Alaska
The Alaska AgrAbility team is still under restrictions related to COVID-19 and not able to perform in-person assessments. In anticipation of limited in-person engagement in the future, on September 11 some of the AK AgrAbility team participated in PPE training coordinated by non-profit partner Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA) to gain more insight into appropriate and required protective equipment.
In recognition of Emergency Preparedness Month, a four-part series of workshops was offered virtually September 28-October 1 on the following topics: preparing for disasters, disasters and the home, responding to disasters to include resources for elders, mitigating damage, and resources for readiness such as using the Alaska Emergency and Disaster Homeowner's Handbook recently published by AK AgrAbility PI Art Nash in collaboration with Alaska Sea Grant.
ATLA has received a grant from the Department of Health and Social Services for a new program called TechAbility. This program provides free lifetime loans to Alaskans who are Mental Health Trust Authority beneficiaries. Starting in March 2020, the delivery service of the TechAbility program had to be reimagined in a very short time. In the last four months, ATLA has qualified 152 Alaskans and provided distance delivery service and equipment to 68 of those.
To qualify for TechAbility, an Alaskan need to be identified as a mental health beneficiary in at least one of the following categories:
- Chronic alcoholism
- Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias
- Developmental disabilities
- Mental Illness
- Traumatic head injury resulting in permanent brain injury
The qualified applicant would receive a call from an assistive technology (AT) specialist who would conduct a consultation to determine the AT that would best meet their individual needs and could be provided through the program. Once the AT has been determined, the selected equipment is sent to the applicant. Follow-up services will also be provided to ensure best use of the AT equipment.
Submitted by DeShana York