Assistive Technology Program at South Carolina UCEDD Saves Consumers Over $500,000 Via Equipment Reuse in FY 2012

September 19, 2013

The Center for Disability Resources (SC UCEDD) at the University of South Carolina is home to the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP). The SCATP, as one of the 56 Tech Act Programs in the United States and its territories, implements a technology reutilization activity. In South Carolina this "locally grown effort" is known as the South Carolina Assistive Technology Exchange.

This highly successful program is an online recycling database that helps citizens with disabilities and older people with functional limitations find affordable assistive technology devices and equipment. The Exchange is designed to facilitate transactions between South Carolinians and has been wonderfully successful in providing needed assistive technology devices and equipment at little or no cost to people with disabilities in South Carolina. During FY 2012, the SC AT Reutilization activities placed 560 devices with new owners, a savings of $569,821. This amount represents approximately 11% of all Assistive Technology reuse savings nationally.