Transcript:
The goal of the Reutilization & Design program is to establish a network to promote the donation, repair, and reuse of technology and durable medical equipment for individuals with disabilities. Signal Centers' Assistive Technology Center and Goodwill HELPS work together in Southeast Tennessee to provide a supply of free assistive technology and durable medical equipment for those individuals
-----------
Hi, I'm Mitzi Davenport, Assistive Technology Specialist at Signal Centers,
and I'm Steve Powell, the Coordinator of the Assistive Technology Center.
We're happy to be here today to talk with you about the cooperative effort that we have in Southeast Tennessee, which is made possible by the Tennessee Technology Access Program. Goodwill HELPS provides durable medical equipment and Signal Centers provides Assistive Technology.
We have a wide variety of older equipment available for reuse. Computers have been donated and refurbished, along with monitors, both of standard sizes and with larger screen sizes.
Some computer mice and keyboards are available, most of which can be adapted for special needs. In the past we have had other items, such as alert systems, donated which can be used by someone who is hard of hearing or deaf. This alerts someone to events occurring in the home, such as the door bell ringing or the telephone ringing.
We have had a few video magnifiers donated. These can be used to provide magnification to help a person with vision loss read documents and small print.
We also have a variety of switches which can be used to access a toy or even access the computer.
There are simple technologies available to enable people to have more control over their environment, allowing them to complete such tasks as turning on a radio or switching on a light.
We would like to share a couple of true stories about how our reutilization program impacts lives.
Caleb is a 16 year old young man who has Muscular Dystrophy. His grandmother called because he had no way to use a computer. He spends much of his time at home in his hospital bed watching TV.
Caleb's grandmother wants him to be able to use a computer to email friends, use the Internet, and play computer games. Due to the Muscular Dystrophy, Caleb has only limited use of his hands.
When a student from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga called Signal Centers with a computer to donate, we knew exactly who should get her system.
Caleb now has a great used computer with monitor that is very capable of providing communication and entertainment.
He uses a small Rocket mouse cradled in his hand to activate an on-screen keyboard and run the computer.
Earlene is an active 85 year-old poet who also enjoys reading and sewing. As her macular degeneration disease progressed, these activities became more difficult.
When Earlene's video magnifier broke, she came to Signal Centers for a demonstration of a newer model and vendor information.
It was then that she heard about our Reutilization Program and decided to donate her broken video magnifier. After rebuilding that system, the Assistive Technology Center was able to give the video magnifier to an 82 year old woman named Thalia, who also has macular degeneration, but could not afford to purchase one for herself.
Thalia can now remain independent - reading her mail, writing checks and maintaining her household finances.
This is another example of how technology through the Reutilization program can dramatically change someone's life.
We are very proud of our reutilization program. In order to ensure its success, we rely on donations.
You can help us by donating computer systems, monitors, alert systems, video magnifiers, and other simple technology.
----------
Hi, I'm Kim Myers. I'm Director of Community Services at Chattanooga Goodwill Industries. I'm also the coordinator of the Goodwill HELPS Program.
HELPS stands for: Health Equipment Link Program Services
In May of 2000 Goodwill HELPS was formed with one vision in mind and that was being able to provide durable medical equipment to individuals that have a need.
(Sound of an electric screwdriver)
My name is Nathaniel Chatmon Junior. I'm the manager of the HELPS program. I refurbish wheel chairs, crutches, canes, bedside commodes. I clean them up with environmentally safe cleaners for people who need them, who can't afford insurance on some equipment.
I lend them out to them for as long as they can use them, then they bring them back to me. I repair and fix them and make sure they are safe before I lend them out to anybody. I lend them out wheelchairs from infants on up to grandparents, and make sure they're safe.
Kim: It was shortly after helps was formed that we soon discovered that there were more needs in our community. Goodwill HELPS could help in other ways, being able to provide supplies to individuals that have the need.
Several years ago a cancer patient came into Goodwill HELPS seeking nutritional supplement. With the rising health cost and his medication, he simply could not afford it.
With the help of Goodwill HELPS we provided him with several cases of nutritional supplement whereas he regained his strength and was able to witness the birth of his first child.
With memories such as this, it leaves a powerful impact. When people come to Goodwill HELPS, they're seeking medical equipment.
You can help. Look in your closet, your attic, your basement, or garage. If you have medical equipment that's no longer in need, please donate it to the Chattanooga Goodwill Industries.
Together, we can make a difference in serving people with disabilities, helping them gain their strength, their independence, and their quality of life.
---------
Hi, I'm Ezra Reynolds, the Assistive Technology Design Specialist.
And I'm Mitzi Davenport, Assistive Technology Specialist at Signal Centers.
The Assistive Technology Center helps individuals of all ages and with all types of disabilities. Those we serve could be someone born with a disability, someone who lost ability though an accident or illness, or someone dealing with an age-related condition.
When people come to us with a need, we try to match them with technology. However, we often encounter people whose needs can not be met by current technology.
In those cases, we attempt to either adapt existing products or design a unique solution that will meet their needs.
For example, we worked with a 41 year old former teacher and coach who has quadriplegia due to a motor vehicle accident. Living in a nursing home, he was eager to use a computer again so he could maintain contact with his friends and family. We found he had a little movement in one hand, and was able to control the computer through an on-screen keyboard using a joystick.
The problem was the cost - the commercial joystick mouse is over $500, which was far more than he could afford.
I designed a joystick mouse from arcade machine parts that is more customizable than the commercial model, providing auditory feedback as each button is pressed. With the costs under $50, this is a much more affordable option.
In another case, a young girl was brought to us who has cerebral palsy. She has difficulty holding her head up without a halo restraint on her wheelchair. She also has a narrow field of vision that makes it difficult for her to focus on objects below eye level.
We designed a stand to fit on her wheelchair tray that will raise an object of interest into her field of view. Having toys at eye level encouraged her to hold her own head up, so she does not need the head restraint as much.
Through Reutilization and Design, we also have a program to adapt battery operated toys for children with disabilities. Adapting a toy means that by using a switch, such as a head switch, a foot switch, a button switch, or even a switch that uses the slightest of motion - a child can play with the toy.
These toys can provide a fundamental way for children to play and interact with their environment.
Other items besides toys are also adapted through the Reutilization and Design Program. We have adapted a speakerphone so that it can be answered by someone unable to pick up the handset.
We have modified electric staplers, paper shredders, massagers, radios, and other small electronics so that they can be used by people with disabilities.
The mission of the Tennessee Technology Access Program's Reutilization & Design program in Southeast Tennessee is to establish a network to promote the donation, repair, and reuse of technology and durable medical equipment for individuals with disabilities.
Through the Tennessee Technology Access Program, Signal Centers and Goodwill HELPS strive to fulfill this mission.
You can help us in this effort by calling Goodwill HELPS with durable medical equipment donations and Signal Centers with computers, battery operated toys, magnifiers, alert systems and other technology donations.
-------------------
To contact Goodwill HELPS in Chattanooga, call
Crystal at area code 423, 629-2501 extension 294
or call Kim at area code 423, 629-2501 extension 314
To contact Signal Centers' Assistive Technology Center in Chattanooga about Reutilization in Southeast Tennessee,
call Molly Littleton at area code 423, 698-8528 extension 242
or call Diana Moreland at area code 423, 698-8528 extension 223
or call Ezra Reynolds at area code 423, 698-8528 extension 228
for information on Reutilization in Northeast Tennessee, contact the East Tennessee Technology Access Center or ETTAC in Knoxville at area code 865, 219-0130.
for information on Reutilization in Middle Tennessee, contact the Technology Access Center of Middle Tennessee in Nashville at area code 615, 248-6733 or toll-free at 1-800-368-4651
For information on Reutilization in West Tennessee, contact the
Star Center in Jackson at area code 731, 668-3888
or call the Mid-South Access Center for Technology in Memphis at area code 901, 678-1489.
For any other questions concerning the reutilization program in Tennessee, please call the Tennessee Technology Access program in Nashville at area code 615, 313-5183 or call toll Free 1-800-732-5059.
If you use a TTY, please call area code 615, 313-5695.