Resources – AT Devices

Introduction

Individuals with disabilities use assistive technology devices (ATDs) to overcome activity limitations and participation restrictions; and to reach their full human potential. Providers of AT services obtain and fit ATDs for their clients.

Online Databases (AbleData, asssitivetech.net) and Re-utilization Centers (PASS IT ON) help IWD and providers of AT services to find the the most appropriate ATDs.

AbleData

AbleData is "Your Source for Assistive Technology Information." AbleData is a free online database that lists over 36,000 products classified into 20 device categories. Devices can be searched for through categories and sub-categories.

AbleData is maintained for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Dept. of Education by ICF Macro under Contract No. ED-04-CO-0018/0007.

AssistiveTech.Net

Assistivetech.net is "The National Public Website on Assistive Technology." Assistivetech.net is a free online database that lists over 20,000 products which can be searched for by function (related functional area or disability), activity (related activity or task) or vendor (manufacturer or distributor name).

Assistivetech.net was created and is maintained through the collaboration between sponsors that include: Georgia Tech Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA), the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

PASS IT ON

The Pass It On Center (PIOC) is creating national and state resources to foster the appropriate reuse of AT by coordinating a national collaborative of assistive technology device (ATD) and durable medical equipment (DME) reuse programs across the country. The Center’s mission is to provide multi-faceted information on best practices, a national database of reuse locations, a Knowledge Base, Indicators of Quality on AT Reuse (IQ-ATR) and a coordinated plan on emergency management. The National PIOC Task Force will galvanize the involvement and support of new AT Reuse programs, key stakeholders, and individuals with disabilities to work on issues of national importance concerning re-utilization of AT such as transportation, vendor and manufacturers roles, and national coordination initiatives.

The Pass It On Center will:

• provide coordination and support in the event of natural disasters to assure that re-utilized ATD can reach those who need it quickly.
• provide telephone and email technical assistance to various request.
• establish national transportation and electronic networks for the well-coordinated distribution of re-utilized ATD/DME.

The Pass It On Center has recorded more than twenty Webinars Pertaining to ATD Reuse. Each seminar is online, free and available in one or more media formats (to maximize access).

The Pass It On Center also maintains a searchable listing of ATD Reuse Locations in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

The Pass It On Center is a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Department of Education and Georgia Department of Labor – Tools for Life, PR/Award # H235V060016