National Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Day – Wednesday March 1st, 2023
From the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) website:
“The National Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Day commemorates the importance and vital role AT plays in the lives of people with disabilities and older adults. This day reinforces the necessary support and funding the federal government provides to ensure people receive the assistive technology necessary to engage in education, employment, and community living. Assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities and older adults to be included in their communities and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces and these devices are necessities, not luxury items.
National Assistive Technology Awareness Day also provides an opportunity to commend assistive technology specialists and program coordinators for their hard work and dedication to serving individuals with disabilities who are in need of finding the proper assistive technology to meet their individual needs; and professional organizations and researchers dedicated to facilitating the access and acquisition of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities and older adults in need of assistive technology devices.”*
More information available at the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs website.
* Used with permission from the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
AzTAP Staff, They Are Still A Changing!
We are delighted to announce that our own Cecilia Dey who has been AzTAP’s inventory manager was promoted this month to be the coordinator for our Arizona Department of Education AT loan program. Cecilia has been with AzTAP since the Spring of 2020. She brings a wealth of prior AzTAP experience, a spirit of teamwork and a great sense of humor to the job. We know the customers of the ADE AT loan program will be in great hands and invite everyone to welcome her to her new role at AzTAP!
We are also pleased to relay that we have hired for our part time Reuse Coordinator position. This person will be starting the first week of March and will be responsible for managing all of AzTAP’s AT and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Reuse services such as the Arizona Assistive Technology Exchange and Reuse Coalition websites, our online Refurbit computer purchase discount program as well as all of our AT device refurbishment/reassignment activities. Stay tuned to the next News & Updates for more information on this new AzTAP staff member.
If you are looking for a full time position working in AT then stay tuned to your email as we will be posting for an Inventory Assistant Manager soon. This position has primary responsibility for managing our AT inventories at AzTAP, assisting our AT Specialists with prepping equipment for demonstration and loans as well as purchasing and inventorying new AT devices.
SUCCESS STORY: The Ties that Bind…
Roy is a veteran having served in the Navy during World War II. He contacted AzTAP requesting assistance with finding a used Hoyer style lift. Roy explained that he and his wife, Sally had just celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. She was 95 and he was approaching 96. Sally had limited mobility and seven years earlier had been diagnosed with dementia. Roy explained during this time he had learned, the hard way, to cope with dementia, incontinence, her Sundown Syndrome and now he no longer able to lift her to move Sally from her bed to the wheelchair. Roy was advised to enroll Sally in hospice, but he refused this idea. He stated, “I promised her, over 75 years ago, “to care for her through sickness and in health, ‘til death”, and I am certain she would do no less for me.” AzTAP worked with Roy to review his options for medical equipment Reuse programs. Since he was a Veteran one of the referrals explored was to the Arizona Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (AzPVA) medical equipment loan program here in Phoenix. Fortunately, the AzPVA had a gently used Reliant 450 electric Hoyer lift with two slings in inventory. When they found out that Roy lived in southern Arizona and that he would need to rent a U-Haul truck to pick up the lift they coordinated with one of their volunteers to deliver the lift to Roy and provide him support instruction on how to use it. At follow up Roy said, “The lift works wonderfully, and to have received it free of charge and delivered was unbelievable. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
If you need support with donating, selling, or finding used medical equipment/assistive technology please do not hesitate to contact our Reuse Coordinator at 602.776.4670 / 1.800.477.9921 or email admin@azatreuse.org.
(Note: names has been changed to protect privacy.)
NEW DEVICE at AzTAP: Panini Eatzii: Hands Free Adaptive Eating Aid!
The Panini Eatzii is a low tech hands free adaptive eating aid designed for eating hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches and hamburgers.
The device is designed to mount to a table and comes with different attachments to hold different types of foods. Food is placed in its attachment on a raised centralized platform that is adjusted to a user’s height. Food is rotated for eating by the user turning the platform with their head/jaw.
Additional product information on the Panini Eatzii is available on the companies website at: https://eatzii.com/hands-free-adaptive-eating-aid/
If you would like more information about, a demonstration of or to borrow the Panini Eatzii device please contact AzTAP at 602.728.9534 / 1.800.477.9921 or email us at AskAzTAP@nau.edu.
Mark Your Calendar for our upcoming events!
VIRTUAL LUNCH & LEARN:
Cooking Safely, Confidently & Independently with Vision Loss: Adaptive Culinary Tools and Strategies – Introducing The Blind Kitchen!
March 1, 2023 | 12:00 pm
Register for cooking safely
VIRTUAL ICT WEBINAR
Accessibility in Social Media
March 8, 2023 | 11:00 am
Register for the social media webinar
2023 IHD-AzTAP
Evidence for Success Disability Conference
June 21-22, 2023
We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center, Fort McDowell, AZ