Assistive Technology: Other Direct

2011

TRAID Through a federal grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities provides statewide coordination of assistive technology (AT) activities for people with disabilities, fosters development of state and federal policies and programs to enhance availability of assistive technology. TRAID's goal is to increase the access and acquisition of assistive technology in the four domain areas of education, employment, community living and information technology/telecommunications. (http://www.cqcapd.state.ny.us/TRAIDProj.htm) The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) Assistive Technology Program serves as 1 of 12 Regional TRAID Centers (RTCs) for New York serving Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties. Professional staff of the Assistive Technology Program provide AT information, training, device demonstration and loan, technical assistance and advocacy on how to obtain and use assistive technology services and devices. WIHD has identified specific goals through the TRAID project designed to meet the needs of our constituents. They include: Goal 1: To increase the quality and quantity of information on assistive technology to customers in education, employment, community living and information technology/telecommunications. Objectives identified to meet these goals include: providing information to interested individuals who contact the Assistive Technology Program for information about AT products or services; conducting workshops focused on awareness of AT and advocacy/funding information. Goal 2: To improve access to AT devices/services for children and adults. Objectives identified to meet these goals include providing device demonstrations of available software, devices and supports along with related information about AT products. Goal 3: To improve the selection of AT devices/services for children and adults. Objectives identified to meet these goals include: assisting in AT device selection through evaluations, and device demonstrations; and providing appropriate documentation for device acquisition. Goal 4: To improve use of AT devices/services for children and adults. Objectives identified to meet these goals include conducting AT device training to individual in need of AT, family members, and relevant service providers. The TRAID project has worked to formalize an AT device re-utilization program. Donations of appropriate AT devices have been accepted for the past twelve years. Currently, our program has approximately 100 donated items primarily from families and vendors. Donated equipment is given to families in need of equipment or for a nominal fee, as appropriate. These funds are used to repair other donated equipment in order make it suitable for future use. The TRAID project through the Assistive Technology Program at WIHD has impacted on the lives of many individuals.

Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology

Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English

Mulit-County

N/A