Tapping Technology online Magazine
The Business of Assistive Technology Published An Article On Our Organization's Training Program On Assistive Technology. To access the full article, please visit: http://www.mdtap.org/tt/2002.12/art_4.html
Articles done on our organization's training programs by popular community newspapers that monitor and evaluate services offered by nonprofit organizations that are tailored to benefit members of the community and also catalyst for economic-empowerment and community development in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia.
The Gazette article Hyattsville/Riverdale Thursday, September 12, 2002 on our activities located on Page A-5; titled: “Nonprofit reaches milestone with graduation”. http://www.gazette.net/200237/hyattsville/news/121368-1.html
Assistive Technology Defined:
We define assistive technology as a piece of equipment or a software product that is used to increase, maintain, or assist the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. In short, it can be any device or technique that assists people in removing or reducing barriers and enhancing their daily activities. Assistive technologies include magnifiers, screen readers, closed captioning, keyboard enhancements, and highlighting software.
USF has been studying the four main categories of disabilities these are visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive and learning disabilities. Each person with a disability might encounter one or more barriers that can be eliminated or minimized by providing the person the best hands-on computer training, using the browser, the assistive technology, or the underlying operating system software and hardware platform.
USF has registered with the General Service Administration GSA, as providers of computer training to people with disabilities in support of the General Services Administration, and the Federal 508 Steering Committee in the implementation of Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794d, and electronic and information technology E⁢ accessible to people with disabilities.
USF has registered with Maryland Assistive Technology Cooperative operated by the Maryland Technology Assistance Program Governor's Office for Individuals with disabilities. USF works with Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation Services DORS.
USF provides guide for the Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit. The Maryland Tax Credit MDETC is a Maryland state tax credit administered by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) that allows employers to claim credit for employees with disabilities hired before January 1, 2006.
WHO MAY QUALIFY?
This tax credit is designed to enhance employment for individuals with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (AD). Individuals with disabilities who have been identified by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as having met the established criteria qualify for the MDETC.
USF provides training in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other employment issues. Matching qualified workers with disabilities with job opening, including Job Search Training both basic and advanced for people with disabiliti
USF helps those individuals with disabilities in putting their papers together for The Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program. The loan is specifically set aside for the purchase of the following equipment:
Wheel Chairs |
Braille equipment
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Hearing and vision aids
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Environmental control unites
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Motorized scooters
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Scanners |
Augmentative communication systems |
Computers and adaptive peripherals |
Building modifications for accessibility |
Motor vehicles modifications |
Training on how to use the purchased equipment or software |
Many other devices |
MD Assistive Technology Cooperative provides information of the Collaborating Vendors, so that members can purchase assistive equipment, software and others items at a reduced price. The following list contains the information of most of the vendors that USF has through the MD Assistive Co-op obtained credible information on their assistive technology products for our clients use.
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Ablent
1-800-322-0956
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Adaptive Technology Inc.
1-800-723-2783
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Communication Devices
Inc.
1-800-60-holly
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Don Johnston
1-800-999-4660 |
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Access First
1-888-606-6769
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Attainment
1-800-327-4269 |
Dynavox
1-800-344-1778 |
Edmark (Riverdeep)
1-800-362-2890
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Enabling Devices
1-800-832-8697
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Enkidu Research Inc.
1-800-297-9570
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Great Talking Box
1-877-275-5582 |
Hear More
1-800-881-4327 |
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Inspiration Software
1-800-877-4292
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Intellitools
1-800-899-6687 |
Laureate
1-800-562-6801 |
Maddak (Ablewaare)
1-800-443-4926
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Mayer-Johnson
1-800-588-4548
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Options by Infogrip
1-800-397-0921
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Prentk Romich Company
1-800-262-1984
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Saltillo
1-800-384-8622 |
Recommendations:
USF usally recommends that parents should check with their child's therapist or teacher to get recommendations for the software and/or equipment that best matches their child's needs and supports his/her educational program.
Purchase equipment that meets your child's needs at the present time- do not try to buy something your child might need later. Remember, in the future, newer technologies will be available that may better serve your child's needs.
  Learning Disabilities can be fun when the necessary equipment is available. Learning disabilities is made easy with modern technology. Text To Speech TTS and Speech Recognition SR can enhance the process. Learning Disabilities can be fun when the right tool is in the right place and in the hand of a right instructor.
 Physically impaired individual receives Assistive Technology Training that makes him or her to become independent. Technology has been assisting those with disabilities, and physically challenged is no longer a barrier for one's success. With a correct system configuration a physically challenged person has a broad-range of activities that can be easily performed on the computer with little no assistance. USF offers Assistive Tech Training that is designed to teach people how to install and configure system for people with disabilities. For further details:  Magnifiers are installed for visual impaired individual that enhances the quality of screen output, which can be configured with or without add-ons. Working with Assistive technology improves skills of the individual. Maryland Assistive Technology Cooperative has been a major source of USF Assistive Technology Purchasing Channel. USF recommends that parent/guardian should contact MD Assistive Technology, whenever the need to purchase such equipment arises, or contact our organization for further technical assistance. USF offers grants funded technical assistance.
Don't purchase too much at time- focus your child's time and energy on becoming competent with one communication device and or software program at a time.
If possible, borrow equipment from your school so you can try it before you buy it.
Before purchasing software and hardware, make sure that it is compatible with your home computer (MAC or PC), and that your computer has all the necessary resources including the (memory, space on the hard disk, sound and video cards) with drivers loaded and configured. USF offers help in this area. Please call if you need help setting up your home or office for People with Disabilities.
If you need financial assistance to purchase assistive technology for your child or a relative, you should contact Tony Rice or Michael Dalton (MD A.T. Guaranteed Loan Program, 1-800-TECH-TAP). You can also obtain information on the Assistive technology finance at:
USF offers assistance to those that need more information on the Assistive Technology. USF also offers Training on the installation and configuration of most Assistive Technology Equipment and Software. AssistiveTechTraining:
USF is an advocate of the Section 508 of the General Services Administration, and the Federal 508 Steering Committee in the implementation of Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794d, and electronic and information technology E⁢ accessible to people with disabilities.
 The resident George W. Bush officially inaugurates the Full implementation of Section 508. We've asked Congress to increase funding to bring assistive technologies to market more quickly, to help make them more affordable for the people who need them, and to speed research in developing new technology. Captec Assistive Technology Center U.S. Department of Defense.
Section 508 eased for charge cards
Interim rule exempts small purchases from accessibility enforcement until October 2004.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1230/web-access-01-02-03.asp
USF is a minority managed non-profit organization. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, or disability. Applicants using wheel chairs will utilize Our Main Campus at Finns Lane location which is wheel chair assessable. Other arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis according to individual needs.
Many people in our community children and adult need training in Information Technology. They do not even have a computer to commence their IT Carrier Training. They are willing to be trained, but the money is not available. |
