FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY American Foundation for the Blind 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300 New York, NY 10001 Tel: 212.502.7660 TDD: 212.502.7662 http://www.afb.org/afb ----------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FEDERAL AND STATE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS Some of the major payment sources for assistive technology are federal and state entitlement programs and include: * Medicaid - Financially needy individuals who have a disability may receive assistance but the devices covered must be considered a medical necessity. * Medicare, Part B - Disabled individuals may receive assistance but as in Medicaid, the devices covered must be considered a medical necessity. * Federal/State Rehabilitation Programs - Disabled persons who have a vocational potential, including those who could benefit from supported employment programs, may receive assistance from a vocational rehabilitation program. Disabled persons who do not have a vocational objective may receive assistance from an independent living program. * Veterans Administration - Veterans of the armed services are eligible for assistance if the equipment is considered part of a medical or rehabilitation intervention program. * Workers' Compensation - Injured workers who become disabled while covered under an employer's policy may receive assistance in returning to the workplace. * Plans to Achieve Self Support (PASS) - Recipients of Social Security Income can set aside funds to purchase work related assistive technology. * Special Education - Children from birth to age 21 may receive equipment from the school if it is deemed necessary to achieve educational goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 101-476) requires each state's public school system to provide a "free and appropriate" education to disabled students and thus many children are able to gain access to assistive technology through school districts. LOCAL PROGRAMS: Blind San Franciscans, Inc. 2417 Greenwich Street San Francisco, CA 94123 415-563-4896 Full and partial grants; Zero interest loans Restricted to Bay Area residents only. Contact: Ms. Jewel McGinnis Braille Institute Of America Sensory Aids Financial Subsidy Program 741 North Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90029 213-663-1111 1/2 price subsidy Restricted to Southern California residents only. Contact: Patricia Conlee ext. 237 STATE-WIDE PROGRAMS: Alpha One 85 E St. Suite #1 South Portland, ME 04106 207-623-1115 Low interest loans Restricted to Maine residents only Contact: Kim Wallace California Department of Rehabilitation 830 K Street Mall, Room LL3 Sacramento, CA 95814 916-324-3061 Low Interest Loans Restricted to California residents only Contact: Bessy Papalias Connecticut Assistive Technology Loan Fund Bureau of Rehabilitation Services 10 Griffin Rd. N. Windsor, Ct. 06095 203-298-2042; 203-298-9590(fax) Low interest loans Restricted to Connecticut residents only Contact: John Ficarro Idaho Assistive Technology Project Loan Program 129 West Third St. Moscow, Id. 83844-4401 208-885-5591 Low interest loans Restricted to Idaho residents only Contact: Richard Hunter Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled Office of Financial Management - 13D NYS Department of Social Services 40 N. Pearl St. Albany, NY 12243 518-474-0197 Low interest loans Restricted to New York State residents only Contact: Ms. Eleanor Shutter, Loan Administrator Maine Independent Living Services PO Box 269 Bangor, Me. 04402-0269 Full grants up to $5,000 per individual per lifetime Restricted to Maine residents only Contact: Gary McLaughlin Nevada Assistive Technology Loan Program Assistive Technology Center 2820 West Charleston Blvd., B-19 Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 702-259-0789 Full & partial grants; low interest loans Restricted to Nevada residents only Contacts: Reggie Bennett (grants) Susan Lucia-Terry (loans) New Hampshire Guaranteed Collateral Loan Fund Institute on Disability #14, Ten Ferry St. The Concord Center Concord, NH 03301 603-224-0630 603-228-3270(fax) Low interest loans; Restricted to New Hampshire residents only Contact: Marion Pawlek North Carolina Adaptive Equipment Loan Program 1012 S Kings Dr. Suite G2 Charlotte, NC 28283 704-375-3977 Partial grants & low interest loans Restricted to North Carolina residents only Contact: Larry Bauer Utah Assistive Technology Foundation 3064 E. 3835 South Salt Lake City, Ut. 84109-3608 801-278-7653 Low interest loans Restricted to Utah residents only Contact: Dr. Daryl J. McCarty The Vermont Development Credit Union 95 North Avenue Suite A Burlington, Vt. 05401 802-865-3404 Low interest loans Restricted to Vermont residents only Contact: Susan Fortune NATIONAL PROGRAMS: IBM National Support Center for Persons with Disabilities P.O. Box 2150 Boca Raton, FL 1-800-426-4832 Discounts on selected computers Contact: Mr. Paul S. Luther Lions International 300 22nd Street Oakbrook, IL 60570 708-571-5466 For Lions Club projects only Call for local Lions Club number Contact: Mr. Roy Schaetzel National Federation of the Blind 3530 Dupont Avenue, North Minneapolis, MN 55412 612-872-9363 Low interest loans Contact: Mr. Curtis Chong November 199