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Baltimore, MD - The Maryland Department of Aging has expanded a statewide initiative to provide mobility equipment and funding for assistive communication devices and support to people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) living in Maryland. The initiative is a partnership between the department’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Re-Use program and Bridging Voice, a non-profit organization that helps people with ALS with their communication and technology needs.
“Our agreement with Bridging Voice makes DME Re-Use a multiservice resource for people with ALS to obtain mobility equipment like powered wheelchairs and communication devices and technology support to maintain independence throughout the stages of ALS progression,” said DME Re-Use Director Ian Edwards.
In addition to providing mobility equipment, DME Re-Use has granted $350,000 this fiscal year to Bridging Voice to purchase technology like speech generating devices and provide technical support, advanced customizations, and in-depth training on how to use the equipment.
“People with ALS and their families are often frustrated because the technology is complex and hard to learn without expert assistance,” explained Bridging Voice Executive Director Karina Nagin. “We're so thankful for this partnership that enabled us to close the gaps in support, training, and individual customization so the equipment can be fully utilized, helping people with ALS to have a meaningful quality of life.”
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects about 375 people in Maryland. The disease ravages the body while leaving the mind fully intact, eventually weakening vital muscles to the point where they are unable to speak or breathe on their own. With assistive eye gaze technology, people with ALS use a specialized camera to control a cursor on the screen with their gaze so they can type, text, email, surf the web, operate remote controls, and most importantly, communicate with their caregivers and family. One client who recently benefited from the initiative is April Kerner who received a customized eye tracker.
“The funds from DME Re-Use helped us create the AI integrations April uses, like ChatGPT, to make it possible for April to create bedtime stories for her kids,” Nagin said. She added that Bridging Voice helped procure a free voice clone from another partner, ElevenLabs, that sounds almost identical to April’s natural voice. “While April was one of the first people with ALS to get a voice clone, Bridging Voice will now be providing these voice clones to every ALS patient across the state,” Nagin said.
“ALS has taken so much from April, including her ability to speak,” said April’s husband and caregiver, Bill Kerner. “But thanks to this collaboration, she now has her voice back. No matter what else this cruel disease takes from her, it can no longer take away the sound of her own voice. That, at least, is hers forever.”
Maryland DME Re-Use provides gently-used mobility equipment to Maryland residents of any age and with any disability, free of charge. To donate or receive equipment such as power wheelchairs, home hospital beds, mechanical lifts, shower chairs, and more, visit dme.maryland.gov or call 240-230-8000.
To learn more about Bridging Voice, visit maryland.bridgingvoice.org, email info@bridgingvoice.org, or call (410) 314-9476. For Maryland residents with other assistive technology needs, visit https://mdod.maryland.gov/mdtap/Pages/MDTAP-Home.aspx or aging.maryland.gov/MarylandEquips.
Media Contact:
Barbara Sigler
Communications Director
Email: barbara.sigler@maryland.gov
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