Summary
Assistive technology (AT) enriches the lives of people with disabilities by providing a better quality of life, increasing access to the community, and developing self-help skills. AT opens doors for people with disabilities by enabling them to live and work as independently as possible and to live a mainstream life. Currently, there are federal and state programs along with insurance companies spending thousands of dollars on technology for people with disabilities. In many cases, individuals purchase or receive funding to purchase AT that they are never able to use because the trial period(s) and training on the equipment was too brief. In other cases, funding is funding to available for training is not provided. If the individual does not have the ability to use the AT because of inadequate training then the money spent on the equipment is wasted and the equipment does benefit anyone. To date, there are a few AT labs in the Austin area, but the disability community cannot readily access them. People with disabilities do need an opportunity to freely explore a variety of AT and learn about their possibilities. Most AT labs do not offer on-site training with the AT equipment. As a result, individuals and families have to contact the company consultant or find training elsewhere. There is a population of adults with disabilities who are very isolated from society. A large number of persons with disabilities live with their families, in group homes, or nursing homes. They are not exposed to mainstreamed living arrangements such as apartment life, roommates, or living alone. Further more, they do not have basic money management skills such as paying bills, budgeting, grocery shopping etc.
TERA's goals and objectives are:
- Provide a show room with the latest AT in an environment, such as an apartment, to provide individuals with real life experience.
- Provide assessment to the latest AT for any person with disabilities, their families, therapists, and other AT professionals.
- Vendors of assistive technology will work closely with staff in order to provide informative and accurate knowledge about products.
- Adequate hands on experience trial periods on products will be provided before determining if the AT will meet the needs of the individual and before funding will be sought or money spent.
- AT users will be available to give insight, training, and feedback on products and to suggest new technologies to developers.
- Staff will work with individuals and their team to help determine the most effective AT that promotes their self-confidence, socialization, self-sufficiency, independence or employment.
- Clients will develop the skills and receive training needed to live independently with the help of AT.
- Assist people with disabilities to find funding for AT and other resources for that will improve their ability to live independently and find employment.
- Benefit individuals and society at large by helping people with disabilities to be as independent and self sufficient as possible.
- Provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are proficient users of AT.
- Link with a team of professionals including physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, job coaches, technology engineers and experts, vendors of AT, and other agencies serving the those with disabilities so that services are not replicated and so that persons with disabilities have one source for comprehensive information.