2015 Annual Report ARIZONA Technology Access Program A Statewide, Phoenix-based program of the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University 21 Years of Helping 2015 was our 21st year of providing access to assistive technology for Arizona residents. Here are some highlights from our activities in 2015. 60% of AzTAP’s 2015 funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services ($597,288); Balance of funding provided by state agencies. Our Accomplishments by the Numbers: DEVICE LOANS AND DEMONSTRATIONS: 833 persons borrowed 3,124 AT devices from our short term device loan libraries. AzTAP staff conducted 337 device demonstrations attended by 816 persons. Demonstrations & Loans by Device Category 28% Computers and Related 25% Learning, Cognition & Developmental 12% Speech Communication 12% Daily Living 10% Environmental Adaptations 5% Recreation, Sports and Leisure4% Hearing 3% Vision 1% Mobility, Seating and Positioning <1% Vehicle Modification and Transportation Demonstrations & Loan by Participant Category 40% Individuals with disabilities 25% Representatives of Health, allied health, and rehabilitation 20% Family members, etc. 7% Representatives of Education 4% Representatives of Community Living 3% Representatives of Technology 1% Representatives of Employment AT REUSE: 177 items were posted on the ATEX website and 46 exchanges took place. AzTAP’s reuse activities and assistance with finding potential funding sources saved consumers who needed assistive technology over $120,000! AzLAT – ALTERNATIVE FINANCE PROGRAMS AzLAT approved 13 low interest rate loans totaling over $31,000 to persons with disabilities, allowing them to buy their desired assistive technology. Borrowers also reported that loan approval boosted their self-esteem & self-confidence. – 2015 Survey of AzLAT Loan Recipients INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE: AzTAP staff responded to 1,705 requests for information and assistance. PUBLIC AWARENESS: AzTAP reached 27,197 individuals through its website, newsletters, print materials, social media and community events. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: AzTAP conducted/hosted 51 educational events that were attended by 1,022 persons. AzTAP’s 16th Annual AT Summer Conference drew almost 500 participants and 55 vendors. SUCCESS STORIES Spotlight on Success Tim contacted AzTAP looking for a solution that would improve his ability to hear his wife Caren when he is driving. He had been relying on his hearing aids, personal amplification neck loops and lip reading to understand spoken conversation. However, when driving he cannot safely take his eyes off the road to read Caren’s lips. AzTAP arranged a demonstration to investigate other assistive technology options that would work with his current AT systems so that Tim could better hear Caren in the car. A variety of devices were explored including different microphones and amplification systems. Following the demonstration, he was able to borrow some devices for an extended trial with them. As a result, Tim and his wife decided to purchase the Duett system in preparation for an upcoming road trip. The Adventure of a 3-Position Lift Recliner Chair Ms. Mary May was in need of a 3 position lift recliner chair. She had recently moved from Michigan to Arizona and had to leave her chair in Michigan as she could not afford the moving costs. Around the same time, Ms. Jen Young contacted AzTAP to request assistance advertising a lift recliner chair for donation on the Assistive Technology Exchange (ATEX) website. Knowing that this was a potential match for our reuse program, our assistive technology specialist compared the features of Ms. Young’s chair with the one that Ms. May left in Michigan. They were very similar and AzTAP asked Ms. May if she was interested in having this lift chair donated to her. She was. However, since neither woman had the resources to have the chair moved, two AzTAP team members picked up the chair at Ms. Young’s house and delivered it to Ms. May’s home. The lift chair was valued at approx. $1000 and was provided to Ms. May at no cost. She was appreciative of the donation and Ms. Young was glad that it had found a home with someone who will use it. EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER FEEDBACK “Thank you……for making my dream a reality! My mom is very happy. [Since our minivan has been adapted], we now have a way to take her to see her sister in California.” “It was a surprise to me that there was an agency like yours that would lend out these types of devices to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people so they could try them [to] better their life and maybe purchasing one in the future.” ARIZONA Technology Access Program 300 W. Clarendon Ave, Suite 475 Phoenix, AZ 85013 www.aztap.org (602) 728-9534 TTY: (602) 728-9536 Fax: (602) 728-9535 Toll-Free: (800) 477-9921 This publication was made possible by Grant Number 90AG0004 from the Administration for Community Living. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).