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According to the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP), National Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Day commemorates the importance and vital role AT plays in the lives of people with disabilities and older adults. This day reinforces the necessary support and funding the federal government provides to ensure people receive the assistive technology necessary to engage in education, employment, and community living.
The day also recognizes the leadership of the Assistive Technology Act programs whose teams strive to help millions of individuals acquire low-cost and often no-cost AT in all 50 states and territories.
Assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities and older adults to be included in their communities and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces and these devices are necessities, not luxury items.
Join us in celebrating National AT Awareness Day on April 17, 2024!
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We are proud to report the following rankings for FFY23 (October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023) as compared to the other 55 state or territory Assistive Technology (AT) Act Programs:
State Level AT Act Programs
- Device Loan Program: #2 of 56 programs participating. We loaned a total of 4,350 AT devices.
- Device Demonstration Program: #1 of 56 programs participating. We completed 8,504 AT device demonstrations for 14,431 people.
- Financial Loan Program: #1 of 28 programs participating. We fulfilled loans for 260 durable medical equipment (DME) or AT devices worth $1,161,687.
- Device Reutilization Program: #20 of 52 programs participating. We refurbished and redistributed 1,411 pieces of DME or AT.
- Device Exchange Program: #3 of 25 programs participating. We facilitated 300 exchanged devices.
State Leadership AT Act Programs
- Training: #7 of 56 programs participating. 3,263 individuals participated in an ABLE Tech training activity.
- Information and Assistance (I&A): #5 of 56 programs participating. We completed 16,492 I&A activities.
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April is Occupational Therapy Month, intended to honor the vital work of OTs. Check out these AT devices chosen by our Occupational Therapy Assistant, Amy Woods, from the Learning, Cognition, and Development and Daily Living categories that can be used to help people regain independence in all areas of their lives.
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Cosmo Explore Bundle - These buttons help teach cause and effect, amongst other skills. The activities were designed by teachers and occupational, physical, and speech & language therapists.
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Guided Hands - This device enables people with limited fine motor skills to write, draw, and paint as well as type and scroll on a tablet or a computer.
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Active Hands - These gloves gently, yet firmly hold an individual's hand into a gripping shape, enabling a tight grip.
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Liftware Level- This device is designed to counteract the effects of tremors and shaky hands that may be related to conditions like Parkinson's, allowing individuals to pick up food independently.
Liftware Level not pictured
Budgeting is an important tool that can help manage your money. A budget is a plan that estimates income and expenses over a period of time, typically monthly. Preparing a monthly budget can help you know what you must spend your money on during the month and what funds you have left over for other things. It can also be a great tool to help you to meet financial goals. If you're not sure where to get started, check out the following resources:
Do you have questions about financial education resources or need to purchase Assistive Technology (AT) or Durable Medical Equipment (DME)? Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s low-interest Financial Loan Program can assist. To apply for a loan, go to the Financial Loan Program webpage or visit the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation website.
Mike frequently donates durable medical equipment (DME) to our Device Reutilization Program, giving the gift of DME to many Oklahomans in need. Mike visits local resale shops and other places around Stillwater with the mission of collecting gently used equipment to get it in the hands of people who need it. By coordinating with Oklahoma ABLE Tech staff, Mike is assured that the equipment is matched appropriately (and in proper working order) to individuals who need it.
Thank you, Mike, for helping us make life accessible to Oklahomans of all ages and abilities!
Our Device Reutilization Program gives donated DME a second life by refurbishing the devices and providing them to the best-matched Oklahoman, free of charge. DME includes devices like four-wheeled walkers, wheelchairs, blood pressure monitors, and more!
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ABLE Tech has several partner drop-off locations across the state! Please give these organizations a call before dropping by. Their contact information can be found on the Device Drop-Off Locations webpage:
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Entrusted Hearts in Tulsa
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COEDD Area Agency on Aging in Shawnee
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Christ for Humanity in Tulsa
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Special Education Resolution Center in Tulsa
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The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethany
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KEDDO Area Agency on Aging in Wilburton
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Lawton Public Library in Lawton
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Larry’s Home Oxygen in Enid
These partners help us by “holding” equipment in their facilities in between regularly scheduled pick-ups.
Other ways to donate are:
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Complete the online donation form
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Text “Donate” to 833-751-9128
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Call us at 800-257-1705
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Drop an item off at either of our ABLE Tech locations in Stillwater or Oklahoma City
We want to make donating items to the program as easy as possible, as the Device Reutilization Program is 100% donation-based. Visit the Device Reutilization Program webpage to learn more about the program and how it impacts Oklahomans.
Maria recently helped her client acquire his own Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Maria is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who attended Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Empowering Voices: Effective AAC Evaluations workshop last spring, where she learned more about the AAC evaluation process and how she can help individuals acquire their own speech communication devices. Maria’s client acquired his device through the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Vending iPad program.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech collaborates with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to be a durable medical equipment (DME) provider of vending iPads, apps, and durable cases as speech-generating devices (SGD) to eligible members of ALL ages.
Maria completed an AAC evaluation for her client and recommended the Proloquo2Go AAC app on an iPad for him. She completed and submitted all the requirements set by the OHCA and successfully received the device from ABLE Tech.
Since receiving his own device, Maria’s client is now better able to communicate during times of confusion, or when he is misunderstood!
“The ABLE Tech team did amazing with my request,” Maria said. “Everything was completed promptly, and the communication thought out the process was amazing.”
Learn more about Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Vending iPad program and requirements to request ANY speech-generating device from SoonerCare – including those from Apple (iPad and app), Prentke Romich Company (PRC), Saltillo, and Tobii Dynavox, etc. on the SoonerCare-Provider for Speech –Generating Devices webpage.
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We just wrapped up our annual TechAccess Oklahoma conference, and now we're editing the video recordings so we can post them for you all to view! Video editing includes things like trimming excess content and merging multiple feeds, but it also includes making sure the videos are accurately described (when necessary) and captioned. We thought this was a good opportunity to share a few resources you can use to learn to make your videos accessible!
Lyssa recently recorded a webinar with our partner, The AT3 Center, called Making Accessible Videos. During the webinar, she gives tips on recording video content, describing the video, and captioning the video. Brent also wrote a great blog article on captioning videos that will help you learn how to caption your videos appropriately. Join us in making sure the video content you produce is inclusive to all!
Due Process is one of multiple options for dispute resolution in special education, but most people do not realize the complexities involved in such a filing. While it might seem easy to file a due process request (it's only a couple of pages to fill out, what could be so hard?!), what follows the filing often feels daunting, overwhelming, and just plain exhausting for all parties involved. In order to better prepare those considering due process, SERC has plenty of guidance on things to know before you file, including alternate dispute resolution options, and a recent webinar series on due process. SERC is always here to help schools or families discuss considerations for dispute resolution and ensure everyone is fully informed to make the best choice for their situation.
The webinar series is broken into three parts, intended to help prepare those who may be considering filing this particular complaint request: (1.) initial considerations; (2.) preparing for the hearing; and (3.) the hearing itself. Visit the archived section of our Wisdom Wednesdays webpage to watch this series, and make sure to use SERC as your "phone a friend" option when you have questions about special education dispute resolution!
SERC’s mission is to help school districts and parents resolve disputes at the earliest stage possible. To learn more about SERC, visit their website.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800.257.1705
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