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To begin addressing the problems that are outlined, last year I formed a Task Force on Rehabilitation Engineering composed of representatives of major public and private providers and consumers of rehabilitation technology. The Task Force has been extremely helpful to the rehabilitation engineering community. It will collect, produce, and disseminate information on rehabilitation engineering services. To date, the Task Force has conducted a survey on the delivery systems for rehabilitation engineering services and prepared discussion papers on sources of financing rehabilitation engineering services, service systems, and the provision of rehabilitation engineering services by State vocational rehabilitation agencies. I also anticipate that it will serve as a focal point for collecting information from outside organizations on a variety of issues, which may include financing, model service systems, and technology development in the State-Federal vocational rehabilitation system.

As one strategy to develop a more integrated and coordinated system to ensure the effective delivery of technology to handicapped individuals, I am planning a new initiative. Specifically, in FY 1989 I am planning to use RSA special demonstration or NIDRR demonstration authority to fund grants to support State development efforts to achieve a statewide comprehensive approach to delivering technological goods and services to persons with handicaps. These grants would be designed to identify gaps in services and develop strategies for filling them, and to develop the potential of existing service systems to provide cost-effective solutions to the problems created by disabling conditions. The conceptual model for these grants would be the "Statewide change" demonstration grants for supported employment. The project period for these grants would be five years.

These grants would be specifically focused on:

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о The development of technology providers, provider roles, and standards that are applied to providers to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of services;

O The development of information concerning the availability and uses of technological devices and the development of model systems to procure devices;

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The examination of State education, rehabilitation, health, and insurance regulations, policies, and programs to identify and eliminate barriers to delivering technology and technology services in a comprehensive and coordinated fashion;

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The trial use of innovative methods, such as equipment loan programs, of making technology available; and

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The identification and coordination of State and local financing and reimbursement mechanisms for the provision of technology

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I believe that this program of grants for Statewide change in delivering technology will begin to address the problems in the service delivery system that I have identified. This program should focus the attention of State policymakers on the opportunities that rehabilitation technology can provide and on the desirability of developing improved systems of service. The activities that these programs would support are the critical elements of an improved approach to the delivery of services and the success of these efforts could then be described to additional States through a vigorous outreach process.

I assure the members of this subcommittee that I have established the improvement of technology services to disabled individuals as one of the highest priorities of my office and am willing to work with members of the subcommittee to achieve this objective.

The Power To Overcome

National Easter Seal Society
Office of Governmental Affairs

1350 New York Avenue N.W., Suite 415
Washington. D.C. 20005
202 347.3066

STATEMENT

submitted by

THE NATIONAL EASTER SEAL SOCIETY

to the

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE HANDICAPPED

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES

regarding the May 19-20, 1988

Hearings on Assistive Technology

June 6, 1988

We are submitting this statement in connection with the hearings on assistive technology which were held May 19-20, 1988. We request that these comments be included in the hearing record.

The following is activities relating to assistive technology programs and services. Easter Seal programs are as diverse as the communities they serve. The programs described in this statement were selected to illustrate the range of technology services available through Easter Seals and common barriers encountered in the delivery of those services.

intended as an overview of Easter Seal

The National Easter Seal Society, founded in 1919, is the nation's oldest, nonprofit voluntary health agency providing direct services to people with disabilities. Easter Seals serves over one million people annually through 400 program sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Easter Seals serves people of all ages and disabilities. Easter Seal programs provide a broad range of services that include physical, occupational, and speech language therapies, vocational evaluation and training, camping and recreation, psychological counseling, screening programs for potentially disabling conditions, information and referral, and family and community education. Technology assistance is an integral part of the comprehensive services provided by Easter Seals.

Service fees are based on the client's ability to pay. No one is refused services because of financial limitations. Financial support for Easter Seal programs comes from a variety of sources, including contributions from individuals and corporations, legacies, special gifts, fees, grants, contracts and bequests. Easter Seals must rely on public contributions to cover program costs for those clients who cannot pay the full costs entailed.

The National Easter Seal Society has taken a leadership role in the utilization of technology to help people with disabilities achieve the maximum independence possible. RESNA, the Association for the Advancement of Rehabilitation Technology has named the National Easter Seal Society as this year's recipient of its Leadership Award. The award recognizes the Society's "outstanding contribution and on-going leadership in the field of technology applied to needs of disabled individuals."

Nationally, Easter Seal partnerships with the private sector, information dissemination efforts and research activities have focused on the technology needs of people with disabilities. On a local level, Easter Seal affiliates provide technology assistance through a community based approach that draws on local resources and expertise. The programs involve close coordination with state agencies and community organizations.

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