With reporting by Chris La Pelusa
“It’s one of the best kept secrets in Illinois,” Lynette Strode, the Device Loan Coordinator of the Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP), says with a laugh, “even though we have tried to promote our program.”
Currently in their 26th year, the IATP serves people of all ages and all disabilities in the state of Illinois.
“We are a non-for-profit agency that promotes the availability of assistive technology services and programs for people in the state of Illinois,” explains Strode.
For: People with disabilities
Phone: 800-852-5110
Website: www.iltech.org
Address: IATP, 1 W Old State Capital Plaza, Suite 100, Springfield, IL 62701
The IATP does this, in part, by loaning out usually costly pieces of technology for five-week trial uses, operating much like a public library. “We’re federally funded,” says Strode. “Virtually all the states and territories have an assisted technology program or project [like this]… [But] We’re each run a little differently.”
The categories of equipment offered includes ADLs, which are daily living devices; hearing; vision; cause-and effect, which includes devices such as switches that help teach stroke survivors who’ve lost the use of their hands, for instance, how to do certain things again; speech communication; and computer access. The only sorts of devices and equipment that the IATP does not offer are personal care items. “We don’t lend out shower chairs—anything to do with personal grooming,” explains Strode. “We have no way of sterilizing it, and there are OSHA laws.”
Equipment ranges from the relatively inexpensive switches all the way up to the Eye Gaze system, a device that can be controlled by the eyes, which costs anywhere from 15 to 20 thousand dollars.
People with disabilities, such as Linda Hallman of Sun City, who is visually impaired, can contact the IATP and request a trial of any number of products that they are interested in. “Right now, I have a product called the Looky and I’ve got the IntelReader that I borrowed from them,” says Hallman, who describes her experiences thus far with IATP as “excellent.”
“It’s pretty easy [to get their products],” says Hallman, “even for someone who can’t see well. They’re very helpful over the phone.”
Strode explains, “If you’re unsure of what you’re looking for, if you call us and say, ‘This is the disability; this is what I’m trying to do,’ we cannot recommend any device, but we can tell you what’s available, what’s in that category.”
And after the five-week loan, so long as there is not a waiting list for the item, the loan can be extended.
“They have so much equipment,” says Hallman, “and they really try to keep up with the demands and needs of people.”
All of IATP’s devices are current and well maintained, and 90% of the devices have extended warranties on them. “We do upgrades, especially on communication devices that change so quickly. We try to keep it as current as possible,” says Strode.
The only cost associated with any of IATP’s programs is for the Device-Loan Program, which requires the person borrowing the product to pay return shipping on the borrowed item.
Apart from the obvious benefit of “try-before-you-buy,” borrowing from the IATP also has a cost-saving benefit in regard to insurance. “A lot of times,” explains Strode, “if insurances are going to pay for it, you have to do a trial. Most of the vendors out there charge a fee for the trial. Instead of having to rent it from some place, I’ll send it to you for a trial; you just have to ship it back.”
“I think it’s a fantastic program,” Hallman says, “because you get hands-on, you get to find out what kind of instructions come with the product, maybe [you can find out] what type of additional training you might need to utilize the equipment. But at least I had it in my house and could look over the user manual and decide what I could learn myself…it gave me a good idea what the piece of equipment was all about.”
In addition to loaning out equipment, IATP has AT classifieds on their website. “We act as a middle man,” Strode says. “For people who have technology that they no longer use, we try to match it up to people who are needing the technology who have no other means of getting it…. We’ll list it, and if the person doesn’t want to list their contact information, we can have people contact us and then get in touch with the person selling.”
Items such as scooters or wheelchairs are also available on the classifieds, and the IATP also accepts items for donation. “We get stuff donated that we can give out to people who do not have the means to get the device,” says Strode, who suggests to call the IATP for more information about classifieds or donation.
Above all, Strode wants people to know, “We’re here.” The IATP also can help with information and referrals. “So if you’re looking for something in particular and can’t find it,” Strode says, “give us a call and we can do the research for you.”
For more information or to set up a trial of a device, call the 800 number or visit the comprehensive website to get the information and forms, which can be faxed or mailed to IATP in Springfield, Illinois.
