Date: Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Category: General
RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America, announced today that Dr. Joey Wallace has joined the organization as Project Director of the RESNA Catalyst Project, a federal grant that provides technical assistance to statewide assistive technology programs and financial loan programs in 50 states and US territories, as well as protection and advocacy programs for assistive technology under a subcontract. These programs are funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended and administered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
These programs provide technology-related services to assist individuals with disabilities of all ages to access and obtain assistive technology (AT). People with disabilities use assistive technology in their daily lives to live independently, go to school or work, and participate in family and community life. Assistive technology covers a wide range of products and devices, and can be low-tech, like canes and grabbers, or high-tech, like eye-gaze systems that allow users to work on computers. Wheelchairs, hearing aids, speech-generating devices and speech recognition devices, and screen readers are common examples of assistive technologies.
Dr. Wallace has dedicated over 20 years working in the field as the Executive Director of the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority, Virginia’s low interest loan program for assistive technology, and as a Policy and Funding Specialist for the Virginia Statewide Assistive Technology Program (VATS). Dr. Wallace has a variety of work experiences including case management, residential services, advocacy, policy development and teaching. He is the author of multiple journal articles, textbook chapters, and topic papers in numerous disability-related areas.
“Joey is committed to increasing individual access to technology-related services through personal choice and self-advocacy,” said M. Nell Bailey, Executive Director of RESNA. “Having worked in these types of programs himself, he has an understanding and expertise that will be extremely valuable to everyone involved.”
“Many of the people working in the programs that the RESNA Catalyst Project serves are valued colleagues and friends,” said Wallace. “This is an opportunity to support their great work and advocacy on behalf of their customers, and make sure that people have access to the technology they need to live independent lives in the community.”
Dr. Wallace received his PhD in Urban Services Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Southern Maine, and a bachelor's degree in English from Boston College. He lives in Richmond, VA with his wife Jeanne and their loyal dog Snoopy and has two sons, Sam and James.
To visit the RESNA Catalyst Project website, please click here.
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About RESNA
RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. RESNA advances the field by offering certification, continuing education, and professional development; developing assistive technology standards; promoting research and public policy; and sponsoring forums for the exchange of information and ideas to meet the needs of our multidisciplinary constituency. Find out more at www.resna.org.