Using Small-Grants to purchase Assistive Technology
for school youngsters with Severe Disabilities

Assistive technology devices could work as deciding take into account whether students with severe disabilities succeeds or fails in their educational programs. It’s broadly recognized that assistive technology can enhance communication, inclusion in school and community, and vocational choices for college youngsters with disabilities. Although IDEA particularly identified the college districts responsibility to supply assistive technology to students who’re needed those to take advantage of their educational programs, school districts connected having a size frequently don’t have money handy to buy appropriate devices for people students who’re needed them. In such instances, small-grants to local social and business organizations may help make the needed funds.

Small-grants may be designed to fund augmentative communication devices, positioning equipment for example wheelchairs, standers, special chairs, and computers with adapted access. Although small-grants shouldn’t be observed rather of IDEA funds, they are doing produce a different way to acquire special funds to buy equipment for a lot of students. It’s really a means of teachers, parents and managers to team together to get the money needed. Sources inside the community may be searched for and small-grant proposals may be written and printed to companies and social groups for example Lions clubs, the Junior League, Rotary Worldwide, and Kiwanis Worldwide.

Small-grants printed to community organizations includes: Identifying specifics of students, grounds within the specific curiosity about equipment, the advantages for that community, along with the advantages of the organization.

When the parents have provided consent for the small-grant proposal to obtain printed, team people perform together to make a deal. Before submitting the proposal, good info must be collected across the organization and who the very best contacts within the organization are. Some organizations have specific forms which can be completed others need proposals coded in instructions format that address areas as listed above.

This information was adapted from:
Parette, Junior. H.P. Murdick, N.L. Gartin, B.C. (1996). Small-grant for that save. Teaching Exceptional Children. 28, 20-23. with permission inside the publications office within the Council for Exceptional Children.

Their list provides some demonstration of alternate funding sources that is printed by Augmentative Communication Consultants, Corporation.

A fast reference list remains made up of funding sources utilized by professionals inside the condition to buy equipment and services.

I. Public Agencies
A. ALS Foundation
B. Christina Foundation
C. Condition condition state medicaid programs programs programs/Medicare
D. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
E. Mental Health / Mental Retardation (MH/MR)
F. U . s . states . Cerebral Palsy Association
G. Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC)

II. Private Agencies, Foundations, and Commercial Insurance
A. Travelers
B. Metropolitan Existence
C. Prudential Insurance
D. Equitable Existence
E. Mutual of Omaha

F. Condition Farm
G. Blue Mix/Blue Shield
H. Aetna
I. Champus

III. Service Organizations
A. Business and Professional Women’s Associations
B. Exchange Club
C. Kiwanis
D. Elks
E. Lions
F. JayCees
G. Church Groups
H. An Objective Be Recognized
I. Make-A-Wish
J. Masons/Shriners
K. Church structures
L. Knights of Columbus
M. Quota Club

IV. Contributions
A. Private Individuals
B. Companies
C. Sports Organizations
D. Athletes

V. The Different Faces of Funding: Monthly e-e-e-newsletter ($15 yearly) remains full of current information, examples and galvanizing news. The e-e-e-newsletter might be acquired from Phonic Ear, Corporation. 250 Cumino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941.

The Funding Request

Funding demands should offer the following information:

• Resume resume resume cover letter
• Appropriate Agency Forms
• Physician prescription for communication prosthesis
• Pertinent literature describing device (when appropriate)
• Therapy evaluation and diagnostic reports

Specific Information to obtain incorporated within the resume resume resume cover letter:

• Current patient/client status
  • identifying information
  • statement and outline of nature of disability
  • statement regarding communication abilities
  • communicative dissonance
  • minds
  • prognostic statement regarding ability to effectively communicate without device

Adjustments to existence functioning following receipt of device:

• How device enables individual to improve potential
• How device will grant control of a person’s atmosphere
• How device enables elevated independence, self- sufficiency, and talent to create choices in daily life care

Description of Device

• model no . and company (with address)
• description
• needed accessories
• cost

Helpful Terminology For Funding Demands

Medicare

• medically necessary
• reasonable and necessary
• durable medical equipment
• prosthetic device

Condition condition state medicaid programs programs programs

• achieving and looking out after self-support to avoid, reduce and frequently eliminate dependency
• self-sufficiency
• preserving, rehabilitating, or reuniting families
• health-related
• prosthetic appliance
• physician-prescribed equipment a part of client’s treatment solution
• restoration within the patient to his best functional level

Crippled Children’s Services

• frequently pay price of whatever healthcare is indicated

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

• services, training, and equipment acquainted with enhance the employability of handicapped individuals
• vocational potential
• independent living status
• eligibility for vocational rehabilitation according to:
  1. info on physical or mental disability which leads to substantial handicap to employment.
  2. reasonable expectations that vocational rehabilitation services will benefit a person’s employability or independent living status.

Techniques For FUNDING OF AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES

1. Physician’s prescription for almost any prosthetic device
2. Introduction
   • A remark of purpose (i.e. acquisition of a domain prosthesis)
   • Review of people medical diagnosis and history
   • Outline of expected advantages of use of a particular speech prosthesis
3. Medical diagnosis
   • General discussion within the individual’s disease, with citations from medical journal articles indluded
4. Functional Abilities
   • Assessment within the individual’s functional skills
   • Assessments by qualified personnel within the areas of speech, language, cognition, psycho/social functioning, vision, hearing, and motor ability
5. Evaluation
   • This systematically develops the issue for the individual’s interest in a digital speech prosthesis
   • Analysis focused on speed of communication using present system
   • Comparison between various electronic speech prosthesis including: speed, precision, cost and output modes
6. Conclusion
   • The way a individual may benefit medically through getting the chance to talk with physicians, etc.
7. Supporting documentation
   • Whenever feasible supporting letters inside the individual’s physical counselor, work-related counselor, eye physician, social worker or teacher
8. Give a sales sales sales brochure or picture describing it prosthetic device selected for the individual
9. A claims form completed and signed using the covered person

Within 4 to 6 days a preauthorization letter will be delivered to either your loved ones or possibly the doctor. According to the insurance company 80% to 100% within the cost will most likely be compensated. The summer season is essential to acquire 100% payment. By mid-year most handicapped children have formerly surpassed their deductibles.

Contact the company you have to buy the unit from and inform them that there’s a preauthorization.

They work efficiently out a technique for direct payment on their own account or shipping and billing before a check mark is distributed.

For individuals who’ve a denial, begin to see the wording carefully and respond to the real reason for the denial. Frequently the real reason for the denial is inaccurate. If denied again, request an appeal.

By Helen Grey, Richmond UCP

Set Of POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES

Private Insurance

• health care insurance
• workmans compensation
• disability insurance
• self-insured employer benefits

Condition condition state medicaid programs programs programs

• clinical services
• intermediate care facilities for individuals who’ve mental retardation along with other developmental disabilities
• Early periodic screening, treatment and diagnosis programs

Social Security Benefits

• Social Security Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Security Earnings
• Offers to Achieve Self Sufficiency

Developmental Disability Programs
Jump Program
Vocational Rehabilitation
Independent Living Program
Supported Employment

Special Teaching Programs

• Early Intervention Program under (P.L. 99-457)
• Education within the Handicapped Act (P.L. 94-142)
• Statewide Supplemental Programs, Chapter I (89-313)

Mortgage Programs

• condition bond issues
• corporate-backed loans
• revolving loan funds
• private foundations
• charitable organizations
• service clubs
• public/private partnerships
• special appropriations from condition legislature

Reprinted with permission from:

Augmentative Communication Consultants, Corporation.
Airport terminal terminal terminal Corporate Center
Suite 304
894 Beaver Grade Road
Coraopolis, PA 15108
Phone: (412) 264-6121 Fax: (412) 264-1443