A Voice for the Tech Act Projects

The Sunset for Tech Acts?
There are nearly 50 million individuals in the United States with disabilities. Of these 50 million, almost all depend or rely on at least some form of assistive technology to go to school, go to work, participate in their community, and live independently. Since the beginning of the Tech Act projects, more individuals with disabilities are able to do this than ever before.

Though the services and strategies of these Tech Act projects vary from state to state, each has implemented ways in which to meet the assistive technology needs of their communities. Through education, trainings, demonstrations, partnerships, newsletters, and more, each of these projects has made it possible for individuals to live, work, and learn more independently through the use of assistive technology.

The Beginning
In 1988, Congress created 10-year state grants programs that would provide "seed money" for each state to establish a system for improving access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. This act was amended in 1994, in which the amendment stated that during the final three years of the programs, federal funding would slowly decrease, and then end completely at the end of the full ten years. It would then be the state's responsibility for the continuation of these projects. However, in 1998, congress extended the funding so that those programs that did not begin until 1994 would have a full ten years of federal funding.

The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 has allowed every state in the U.S, plus the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide all residents with State Assistive Technology Projects. Each of these provides information and referral on assistive technology, equipment demonstrations, trainings, loans, recycling, and buy-out. Currently, these projects are funded through federal grants from Title I of the Tech Act and are administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) at the U.S. Department of Education. However, all of this is about to change.

This year, as the federal funding for these programs comes to an end, twenty-three states will be eliminated from the original funding. This will begin the "sunset" of all the state tech act programs. The President's 2003 budget-request supports the ending of the federal funding of these projects, in order to prevent them from becoming "another never-ending federal program." The Maryland Technology Assistance Program will be one of these initial states to be eliminated. Yet, the projected "sunset" of the TAP programs could be a very shortsighted and potentially harmful act for individuals with disabilities.

Why we need to stay around
It could be asked why anyone would need a Tech Act program now. Once the programs have performed their function by informing individuals with disabilities that assistive technology exists and that they can use it, what more do they need with their AT program? Some people feel that with the prevalence of the internet, there is no need to have an AT information and referral service since all the information that they need about AT products can be accessed directly from the net and from vendors. This, though, is a very precarious situation to place ones self in, and particularly those who are susceptible to being easily lured into buying products out of an immediate need without further investigation. Not all the information found on the Internet will be relevant to each individual's needs, nor will vendors have the individual's specific needs in mind when selling their products. The AT projects in each state act as a source of information on various vendors, they educate individuals as to what AT is available, and they provide individuals with the information needed to make educated decisions. The termination of the tech act programs would leave an open gap of susceptibility for individuals who are unsure of the technologies available and the technologies that would fit their specific needs.

Furthermore, with the development of the internet and the growing changes and concerns centered around Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and web accessibility, state Tech Act projects are becoming familiar with the accessibility issues that individuals with disabilities face and the growing need for an accessible World Wide Web. Many Tech Act projects are working with various other organizations to educate and train web developers, educational institutions, and other federally funded institutions on the necessity of purchasing accessible software and creating accessible websites. Furthermore, many Tech Act projects are working directly and indirectly to help develop the guidelines and standards to ensure full web accessibility in their states.

As technology develops and changes, it is fundamentally necessary for individuals with disabilities to remain at the forefront of this revolution demanding equal access during these changes. Without a unified voice to do this, individuals will quickly find themselves left behind with inadequate means of accessing information, resulting in fewer job skills and unequal education. The Tech Act projects of each state have been working diligently from the beginning of their creation to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through education and information on assistive technology.

A voice for the Tech Act Programs?
On March 21, 2002 Paul Rasinski, Executive Director of the Maryland Technology Assistance Program, along with four other individuals, testified before the Chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness concerning the importance of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

A large number of citizens turned out to show their support and dedication for the Tech Act projects.

D.
The crowded hearing room in DC.

Excerpt from Paul Rasinski's Testimony

I think I speak for many of us here today when I say that people with disabilities are very pleased that you have called this hearing to begin an examination of this important program that serves so many Americans with disabilities across the country. It has been almost a decade since the House of Representatives held a hearing on this law. So much has happened over that decade, both in terms of the accomplishments of the state grant programs and in the advances we have seen in technology. Remember that a decade ago, none of us were using e-mail!
As the information age moves us forward with technological innovations in our schools, homes and workplaces, and we connect to the " National Information Infrastructure," it is imperative that all citizens, including those who are elderly and those with disabilities, be included in every way. The Federal government has an important continuing role to play in assuring that this happens. The state grant programs supported by the Tech Act have created a much-needed infrastructure within the states to ensure access for people with disabilities. However, the lack of a permanent federal commitment to a state program undermines this crucial infrastructure that has leveraged so many additional funds and created so many effective programs. Without this commitment and the federal leadership, the gains that have been realized will disappear, as the states are not in a position to take over the federal role.

Maryland's policies toward electronic information and commerce have placed it in the forefront of the nation in relation to the technological handling of business matters. President Bush's New Freedom Initiative is targeted toward people with disabilities and inclusion of technology into their lives to enable them to pursue full and active careers with greater independence. It is the Tech Act projects that co-ordinate initiatives such as these at the state level, ensuring that people with disabilities are aware of such initiatives and can benefit from them. The 56 Assistive Technology Act Programs are an existing infrastructure of consumer responsive projects that have tremendous capacity to ensure that assistive technology is in the hands of those who need itÉ.

The information specialists at Tech Act programs have taken years to become experts and virtual encyclopedias of information about assistive technology devices and services. Many spend hours each day searching for new information and building networks of resources to keep up with technological advances. They share this information regularly with parents, educators, employers, social workers and others who simply don't have the expertise or time to search for this information individually.

There is no other law, program, agency or organization that has a mandate or mission to serve the spectrum of consumers that the Tech Act programs serve -- all ages and all disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act serves adults seeking employment; the IDEA serves children in special education and the Americans with Disabilities Act sets standards for access. Many diseases and conditions have organizations that assist only those who have that particular condition. The Tech Act programs have initiated projects that provide the same level of assistance for infants with birth defects as they do for elderly individuals with disabilities.

Editor's Note
Paul Rasinski's full testimony can be found at http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/107th/21st/assistivetech32102/rasinski.htm

If you would like to show your support or voice your opinion concerning the prospective sunset of the Tech Act Projects, call or write your local Washington representatives.

To find and contact your local Maryland congressman, visit the website
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/buildpage.cgi?state=md

Or, for more links and information, visit the Maryland Electronic Capitol at
http://www.mec.state.md.us/