Assistive Technology for Kansans
Posted November 18, 2011 by Mandy Smith in Programs and Services
The Resource Center for Independent Living also houses the North East Kansas access site for Assistive Technology for Kansans(ATK) and the Kansas Equipment Exchange(KEE). Both of these programs help people with disabilities obtain needed assistive technology(AT) and medical equipment.
Assistive technology is a device or service that is used to increase the level of independence of an individual with a disability. It can range from very low-tech devices such as an adapted spoon or fork to high-tech devices like PDAs or iPads. There are over 25,000 different types of aids that are identified as Assistive Technology.
Assistive Technology can be utilized by people of all ages. Children can benefit in school by using AT devices such as communication boards or adaptive writing devices. Adults may use adapted computers or smart phones with accessible programs and services added.
ATK works with Vocational Rehabilitation to provide AT Assessments to determine needs, AT Evaluations which evaluate the impact of obtaining the correct AT devices and services, AT Training to teach a consumer how to use the equipment or service, and Technical Assistance Services which is a service other than those above that will help the consumer reach their goals. This can include equipment setup, troubleshooting, and upgrading.
The Kansas Equipment Exchange(KEE) helps Kansans obtain needed medical equipment by working with Medicaid. Durable medical equipment that was purchased with public dollars can be recovered and made available to other consumers.
Equipment can be donated to the KEE program when it is no longer needed. KEE staff will get the information from the donor, arrange to pickup the equipment, clean and sanitize it, then complete the steps necessary to add it to the list of available equipment.
When someone needs equipment, they may request it from KEE and are placed on a waiting list on a first come/first served basis. The donated equipment is matched with consumers needing equipment and KEE staff will deliver it to them. The consumer can keep the equipment, at no cost, as long as they need it and then are encouraged to donate it back to KEE when they no longer are utilizing it.
This process saves the state money by reusing items already purchased by the state and allows consumers to receive needed equipment they perhaps could not otherwise afford. You can see the list of available equipment online.
Our ATK team is headed up by Rosie Cooper and consists of Stuart Jones, Mikel McCary, John Jage, and Cathy Fagan. The KEE team is also supervised by Rosie and consists of Cathy Fagan and John Davis.
You can access ATK and the KEE programs by calling 1-800-KAN-DO-IT, you will be automatically routed to the correct access site for your location.
