Maryland Department of Disabilities, Technology Assistance Program
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2016 Annual Report
OUR MISSION
To enhance the lives of all Marylanders with disabilities, older Marylanders, and their families by helping support access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services.
OUR TEAM
Keyonna Baker – Assistant Director of Assistive Technology Loan Program
Tanya Goodman – Director of Assistive Technology Loan Program
Lori Markland – Director of Communications, Outreach and Program Development
Jim McCarthy – Executive Director
Denise Schuler – Assistive Technology Specialist
Erin Swann – Assistive Technology Specialist
TECHNOLOGY IS A TOOL FOR INDEPENDENCE FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Maryland Department of Disabilities, Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP) is aimed at increasing independence for all Marylanders with disabilities by creating more opportunities to access assistive technology, whether it's in the home, school, or at work. Grants issued, grants received, programs launched and programs sustained, MDTAP has worked to ensure access to assistive technology across the state. From device demonstrations to equipment recycling, from trainings to consultations, the Technology Assistance Program is working to improve access to assistive technology through direct services and policy development. We hope you take a few moments to check out our current projects and all our program data right here in our 2016 Annual Update! And stay tuned to our website, www.mdtap.org, or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Where It's AT blog, or YouTube) as we plan for another year of great accomplishments!
– Jim McCarthy, Executive Director
MDTAP SERVICES
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS & LOANS
"Everyone needs to be picky about some aspects or other in their life, and those items will give me some freedom in that. Getting to have some things to my exact preference allows me to express my individuality."
– Staci Colwell
- 157 equipment loans to 120 Marylanders
- 73 device demonstrations to 150 consumers across the state
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FINANCIAL LOANS
"Having a ton of other medical bills, wheelchair, leg braces, physical therapy copays, catheter supplies, medications, [these] were always a heavy weight on our family and borrowing money at a high interest rate was not something our family could afford."
– Amanda Carrera
- 1,249 devices purchased at reduced cost, saving over $15,000+ for consumers
- 31 low interest financial loans totaling $685,794
- 7 WorkABILITY low interest financial loans for work-related devices totaling $144,129
EQUIPMENT REUSE & RECYCLING
"This device has enabled me to sleep without fear of stopping breathing."
– Vivian Clark (On getting a CPAP machine through the Equipment Link website)
- 14 devices exchanged on the Equipment Link, saving Marylanders $14,220
- 102 devices provided on long-term loan, saving Marylanders $342,390
OUTREACH
- Training- 197 Marylanders took part in statewide assistive technology trainings
- Public Awareness - 1,082,593 received information on assistive technology and technology services
- Information & Assistance - 818 people received direct consultation on assistive technology services or devices
2016 INITIATIVES And PROJECTS
Lollipop Kids Foundation, Equipment Loan Closet
Received a grant from MDTAP to continue supporting the Equipment Loan Closet AND a grant to establish a Boardmaker Computer Lab for parents of children with disabilities in order to provide needed training and adapted communication materials.
74 long-term loans of medical equipment to children in need.
HASA (Hearing and Speech Agency)
Received a grant from MDTAP to purchase the ProxTalker Unit and peripherals to expand HASA's demonstration and loan library for Marylander's with communication challenges.
9 demonstrations and 4 loans of the ProxTalker Communication device.
IMAGE Center of Maryland
Received a grant from MDTAP to establish to establish a fully functioning accessible kitchen, available to all Marylanders with disabilities to visit for trainings, hands-on demonstrations of adapted kitchen tools, and to build independent cooking skills.
Over 1200 people interacted with the Accessible Kitchen, both in person and online.
Statewide Portable Ramp Access Project
Initially funded by MDTAP and established at BACIL on the Eastern Shore, this program is now fully funded by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to provide short-term loans of portable ramps to individuals across the state.
8 ramps on loan to families coordinating long term accessibility solutions.
SOCIAL IMPACT
"Don't use social media to impress people; use it to IMPACT PEOPLE" DavidWillis.org
- Twitter - @MDTAP 12,000 impressions and 175 profile visits per month
- Facebook - facebook.com/MDATLP 700 likes and an average monthly reach of 1,500
- Website - mdtap.org 10,422 unique site visitors and 26,881 page views
- YouTube - youtube.com/MDTAPVideo 4,000,000+ video views for 2016
- Blog & Newsletter - 130 blog subscribers, 600 page comments, +1,000 e-newsletter subscribers
- Where It's AT blog, named one of Broadview Networks Top Tech Blogs of 2016!
Maryland Department of Disabilities, Technology Assistance Program
2301 Argonne Drive, Room T-17, Baltimore, MD 21218
800-832-4827 voice; 1-866-881-7488 tty; 410-554-9230 voice; 410-554-9237 fax
