Iowa's Used Equipment Referral Service, a Program of the IA UCEDD/LEND, Saves Persons with Disabilities and their Families over $1 Million in 2012 While Facilitating Community Inclusion

January 7, 2013

Iowa's Used Equipment Referral Service (UERS) is an online listing service which allows users to post free ads for adaptive equipment which they wish to buy or sell.  It is maintained by Iowa COMPASS, Iowa's statewide information and referral service for disability-related programs. Funds to support UERS come from the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) housed at the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa's UCEDD.

For the third year in succession, UERS was ranked number one among adaptive technology exchange programs in the US in products sold and consumer cost savings.  This number included 156 assistive technology devices sold which equated to a total consumer savings of $1,099,473.  Cost savings to Iowa consumers exceeds Iowa's Federal Tech Act 2012 appropriation by more than three to one.  This demonstrable cost savings will serve as one of the cornerstones of a report which will be submitted to Congress later this month in support of continued Tech Act funding.

The impact of UERS and similar technology recycling programs across the country extends beyond cost savings.  Nationally, over 80% of individuals who purchase products through such services indicate that they could not have afforded to purchase them new.  For many persons with disabilities, technology acquisition is essential to a successful life in the community.

Through a variety of marketing techniques that include direct mail, search engine optimization, social media exposure and in-person presentations, UERS continues to expand its listings. In addition to the mobility aids, communication devices, and personal care items typically associated with UERS, the site now includes "high ticket" items such as accessible private homes and modified vehicles. 

To view Iowa UERS listings, visit http://www.iowacompass.org/uersdisclaimer.htm.

To learn more about Iowa COMPASS, visit http://www.iowacompass.org/.  To learn more about the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology, visit http://www.iowaat.org.  Those wishing further information may also contact Mike Lightbody, Iowa COMPASS Information Specialist, at 319-353-8778 or [email protected].