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Ability Tools Quarterly Report

Reporting Period: July1, 2016 – September 30, 2016

(Quarter One)

Submitted by

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

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Table of Contents

Press Ctrl + Click on any of the section titles below to jump to that section.

Statewide Leadership Activities

I.TRAININGS & EVENTS

II.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA)

III.PUBLIC AWARENESS

A.Outreach & Public Awareness Events

B.Outreach and Under-represented populations

C.Social Media

E.Ability Tools Information & Referral

IV.COORDINATION & COLLABORATION

State Level Activities

I.DEVICE LOAN PROGRAM

II.AT REUTILIZATION

A.California AT Reuse Coalition (CATRC)

B.Statewide Device Refurbishment/Repair/Recycle Activities

III.STATE FINANCING ACTIVITIES

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Introduction

This report covers July through September 2016 and is divided into two sections: Statewide Leadership Activities and State Level Activities. Each area is further subdivided into program areas.

Statewide Leadership Activities

I.TRAININGS & EVENTS

  1. Annual Training Deliverable Overview

Contract year
July 1, 2015 –
June 30, 2016 / AT 101 (Basics) / AT In-Depth / AT Quarterly
In-Person meetings
Annual Contract
Obligation / 4 / 6 / 8
4 in the North
4 in the South
Quarter 1
(July – Sept) / 2 / 0 / 2
Quarter 2
(Oct – Dec)
Quarter 3
(Jan – March)
Quarter 4
(April – June)
TOTALS / 2 / 0 / 2
  1. AT Webinars

During this reporting period,Ability Toolshosted 2AT webinars as part of our AT Basics series. All webinar trainings are captioned and posted on the Ability Tools website, including a YouTube version on the Ability Tools' YouTube channel.

  1. Training Tier One: AT Basics

FreedomTech: Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program Now Available in California!on August 2, 2016

Participants learned about the loan program, its requirements, kind of assistive technology (AT) that can be purchased, its loan terms, how to apply, and financial literacy resources.

35 registered for the webinar training. 15 participants responded to the webinar survey. 80% of respondents found the training to be very relevant. Participants rated the presenters' knowledge of topic excellent.

AT Advocacy - How to Find and Fund Assistive Technology in Californiaon August 25, 2016

Participants learned about 2 different types of assistive technology:

  • Mind Mapping - an organizational and visual diagram to improve reading comprehension and writing skills.
  • Sonocent Audio Note-taking - a device that captures, highlights, and annotates your audio recording notes.

71 people registered for the webinar training. 4 participants responded to the webinar survey. 100% of respondents found the training to be very relevant. Participants rated the presenters' style and knowledge of topic to be excellent.

  1. Training Tier Two: AT In-Depth

We did not hold any AT In-Depth webinars during this reporting period.

  1. Ability Tools Regional In-Person Meetings/Trainings

During this reporting period, Ability Tools hosted tworegional in-person meetings.

  1. The Ability Tools Northern Regional In-Person Training was held on August 18, 2016 at the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), Sacramento. Participants received an overview presentation of Lingraphica’s high-tech AAC devices, options for a free device trial, and information about Lingraphica’s free communication apps. Participants had an opportunity to work hands-on with a Lingraphica speech-generating device.

Twenty people registered for the in-person training. The majority of the participants indicated the presentations were great and very informative.

  1. The Southern Regional In-Person Training was held on September 29, 2016 at the Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS-IL), Downey CA. Participants received an overview presentation of Lingraphica’s high-tech AAC devices, options for a free device trial, and information about Lingraphica’s free communication apps.

Thirty-three people registered for the in-person training. 18 participants responded to the evaluation. Participants enjoyed learning about Lingraphica’s high-tech AAC communication devices, its free apps as well as free online therapy tools.

  1. ILC-based AT Advocates Orientations

No group orientations were scheduled during this reporting period though one-to-one orientations were provided upon request.

  1. Ability ToolsChannel on YouTube

During this reporting period, Ability Toolsposted two videos to the Ability Tools' YouTube Channel.

  1. FreedomTech: Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program Now Available in California!
  2. AT Advocacy - How to Find and Fund Assistive Technology in California
  1. Training and Webinar Event Totals

During this reporting period 159people received training from the Ability Tools hub.This total does not include the people who received training from our partner organizations. The total number of people trained by the Ability Tools hub and our DLL and ILC partners is combined and reported in our annual AT federal report.

II.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA)

  1. Independent Living Centers and AT Advocates

During this reporting period Ability Tools hosted three AT Advocates meetings. All meetings focused on specific training needs and collaboration opportunities for AT Advocates. The webinar meetings were facilitated by CFILC.

  1. Device Lending Libraries (DLLs)

New DLL staff received training and assistance with the AT Exchange and the loan process.Device Lending Library staff attended monthly meetings during this reporting period.

  1. AT Advocates Online Community

AT Advocates can login to a secure webpage designed for their cohort and learn the contact information of AT Advocates throughout California, including their areas of expertise.The admin login section also allows AT Advocates access to recordings of the AT Advocates’ monthly webinar meetingsand the online Ability Toolsoutreach efforts reporting form.

  1. Ability Tools Membership

At the end of June 2016, the Ability Tools and AT Announcements listservs together totaled 520 members, adecrease of seven since last quarter. The monthly AT bulletin is sent to 490 subscribers, an increase of six subscribers, via Mail Chimp. The AT Bulletin highlights devices available for loan, upcoming AT trainings and FREE used equipment.

  1. Reuse Centers

CFILC staff continued to provide technical assistance to the 5 contracted reuse centers on the AT Exchange.

In addition, the Keep the Wheels Rolling Repair Fund remained available to reuse centers throughout California and CFILC staff provided technical assistance to new reuse centers accessing funds to ensure that their organization was entered on the exchange and the equipment properly posted.

III.PUBLIC AWARENESS

A.Outreach & Public Awareness Events

During this reporting period, Ability Tools conducted 52 public awareness events, including 28 presentations/demonstrations and24 outreach events. We distributed 2,071outreach materials throughout the state.

Annual Outreach Totals

Presentations/
Demonstrations / Outreach
Events / Materials
Distributed
Annual Contractual
Obligation / 100 / 100 / 10,000-20,000
July – Sept / 28 / 24 / 2,071
Oct – Dec
Jan – March
April – June
TOTALS / 28 / 24 / 2,071

B.Outreach and Under-represented populations

Ability Tools has identified the following populations as underserved throughout the state: youth with disabilities and their families, Latinos with disabilities and their families, seniors with disabilities and their families.

During this reporting period the Ability Tools conducted 12 events focused on seniors with Disabilities and their families, 3 events focused on Latinos with Disabilities and their families, and 5 events focused on Youth with Disabilities and their families.

C.Social Media

Facebook

The Ability Tools Facebook page received 51 new likes this quarter. Our Facebook page had a total of 911 likes at the end of the quarter.

Twitter

Ability Tools added 20 new Twitter followers this quarter. Wecurrently have 500 followers and average 8 tweets per week.

Instagram

Ability Tools has 41 more followers this quarter, up to 361. Wehave a total of 94 posts.

Pinterest

Ability Tools has 30 Boards, 426 Pins, and 80 Followers, an increase of 9 since last quarter.

  1. Websites’ Usage Data

During this quarter there were a total of 8,765 unique visitors to the Ability Tools website. The website received a total of 18,995page views. The AT Exchange website received 1,712 unique visitors and 48,059 page views during this reporting period.The Ability Tools Weekly blog website received 3,294 unique visitors and 5,170 page views.

E.Ability Tools Information & Referral

The Ability Tools Information and Referral service answered 217 inquiries (calls and emails) during this reporting period. 149(68.7%) were related to AT devices or services; 17 people (7.8%) inquired about AT funding; and 21 (9.7%) inquired about other disability-related topics.

Role Of Caller / AT Devices/
Services / AT Funding / Disability
Related / Other topics / TOTALS
People with Disabilities / 47 / 10 / 11 / 7 / 75
Rep of education / 2 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3
Rep of health, allied health, rehab / 23 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 30
Rep of technology / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Family, Guardian, Authorized rep / 62 / 3 / 8 / 3 / 76
Rep of employment / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Rep of community living / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4
Other / 11 / 1 / 0 / 17 / 29
Total / 149 / 17 / 21 / 30 / 217

IV.COORDINATION & COLLABORATION

  1. Ability Tools listserv for ILC Directors and AT Announcements

Ability Tools continued to provide announcements to the ILC Directors and AT Announcements listservs.

  1. Organizational Coordination & Collaboration
  1. CFILC continued to partner with the California Emerging Technology Fund to promote the availability of low-cost Internet to people with disabilities by answering calls about the Digital Access Project through our toll-free I&R line, outreach efforts and maintaining a link to the promotion on the Ability Toolswebsite.
  2. During this reporting period CFILC continued to participate in the Sacramento MIND Institute’s AT Consortium by attending quarterly meetings.
  3. Ability Tools collaborates with UC Davis CalAgrability project on an ongoing basis to promote assistive technology for the use of farmers and farm workers.

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State Level Activities

I.DEVICE LOAN PROGRAM

For the reporting year 2016-2017, CFILC is operating 12 DLL locations.

  1. Number Of Short-Term Loans By Primary Purpose Of Loan

As shown in the table below, the 12 centers participating in the Device Lending Library (DLL) program made 328 short-term device loans during this quarter in four purpose categories. Of these loans, 186 were made to help the recipient make a decision (device trial or evaluation), 38 devices served as loaners during a device repair period or while waiting for funding to purchase a device, 69 were intended to provide an accommodation on a short-term basis, 35 were to conduct training, self-education or other professional development activity.

DLL / Assist in Decision Making / Serve as Loaner / Provide Short-Term Accommodation / Conduct Training, etc. / TOTAL
ATEC / 10 / 0 / 3 / 3 / 16
CART / 13 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 14
CCATC / 21 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 28
CCCIL / 17 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 18
CFILC* / 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 4
CRIL / 25 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 26
DAC / 8 / 15 / 21 / 11 / 55
FREED / 29 / 3 / 23 / 0 / 55
ILRCSF / 19 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 21
ROLLING
START / 8 / 11 / 4 / 6 / 29
SDATC / 26 / 4 / 3 / 5 / 38
SVILC / 7 / 1 / 12 / 4 / 24
TOTAL / 186 / 38 / 69 / 35 / 328

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* CFILC operates a “tiny DLL” with a very small inventory of devices.

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  1. Number Of Device Loans By Type Of Borrower

DLL / Individual w/ Disability / Family, Guardian / Education / Employment / Health, Rehab / Comm. Living / Tech / Other / Total
ATEC / 1 / 7 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 1 / 2 / 16
CART / 0 / 12 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14
CCATC / 16 / 6 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 28
CCCIL / 4 / 13 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 18
CFILC / 0 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 4
CRIL / 19 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 26
DAC / 37 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 5 / 55
FREED / 40 / 11 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 55
ILRCSF / 13 / 1 / 3 / 0 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 21
RSI / 20 / 5 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 29
SDATC / 7 / 14 / 6 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 5 / 38
SVILC / 8 / 10 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 24
TOTAL / 165 / 90 / 22 / 1 / 20 / 4 / 12 / 14 / 328
  1. Types Of Devices Loaned

Type of Device TOTAL

Type of Device / Total
Computers & Related / 137
Daily Living / 26
Environmental Adaptations / 12
Hearing / 27
Learning, Cognition & Development / 13
Mobility, Seating and Positioning / 68
None Selected / 0
Other / 0
Recreation, Sports and Leisure / 6
Speech Communication / 34
Vehicle Modification & Transportation / 0
Vision / 61
Total / 384
  1. Device Loan Annual Totals

Quarter / # of Loans / # of Devices Loaned
July - September / 328 / 384
October - December
January - March
April – June
TOTALS / 328 / 384

II.AT REUTILIZATION

A.California AT Reuse Coalition (CATRC)

During this reporting period the CATRC met on July 25th. In our CATRC meeting we discussed the highlights of the reuse conference held on June 20th & 21st, Keep the Wheels Rolling Fund update, CFILC’s new program called the FreedomTech – AT Loans and Issues faced with cleaning reuse donations. We also had 8 attendees. Our next meeting will be held on October 25, 2016.

B.Statewide Device Refurbishment/Repair/Recycle Activities

  1. Contracted Reuse Organizations

During this period of time we sent contracts to the centers listed below. The contract will be valid from October 1, 2016 though June 30, 2017. The centers are contracted to enter and maintain their inventory of used devices for free/sale on the statewide AT Exchange. In addition, they are required to enter all reuse transactions in the AT Exchange database. This arrangement also gives the reuse centers the use of an established online database and builds awareness of their programs. The four current participating reuse programs are:

  • Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID)
  • Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)
  • Independent Living Services of Northern California (ILSNC)
  • Convalescent Aid Society (CAS)
  1. Keep the Wheels Rolling Repair Fund

The Keep the Wheels Rolling Repair Fund (KWRF) provides small grants to partner organizations to repair or replace parts needed to refurbish wheelchairs or scooters that can be given to low-income Californians, helping them stay mobile in their community. The Fund is supported by Anthem Blue Cross and Federal Assistive Technology Act funding. This quarter, we approved 6 wheelchairs/scooters for repair and distribute them back into their communities. This equipment was valued at $11,349 (MSRP); with a total repair cost of $2,097.93 overall, the savings to consumers is valued at $9,251.07.

  1. Reuse Totals

The table below breaks down refurbishment/repair/recycle activities in the AT Exchange during this reporting period. It includes activities from contracted reuse centers as well as organizations that received funding from the Keep the Wheels Rolling Repair Fund.

Reuse Activities July 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016

Type of AT Device / # of Devices Reassigned / Total Estimated Current Purchase Price / Total Price for which Device(s) were Sold
Vision / 2 / $126.46 / $0
Hearing / 4 / $1,404.65 / $0
Speech Communication
Learning, Cognition & Developmental
Mobility, Seating & Positioning / 43 / $33,139.57 / $1,832.00
Daily Living / 24 / $2,144.00 / $5.00
Environmental Adaptations / 2 / $153.02 / $80.00
Vehicle Modification & Transportation
Computers & Related
Recreation, Sports & Leisure
Other
TOTAL / 75 / $39,967.70 / $1,917.00

Annual Reuse Totals

Number of Devices Reassigned / Total Savings to Consumers
July – September / 75 / $38,050.70
October - December
January – March
April – June
TOTALS / 75 / $38,050.70

III.STATE FINANCING ACTIVITIES

During this reporting period, we launched the FreedomTech financial loan program.In total, 8 Applications were received and one loan was funded.The first loan was made to purchase a wheelchair, classified as “Mobility, Seating and Positioning” for federal reporting purposes. Our current interest rate for loans with automatic payments (ACH) is 5.75%.

We completed the following outreach to support the FreedomTech program launch:

  • FreedomTech press release published
  • Email announcement for program launch sent to all Ability Tools and CFILC listservs
  • Developed and delivered FreedomTech webinar to partners and consumers
  • Blog article published on Ability Tools website
  • Mailed 100 brochures to each of our 35 partners including independent living centers, reuse centers, and device lending libraries
  • Mailed 30 brochures each to 3 additional partners
  • Added FreedomTech to Sacramento 211 and Bay Area 211

Additional items/projects completed in the period were as follows:

  • Developed FreedomTech Advisory Committee Charter
  • Held quarterly advisory committee meeting
  • Developed loan procedures

Financial Financing Performance Measures (Federal Reporting)

Primary Purpose for which AT is needed
Response / Education / Employment / Community
Could only afford AT through the statewide program
AT was only available through the statewide AT program
AT was available through other programs, but the system was too complex or wait time was too long / 1
None of the above
Non-respondent
TOTALS / 1