The Blind Readers' Page--Main
Menu [Writen 1998]
COMPUTERS AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
ABLEDATA,
which is sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), publishes an "Informed
Consumer's Guide to Funding Assistive Technology (July
1998)." The "Guide" includes advice on getting
started, a list of state technology assistance projects, a list
of state protection and advocacy agencies, and an excellent
brief bibliography of print sources.
The National Federation of
the Blind has a low-interest loan program for assistive
computer technology.
Empowerment Zone:
among much else, has a set of links to sources of funding
assistive technology.
"Financing
Assistive Technology: A Handbook for Rehabilitation
Professionals," written in 1992, is outdated in
some respects but still has many valuable suggestions about
sources of funding and approaches likely to be successful.
"Funding of
Assistive Technology: The Public School's Special
Education System as a Funding Source: The Cutting
Edge"--this is a study by the Assistive Technology Funding
and Systems Change Project of the United Cerebral Palsy
Associations. It takes into account the most revisions to the
Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Act of 1998 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
of 1997.
"Funding of
Assistive Technology: State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
and Their Obligation to Maximize Employment," by
Ronald M. Hager, Esq., contains "up-to-date information on
funding assistive technology through the health system";
"this publication covers important topics of critical
importance to individuals with disabilities who are entering the
workforce including students transitioning from school,
assistive technology for the college student, and the
availability of assistive technology."
Lewis Golinker's article "Key
Questions for Medicare Coverage & Funding for AAC Devices"
covers some recent developments in funding. The Neighborhood
Legal Services site also includes links to online versions of a
series of booklets on the funding of adaptive technology.
Infinitec
has an excellent set of resources for locating funding for
adaptive technology from a variety of possible sources.
A joint program of
the International Association of Hebrew Free Loans and the
Jewish Braille Institute of American offers
interest-free loans of up to $4,000 for worthy purposes,
included adaptive computer systems.
The Job
Accomodation Network describes a wide variety of funding
possibilities for disabled people needing adaptive equipment at
work.
James R. Sheldon and Ronald M. Hager of Neighborhood Legal
Services, Inc., published "Funding
Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities: The
Availability of Assistive Technology Through Medicaid, Public
School Special Education Programs and State Vocational
Rehabilitation Agencies" in 1997, but almost all of
it is still relevant. They provide step-by-step procedures for
parents and teachers.
Synapse
Adaptive Technology has a list of governmental and
foundation sources of funding for adaptive technology; the
sources are mostly not direct providers of funding to
individuals, but the links look useful.
There is also useful advice in "Using
Mini-Grants to Fund Assistive Technology for Students with
Severe Disabilities."
John Williams, author of a regular column on assistive
technology for Business Week Online, has an excellent
overview of funding for disabled students and employees
(January 12, 2000), with links to many agencies and
organizations.
Some banks offer personal loans for special needs, including
adaptive computer equipment, with lower interest rates, lower
minimum loan amounts and extended loan repayment periods. One is
the Bank
of America.
Help insure
that people with disabilities get adapted computers: contact your congressperson online in a few simple steps. 
Also
see
