Bringing together Assistive Technology and Affordable Housing
A Real Choice Systems Change project
The information on assistive technology and affordable housing presented on this web site will flow from the following:
We are in the process of gathering key documents, technical literature, web sites, product listings, and policies from the Oregon state offices for Seniors and People with Disabilities (SPD), Housing and Community Services (HCS), and other state agencies with the goal of identifying statutes, administrative rules, or other guidelines that address the integration of assistive technology into affordable housing or supports for seniors and people with disabilities. There has been a key word search of all Oregon Administrative Rules. We will also analyze relevant Medicaid waivers. The purpose of this review is to:
The purpose of the survey is to provide a picture of assistive technology awareness, experience, and barriers to use among seniors and people with disabilities. This information will help shape training activities, demonstration projects, and recommendations for systems change. The survey will be distributed in hard copy and will also be available online.
The potential of assistive technology tends to be a “seeing is believing” kind of thing. This project therefore includes a small number of demonstration sites where we will work with seniors and people with disabilities in their homes to assess their needs, install assistive technology systems, support their ongoing use, and evaluate the impact.
These sites will serve as model demonstrations for others to visit and learn about. We will also be documenting these activities through the web site, with photos and vignettes about the experience.
The results of the information gathering and demonstration projects described above will be used to make recommendations for systems change with the goal of sustaining the activities and resources established by this project and making assistive technology an integral part of services.
An important part of this project is the establishment of a locally-referenced source of information on assistive technology, products, vendors, contractors, housing developers, and funding, along with user-friendly tools to help consumers and caregivers find out what is available for them.
The information gained from this project will be translated into training materials tailored to the needs and concerns of specific stakeholders, Training events will include outreach to key consumer audiences, ethnic groups, and professional gatherings, such as quarterly or annual conferences, and will reach all geographic areas of the state.