	July 1997

Services in Western Maryland

The Center for Technology in Education -

Many readers will be familiar with the Technology Related Assistance Act for Individuals with Disabilities, also known as the "Tech Act." Maryland was one of nine original states to be funded under that program in 1989. Since then, Maryland's Tech Act program (MD TAP) has operated assistive technology resource centers in Baltimore, on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland.

The Center for Technology in Education (CTE) is now re-involved with the Tech Act through the award of a competitive, multi-year grant from MD TAP to operate the Western Maryland center as well as increase local access to assistive technology and facilitate system change in Western Maryland (Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick counties). Working in cooperation with regional partners, including the Washington County Office on Disability Issues, CTE will continue the services of the former office as well as expand baseline services such as local access to assistive technology information.

Highlights of the project include:

Short Term Equipment Loan

Designed for evaluation purposes, equipment may be borrowed for a limited period of time. The Equipment Loan Program will be coordinated through a regional partner, Community Living, Inc.

Information and Referral

Access to timely and accurate information will be available through a toll free number. Through this number, callers will have access to a staff known nationally for their knowledge, creativity and resourcefulness.

Local Access to Print and Media Resources

Working with the Western Maryland Public Library System, CTE will place current print resources related to assistive technology in each local public, college and university library in Western Maryland. The Western Maryland Public Library System has also agreed to facilitate on-line and Internet access to assistive technology information for patrons.

Survival Summit

Utilizing electronic meeting software, CTE will conduct a summit with major assistive technology stakeholders in Western Maryland to develop a coordinated Three Year Plan to embed assistive technology into appropriate service delivery systems.

Training

Again, utilizing electronic meeting software, CTE will conduct a training needs analysis to determine specific needs within the region. With that information, we can design an effective multi-year training strategy.

With this grant, and with the help of our partners, we expect to generalize our experience building expertise and system capacity in the educational environment to a whole new arena. Wish us luck!

Project Contact Information

Equipment Loan

Sue Holton
Community Living, Inc.
620 Research Drive
Frederick, MD
301 663-8811

Information & Referral

1-800-99 WMTAP
1-800-999-6827

Other Information

Norman Bassett
Washington County Office on Disability Issues
33 West Washington Street Room 303
Hagerstown, MD
301 791-3383

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