Conference Seeks to Put Technology into Hands of People with Disabilities

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | 06:52am

NASHVILLE -- Agencies serving people with disabilities are gathering in Nashville for Tennessee’s first-ever assistive technology reutilization conference. Assistive technology (AT) devices are often called tools for life. They help people with disabilities live more independently.

AT can be something as simple as a walker, for someone with mobility problems. It can also be something as complex as a talking computer, for individuals with vision or communication impairments. There are thousands of devices available to help people with disabilities through dozens of organizations across Tennessee, including Goodwill Industries, the STAR Center in Jackson and United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee. The conference is the first step in establishing an on-line network to get the right tools to the people who need them as quickly as possible.

The conference is taking place Friday, November 7 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Nashville at 920 Broadway.

Device reutilization is the process that pre-owned devices/equipment are accepted by

donation, are repaired or refurbished as needed. These AT devices are then offered for

sale or loan or give-away to individuals with disabilities.

Tennessee hopes to model similar programs like Georgia’s gTRADE program and the

Pass it On Center. Representatives from Pass it On Center will be at the conference to

help agencies serving Tennesseans with disabilities organize their resources to benefit as many people as possible. For more information on Pass it On, visit: www.passitoncenter.org. For more information on TTAP and DHS programs, visit: http://state.tn.us/humanserv.

For more information, please contact Kevin Wright or Michelle Mowery Johnson at 615-313-4700.

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