FFY2017 ABLE Tech Annual Report

2017 Key Activities

About Oklahoma ABLE Tech

Oklahoma ABLE Tech is the statewide Assistive Technology Act Program proudly located at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. ABLE Tech is funded through the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is made possible through the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as amended in 2004 (ATA 2004).

ABLE Tech’s mission is to improve access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

ABLE Tech provides AT through comprehensive statewide programs and services, which include:

Device Demonstrations
Device Short-Term Loans
Device Reutilization
Financial Loans for AT and Employment

FFY 2017 Activity

Device Demonstrations: 4,271

ABLE Tech and its partners provided AT device demonstrations to 9,644 Oklahomans across the state, including 1,791 demonstrations to children receiving services from SoonerStart.

Device Short-Term Loans: 1,846

Through the short-term loan program, individuals were able to try AT devices to help them with the decision-making process.

Device Reutilization: 4,074

The Oklahoma Equipment Exchange (OEE) facilitated the exchange of 2,644 AT devices from seller to buyer for a savings of $284,223. The Oklahoma Durable Medical Equipment Reuse Program (OKDMERP) provided 1,153 Oklahomans with 1,430 pieces of AT for a savings of $761,136.

Financial Loans for AT and Employment: 46

ABLE Tech provided loans totaling $223,414 to help Oklahomans obtain needed AT devices and services to help them live, work, and learn independently.

Information and Referral: 2,706

ABLE Tech helped Oklahomans receive information and referral sources on needed AT devices and services, including how to obtain funding for AT.

Training: 2,808

ABLE Tech served Oklahomans with disabilities, family members, service providers, advocates,
and educators throughout the state.

Demonstration and Loan Program

Type of Participant

48% Individual with Disability
28% Family Members and Others
15% Health, Allied Health, Rehabilitation
9% Education

Coordination & Collaboration

Service Delivery Highlights

AT Demonstration Centers
ABLE Tech and its partners provided 10 AT loan and demonstration sites to give Oklahomans an opportunity to touch, try, and borrow AT devices to help improve independence in the community, school, and workplace.
Device Short-Term Loans
ABLE Tech provided 988 AT device and software short-term loans to Oklahoma schools and students.
Information Technology Accessibility
ABLE Tech provided training on accessible information technology including web access, telecommunications, software accessibility, and procurement to 434 state agency and post-secondary personnel.
AT Device Training
ABLE Tech provided training on AT devices and services to 2,808 individuals, disability-related organizations, state agencies, and higher education students including 1,323 public school educators.
Special Education Resolution Center
17 Special Education Due Process hearings were resolved by the Special Education Resolution
Center (SERC) – keeping state dollars in the classroom educating students. Due Process proceedings can cost the state an average of $300,000; therefore, resolved hearing requests saved Oklahomans approximately $5,098,830.
Fire Safety
Through the Smoke Alarm Project, ABLE Tech partnered with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation and Fire Protection Publications to professionally install 1,989 smoke alarms and alert devices in 462 households of Oklahomans who are deaf or hard of hearing; a cost savings of $87,912.
Adaptive Baby Care Site
ABLE Tech was awarded a Christopher Reeve Foundation grant to establish an Adaptive Baby Care (ABC) Equipment Program.

State Contracts

ABLE Tech maintains coordination and collaboration efforts that provide funding to help enhance the opportunities for individuals to access and acquire assistive technology.

Oklahoma State Department of Education
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation
Southwest ADA Center
Oklahoma Health Care Authority

A Great Return on Investment

FFY 2017 Federal Investment: $432,964
Savings & Benefits for Oklahomans: $6,455,515

Spotlight on Success

Device Short-Term Loan | Education

A young 9-year-old student was needing assistance with reading. The family contacted ABLE Tech to borrow the C-Reader Pen before purchasing. With the use of the C-Reader Pen, he was able to read his first chapter book without assistance. This was such a good boost to his confidence. He is now able to read with independence and enjoy it!

Financial Loans | Employment

A young woman was in need of a new braille device and had been searching for several months. She had heard ABLE Tech talk about their financial loan services and after attending a conference, she was encouraged by the manufacturer who was offering a discount to trade in her older device. She was working on building her credit, so this also became a great financial opportunity. She uses the Braille Sense Polaris at work for notes and organization, accessing the internet, emailing, and all of her regular daily functions. She also uses it for personal undertakings, such as taking minutes as the secretary for an organization.

Device Demonstration | Community Living

A two-year-old child with deaf/blindness and global motor impairments receive early intervention services from SoonerStart. The SoonerStart team utilized a cause and effect switch toy which the child could activate to enhance his independent play despite his vision, hearing and motor impairments. Two pieces of assistive technology were utilized as part of the Oklahoma ABLE Tech loan library, a Koosh switch that connected to a switch-activated robot toy. With facilitation from a member of the intervention team, the child could activate the switch and experience much enjoyment as he played, becoming more confident in activating the switch independently. He is now able to explore a variety of cause/effect activated toys with increase independence.

Device Exchange | Community Living

Oklahoma Equipment Exchange (www.oee.okstate.edu), received an inquiry from an elderly woman needing a lift chair, as she rarely was able to get out of bed and it was too difficult to get in and out of a chair. Lift chairs are in high demand however. Oklahoma ABLE TechÕs OEE program had one available at the time of the phone call, creating a perfect match for her. She reported she is now able to get out of the bedroom and be with the family.

Device Reuse | Community Living

A female adult with high blood pressure was asked by her doctor to keep a daily record of her blood pressure readings. With the help of Oklahoma ABLE TechÕs Durable Medical Equipment Reuse Program, she is now able to do that because she was provided with a free blood pressure monitor for this daily, life-saving task.

AT Team Training | Training

Oklahoma ABLE Tech, under contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Education, conducted six AT Workshops for Oklahoma educators. ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshops help school districts build capacity to provide quality AT to help students achieve success.

OSU Department of Wellness

1514 W. Hall of Fame | Stillwater, OK 74078 Ph: 405.744.9748 or 800.257.1705 (V/TTY)
Fax: 405.744.2487 | abletech@okstate.edu

Todd Misener, Chief Wellness Officer OSU Department of Wellness

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Staff

Linda Jaco, Associate Director, Sponsored Programs, OSU Department of Wellness
Brenda Dawes, Program Manager
Milissa Gofourth, Program Manager
Dina Anderson, Occupational Therapist Specialist
Kimberly Berry, Assistive Technology Teacher
Rob Carr, Accessibility Coordinator
Shelley Gladden, Loan Coordinator
Lynda Halley, Marketing Coordinator
Maegan Mobus, Marketing Assistant
Tammie Honeyman, Grant Coordinator
Allyson Robinson, SLP, Assistive Technology Specialist
Shelby Sanders, Assistive Technology Specialist
Diana Sargent, Senior Administration Support Specialist
Lisa Croston, Sponsored Programs Coordinator
Jo Anne Pool Blades, SERC Program Manager
Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
Katie Woodward, OKDMERP Program Manager
Carolina Colclasure, OKDMERP/ORC Grant Coordinator
Brian Sargent, OKDMERP Site Coordinator
Sandra Wright-Hackler, CCC/SLP

Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University Department of Wellness
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405.744.9748
Fax: 405.744.2487
Toll-free: 800.257.1705 (v/tty)
Email: abletech@okstate.edu

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Partners

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Hearing Loss Association of America – Central Oklahoma Chapter
John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Center, OU Health Sciences Center
NewView Oklahoma
The Children’s Center
SoonerStart Early Intervention Program
Total Source For Hearing Loss and Access
United Access Mobility, Oklahoma City

This publication is available in alternative formats; please call 800.257.1705 (v/tty) for more information. ABLE Tech is funded through the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and maintains coordination and collaboration efforts with partners throughout the State of Oklahoma. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the policy of ACL/HHS, and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.