportation. For us, the assistive technology and independent living services work hand in hand. The bottom line for most people is that they want to remain in their own homes and be able to continue daily activities, whether it is herding sheep, cooking or weaving. Technology has been a bridge for many people here, allowing for an alternative way for someone to continue the same activities as before. Independent living is really about freedom of choice, and it doesn’t have to be anything earth shattering. I remember when I first traded in my old manual wheelchair for a power wheelchair; being able to turn around and leave the room when someone was boring me or making me angry was such an amazingly powerful thing.
Freedom...Choice...Independence!
Announcing....
Arizona Loans for Assistive
Technology (AzLAT)
AzTAP has been awarded a grant from NIDRR to establish an affordable financial loan program for qualified consumers who want to buy assistive technology. If you would like more information, please contact the AzTAP office at (602) 776-4670.
The Web Geanious
Web-based Independent Living Resources
By Chris Geanious, Systems Analyst
The Independent Living Movement has dramatically enhanced its scope and reach through the utilization of the technologies and resources available on the Internet and the World Wide Web. The two phenomena (The Independent Living Movement and the WWW) are related and simpatico for a variety of reasons. Foremost of which is that both have been grassroots driven and thrive on the participation and input from a spectrum of individuals from all walks of life. The Independent Living Movement has realized the promise of the Internet by utilizing a wide range of technologies to disseminate information and foster communication.
This month I would like to share several examples of the variety of Independent Living resources available via the Internet. Once again, the vastness of the present day Net prohibits an exhaustive look at the topic in this space, so I will present a sampling of Websites, Mailing Lists, and other areas of interest.
A good place to start is the ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) website at http://www.ilru.org. The ILRU program is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living. Its goal is two fold:
- expand the body of knowledge in independent living
- improve utilization of results of research programs and demonstration projects in this field.
It is a program of The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, which is a nationally recognized medical rehab facility for people with disabilities.
Their site is an example of a well-planed Independent Living (IL) website. It offers a range of resources from grant writing tools, state by state annual Independent Living Performance Report Summaries, training resources, and a training calendar. The site also acts as a portal to a wide range of IL related discussion groups and databases.
This is an appropriate segue for an introduction to the DIMENET Network. http://www.dimenet.com DIMENET is a national computer networking system that provides access for communications and information sharing. It is accessible in multiple locations and is designed for individuals involved in the disability rights and independent living movements. DIMENET addresses a primary responsibility of the Independent Living Centers: To empower people with disabilities through knowledge transfer. Through the use of the DIMENET network, individuals have access to information via online bulletin boards, electronic mail, USENET newsgroups, and the World Wide Web. They also feature an online Center for Independent Living.
Which reminds me to mention, last but not least, CyberCIL. http://www.CyberCIL.org CyberCIL is the brainchild of Bob Michaels who created CyberCIL to be the first online Center for Independent Living. In the short time it has been in existence, CyberCIL has delivered a robust site with the range of resources and features one would expect from a brick and mortar CIL. Upon entering the Core Services Area on is presented with doorways to Information and Referral, Skills Training, Peer Counseling, and Advocacy. These Core Service Areas are filled with links, articles, bulletin boards, chat rooms and contacts to real people to help deal with Independent Living issues. Space prevents a more detailed description of this site but I recommend a visit.
In summary, there is a wealth of information and contacts to be made on the WWW for those interested in Independent Living. An entry of Independent Living on any search engine will return thousands of choices. Enjoy!
Reaching Out
Assistive Technology Bag of Tricks
By Randy Collins, Outreach/Training Coordinator
Independent living is assistive technology - the two are inseparable. When I think of independent living I immediately think of words like freedom, choice, dignity, empowerment, ability and of course independence. Assistive technology (AT) offers all people with disabilities the opportunity to have greater freedom of choice; it enhances our abilities. Assistive technology allows us to become more and more independent and being so, we become empowered to make the daily choices in life that contribute to the dignity all human beings deserve. In short, assistive technology offers us more choices in life and the greater number of choices we have, the greater our independence becomes.
I have a friend, Teresa McMorran, who refers to my assistive technology presentations as “Randy’s bag of tricks.” Nothing gives me greater pleasure than showing people different types of assistive technology. As a person with a disability, I am always excited to see the latest in AT. It’s a thrill for me. Who wouldn’t enjoy showing AT to people? I recently came across assistive listening technology that permits me to hear conference calls much better. It’s a small thing perhaps, but the independence it gives me is wonderful. I know how important assistive technology can be. More so, part of becoming more independent is deciding for yourself what type of assistive technology is or is not of great importance to you. It is, and it should be YOUR choice.
At AzTAP we often order our bag of tricks from catalogues. However, you can also find exactly what you need in retail stores. I recently found an item at a toy store for $7.00 that will allow a deaf adult to take Jazzercise. Here are two resources that have low and high technology and a number of great items for all disabilities that cost just a few dollars:
Independent Living Aids, Inc.
200 Robbins Lane
Jericho, NY 11753
1.800.537.2118
They will send you a free catalogue. They offer things like nail clippers with a magnifying glass attached or large print cookbooks or bath and shower seat or mobile storage carts with removable baskets.
ABLEDATA
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 930
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
1.800.227.0216
ABLEDATA isn’t a company but rather an agency working under a federal grant to provide information about all types of assistive technology. Their web site is excellent and extensive. You can search by product, or company or disability. When I am looking for AT on the Internet I often start here.
Legislative Update
SB 1080 requires state funded agencies to purchase accessible information technology after July 1, 2003. This means that people with disabilities should have better access to information kiosks, state computer systems, and other informational media when working for and interacting with their state government.
For those of you who want to educate the Senate Government Committee on S.B.1080 Access to Information Technology please contact the following:
Senator Harry E. Mitchell
Chairman of Senate Government Committee
State Senate
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Az 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4124
Fax: (602) 542-3429
Email: hmitchel@azleg.state.az.us
Edward L. Myers III., Esq.
Policy and Funding Specialist
Arizona Technology Access Program
IHD/NAU
4105 N. 20th St. Suite 260
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone:602-776-4699
Email: Edward.Myers@nau.edu
What’s New to View at the RRC’s
Bathtub/Shower Modifications
By Beth Pifer, ASSIST! to Independence
One of the most difficult tasks for many people with disabilities, and older individuals is taking a shower. Most accidents at home occur in the bathroom. Here on the Reservation, many of the bathrooms were “add on’s” to the home after the fact. The bathtub/shower appliances have been built up on top of a concrete slab, with a drain that runs to the side, rather than down. This adds an additional 3 to 4 inches to the tub height, making it about 23 inches off the ground. Many times a person will crawl into the tub, but getting out is an altogether different story. These tubs are also too high to be able to use a tub transfer bench. So even if an individual uses a wheelchair and can transfer, this type of tub will be inaccessible to them.
A fairly simple environmental modification, based on the person’s functional skills and abilities, can make a huge difference in terms of safety and accessibility. This type of modification involves removing the existing appliance and replacing with either a walk-in or a roll-in shower base. A walk-in shower has about a 3-inch threshold, and is designed for an individual who is able to ambulate, but lacks the strength or coordination in all extremities to get into a standard bathtub.
(Before Walk-in)
(After Walk-in)
A roll-in shower is for an individual who is unable to stand or bear weight, such as a quadriplegic, and is designed with a minimal threshold that allows a shower/commode chair to roll directly into the shower. This type of intervention right now costs approximately $2500. We have been successful in collaborating with the State IL program and the ALTCS environmental access program to get these projects funded on the Reservation.
(Before Roll-in)
(After Roll-in)
ElizaBeth Pifer, BSEE, ATP, CEAC
Director
Rehab Technology Services
ASSIST! to Independence
P.O. Box 4133
Tuba City, AZ 86045
(928) 283-6261
A Simple Thought
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
- Milton Berle
Dollar$ and $ense
Olmstead
By Ed Myers, Policy and Funding Specialist
The right to community living for the disabled received a qualified legal boost from the United States Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. Some individuals praise Olmstead as an example of the Supreme Court’s willingness to recognize the right of the disabled to community living while properly balancing States’ budgetary interests while others see Olmstead as nothing more than the Supreme Court once again gutting sweeping Civil Rights legislation under the banner of “states’ rights”. This dichotomy regarding Olmstead has left many in the disability community confused regarding their rights to community living in general and in particular acquiring assistive technology to assure successful community placement.
Olmstead involved two developmentally disabled women who were diagnosed with mental illnesses and where voluntarily admitted to a regional psychiatric unit. Over time their treatment professionals concluded that each of the women could be properly cared for in a community based setting. Despite the recommendation, the women remained institutionalized. As a result, they filed a civil rights lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act to obtain their freedom. The case made it to the United States’ Supreme Court.
The Olmstead decision recognized certain caveats regarding community placement. The Court emphasized that neither the ADA nor its implementing regulations “condones termination of institutional settings for persons unable to handle or benefit from community placement”. The Olmstead does not require community placement for those who do not want it. The Court concluded that the ADA couldn’t be reasonably interpreted as requiring State’s to close institutions or place individuals with disabilities in inappropriate placements such as a homeless shelter. Significantly, however, the Court recognized that “Unjustified isolation . . . is properly regarded as discrimination based on disability”.
The Court concluded States needed to maintain a range of facilities and to administer services with an even hand while providing access to community services. To accomplish this goal, a State must develop a comprehensive, effective working plan for placing qualified persons with disabilities in less restrictive settings and have waiting lists move at a “reasonable pace” not controlled by the State’s endeavors to keep its institutions fully populated.
With input from several advocacy organizations as well as AzTAP, Arizona prepared it’s Olmsteadplan for community integration in August of 2001. Some guiding principles that Arizona’s Olmstead plan includes person centered care management, consistency of services, available and accessible services, consumer choice integrated setting, and collaboration of stakeholders. For its part, AzTAP has agreed to provide recommendations and provide training to clients, case managers, and direct care providers for improved assessment and use of assistive technology to ensure successful community placement.
If you have any recommendations that you think AzTAP should address regarding Olmstead issues, please contact Edward Myers, Policy and Funding Coordinator, 602-776-4699 or Edward.Myers@nau.edu
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Disability Access Guide
Many travelers with disabilities who use Phoenix Sky Harbor airport don’t know it but Sky Harbor has a web page specifically for travelers with disabilities. On their internet site is Dial-A-Ride information, TTY numbers for rental car agencies and the phone numbers for lift equipped vehicles, the location of high profile vehicle parking, and information for people who are blind such as where and how to obtain Braille restaurant menus in the each Terminal. There is also detailed information for locating amplified phones and TTYs. This is a site worth visiting and bookmaking for future use. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport - http://www.phxskyharbor.com/travel_assist/needs.html%20
In the Spotlight
Martha Lewis
AzTAP is pleased to welcome Martha Lewis as the Project’s new secretary. Martha is well known to many of us through out interactions with her at Southwest Human Development where she was the secretary for their assistive technology program for three and one-half years. Her familiarity and experience with assistive technology combined with her bilingual abilities (Spanish) will certainly be important assets to AzTAP.
Martha has four children (two sons and two daughters) and is a very devoted (and young) grandmother to nine grandchildren, all under the age of seven. She has a Corgi named Sheba, enjoys music and dancing and is a talented at drawing and sketching. Martha recently returned to Phoenix after a short stint in San Diego, and we are glad she’s back. You can reach her at 602-728-9534 or at Martha.Lewis@nau.edu.
What’s Happening?
On the A.T. Calendar?
February
2/12/02 A.T. Interest Group
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earll Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 266-5976
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The topics are geared toward parents, caregivers, and consumers in the 0-21 age group.
March
3/09/02 A.T. Interest Group
10:00 AM - Noon
UCP of Central Arizona
321 W. Hatcher
Phoenix, AZ
(602)43-5472
This group meets the second Saturday of each month. The topics are geared toward adult service providers, day program aids, case managers, vocational counselors, caregivers, therapists, parents, and consumers in the 21 and older age range.
3/12/02 A.T. Interest Group
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earll Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 266-5976
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The topics are geared toward parents, caregivers, and consumers in the 0-21 age group.
3/18-23/02 CSUN’s 17th Annual International Conference
“Technology and Persons with Disabilities”
- Hilton Los Angeles Airport and Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotels
Sponsored by the Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge
For more conference information: www.csun.edu/cod/
April
4/4-5/02 Reservation Assistive Technology Conference
Window Rock Unified School District
Fort Defiance, Arizona
Contact: Marilynn Freeland
E-Mail: mfreeland@navajo.org
4/09/02 A.T. Interest Group
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earll Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 266-5976
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The topics are geared toward parents, caregivers, and consumers in the 0-21 age group.
4/13/02 A.T. Interest Group
10:00 AM - Noon
UCP of Central Arizona
321 W. Hatcher
Phoenix, AZ
(602)43-5472
This group meets the second Saturday of each month. The topics are geared toward adult service providers, day program aids, case managers, vocational counselors, caregivers, therapists, parents, and consumers in the 21 and older age range.
May
5/11/02 A.T. Interest Group
10:00 AM - Noon
UCP of Central Arizona
321 W. Hatcher
Phoenix, AZ
(602)43-5472
This group meets the second Saturday of each month. The topics are geared toward adult service providers, day program aids, case managers, vocational counselors, caregivers, therapists, parents, and consumers in the 21 and older age range.
5/14/02 A.T. Interest Group
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earll Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 266-5976
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The topics are geared toward parents, caregivers, and consumers in the 0-21 age group.
June
6/08/02 A.T. Interest Group
10:00 AM - Noon
UCP of Central Arizona
321 W. Hatcher
Phoenix, AZ
(602)43-5472
This group meets the second Saturday of each month. The topics are geared toward adult service providers, day program aids, case managers, vocational counselors, caregivers, therapists, parents, and consumers in the 21 and older age range.
6/10-14/02 Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)
Embassy Suites Biltmore
2630 E. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016-4206
This certificate can provide professionals credibility in the AT field. The training will be offered with 52-hours of on-line instruction, 40 hours of live training, and an 8-hour project in 5 locations across the country.
6/11/02 A.T. Interest Group
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Southwest Human Development
202 E. Earll Drive
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 266-5976
This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The topics are geared toward parents, caregivers, and consumers in the 0-21 age group.
6/20-21/02 5th Annual Assistive Technology Summer Institute
Assistive Technology: Tasks, Not Just Tools.
Flagstaff, Arizona
Contact: Martha Lewis
Phone: (602) 728-9534
E-Mail: Martha.Lewis@nau.edu
Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired
The AzTAP regional resource centers, the AT Lab on campus at NAU in Flagstaff, and centers for independent living - SMILE in Yuma and New Horizons in Prescott have been established as telecommunications demonstration centers for the Arizona Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program. If you qualify you may be eligible for free telecommunications equipment. Questions? Call the center nearest you or visit the program website where you can download an application http://www.aztedp.org/ or call Randy Collins at AzTAP at (602) 728-9533 V/TTY.
Assistive Technology Plain & Simple is published 3 times a year by the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP). This document was developed by the Arizona Technology Access Program. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Grant #H224A40002. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of NIDRR, or the U.S. Department of Education, and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Arizona Technology Access Program
Institute For Human Development
Northern Arizona University
4105 N. 20th Street, Suite 260
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: (602) 728-9534 or (800) 477-9921;
TTY: (602) 728-9536; FAX: (602) 728-9535
Website: www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap
(602) 728-9532 Jill Sherman-Pleasant, Director
(602) 728-9533 Randy Collins, Outreach/Training Coordinator
(602) 776-4699 Edward Myers, Funding & Policy Specialist
(928) 523-7050 Chris Geanious, Systems Analyst
(602) 776-4670 Pamela Alcala, Administrative Assistant
(602) 728-9534 Martha Lewis, Administrative Secretary
This document is available in alternative formats by calling (602) 728-9534, and on the World Wide Web at www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap.
NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
