In This Edition:

• Massachusetts Welcomes Floating Beach Wheelchairs, by Marcy Marchello
• GetATStuff vs. REquipment: which program is right for you?
• New in the Short-Term Device Loan Program
• Introducing Josh Arico and Joan Cosentino
• Long-Term Device Loan Program Success!
• Coming up: the 7th Annual MassMATCH AT Expo is August 6th
• Save the Date: Abilities Expo Returns September 5-7th
• Vision Tech Fair- a New Collaboration
• Get AT Stuff Highlights
• Additional Upcoming Events (opens the MassMATCH Events page)

Massachusetts Welcomes Floating Beach Wheelchairs

Thanks to Marcy Marchello for permission to reproduce this article from her wonderful blog Everyone Outdoors

Over the past three summers, floating beach wheelchairs have become increasingly common at public beaches across Cape Cod. Soon, they’ll be a familiar sight all along the Massachusetts coastline, from Cape Cod up to Salisbury Beach near the New Hampshire border. Thanks to the remarkable effort of two mothers of children with disabilities, anyone with a physical disability can now move with ease from their car, across the sand, and into the water. The organization behind this initiative is SMILE Mass.

SMILE (Small Miracles in Life Exist!) Mass was founded by Lottie Diomede and Susan Brown. Through donations and special events, they raise money to purchase Mobi-Chairs as part of their mission to enhance quality of life—especially vacations—for people with disabilities and their caregivers. To date, 64 floating beach wheelchairs have been donated to beaches in 14 Cape Cod towns. See the full list of beaches offering beach wheelchairs. These chairs are always free to use and are available to children and adults with mobility needs. Lottie and Susan have big plans to continue placing Mobi-Chairs along the New England coast, along with other equally inspiring projects underway.

A recent out-of-state visitor to Kalmus Park Beach in Hyannis had a life-changing experience when beach staff noticed her handicap placard and told her about the new wheelchairs. With help from her husband, she used a Mobi-Chair and was able to relax in the ocean for the first time in 30 years. Floating in the chair, smiling through tears, she told the lifeguards, “I feel free again!” Experiences like this, moving for everyone involved, are becoming more and more common along the Massachusetts shoreline.

SMILE Mass also offers a beach wheelchair loaner program for anyone who wants to bring a chair to their vacation spot for one or two weeks. The chairs are easy to transport and fold down to fit in the back of a minivan. To reserve a floating beach wheelchair, email SMILE Mass at info@smilemass.org.

In recent years, Susan and Lottie have taken part in the annual Adaptive Recreation Fair in Boston to raise awareness about their project. Their efforts have inspired DCR’s Universal Access Program to begin purchasing Mobi-Chairs as well. Two are now available at Scusset Beach in Sandwich, with two more on the way to Salisbury Beach. The manufacturer recommends using life jackets with the chairs and advises they be used only in calm wave conditions.

With those precautions in place, don’t miss your chance to get back into the ocean this summer!

Thank you Lotte and Susan!!!

Check out the Universal Access Program’s summer schedule

Marcy Marchello is the program coordinator for the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Universal Access Program in Massachusetts State Parks

GetATStuff vs. REquipment

Which program is right for you?

AT reuse programs make good sense. After all, reuse is a way for valuable assistive technology and/or durable medical equipment (DME) to find a second life with families or individuals who need it. Both REquipment and GetATStuff are reuse programs through MassMATCH. However, REquipment and GetATStuff operate very differently and can serve different needs and users. To know which program will work for you, let’s take a look at what distinguishes their two approaches to reuse.

GetATStuff is the AT Exchange in New England. We refer to it as a “Craig’s List” for AT because GetATStuff.com is a way to find all kinds of assistive technology for sale or donation–from wheelchairs and lifts to CCTVs and adapted tricycles. GetATStuff lists equipment from the six New England states, and occasionally outside of New England. All equipment obtained through GetATStuff is acquired “as is” directly from the user who has registered and posted the item. There is no transportation or delivery of equipment provided by the program, and devices are not usually refurbished. The program is about connecting people with one another, keeping equipment in circulation and (unlike Craig’s List) within a community of AT users instead of scrap metal suppliers. The program has been in operation since 2007.

REquipment, on the other hand, is a new MassMATCH program serving individuals and families in Greater Boston with refurbished durable medical equipment (DME) at no cost. Equipment is not for sale and the program is not a way to find a wider range of assistive technology. The program accepts donations of high-quality DME such as wheelchairs, lifts, and rollators. Items are refurbished by our program partners (as needed) and listed at DMEREquipment.org. REquipment is also unique for providing pick up and delivery of equipment, although a fee may apply for that service. REquipment began as a pilot in 2013 with support from the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

With both GetATStuff and REquipment, MassMATCH is available to help. MassMATCH Program Coordinator Kobena Bonney assists GetATStuff users with their search for or posting of assistive technology. REquipment Program Manager Randi Sargent helps individuals and families access or donate high-quality DME. If you have questions about the programs, need a device, or have something to pass on to someone who can use it for its intended purpose, please contact us.

Kobena Bonney, MassMATCH Program Coordinator
Kobena.Bonney@state.ma.us
877-508-3974 (Toll Free)

Randi Sargent, REquipment Program Manager
Randi.Sargent@dmerequipment.org
866-244-6156 (Toll Free)

New in the Short-Term Device Loan Program

The MassMATCH AT Regional Centers (ATRCs) have new additions to the device loan and demonstration programs. The centers are operated by UCP-Berkshire in Pittsfield and Easter Seals in Boston. Below are some exciting highlights:

In Pittsfield:

The MYO Armband

The MYO armband uses the electrical activity in your muscles to wirelessly control your computer, phone, and other favorite digital technologies via Bluetooth. It detects the electrical signals from your muscles to identify which gesture your hand is making, and also senses the movements and rotations of your hand and forearm. You can create custom gestures and commands to control any Bluetooth-enabled device using your own body movements. As of this writing, the MYO is available for pre-order and will be released soon.

The DBK Solar Charger Panel

The DBK Solar Charger Panel is a portable device designed to recharge smartphones and tablets. When not in use, it can be placed in sunlight to restore its charge without needing to be plugged into a power outlet. The charger can even pick up a charge indoors, as long as it has access to a light source through a window. This device is ideal for individuals who rely on a constant power source to operate a tablet or smartphone with accessibility features enabled on a regular basis. Having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, as is often required to connect assistive technology devices, can quickly drain a device’s battery. The Solar Charger Panel helps extend operating time by providing an additional power source. The Solar Charger Panel is currently available through the loan program inventory.

And for demonstration at the center (but not borrowing): Google Glass!

Google Glass displays information in a smart phone-like hands-free format. Wearers communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands. The device has broad potential for use as assistive technology (read about Therese Willkomm’s experience test driving Glass. Willkomm is director of AT in NH). Contact the center to arrange for a demonstration.

In Boston:

Microsoft Surface Pro Tablets

Unlike the iPad, the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet is a complete Windows computer. It can run Office and it offers more options for access because it has a standard USB port. The ATRC in Boston is excited about the possibilities. “For example, a student with limited use of their hands/arms could use a foot to work a trackball and a head stick to work the keys,” reports Center Co-Coordinator Kristi Peak-Oliveira. The Center currently has one Surface Pro tablet in inventory and the latest version, the Surface Pro 3, is on order. Check out this blog post “Using Windows-based Tablets as Assistive Technology.”

Grid 2 Communication Software

For the Surface Pro, the ATRC has also ordered Grid 2 communication software. Now individuals who need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and want a Windows device with alternative access, will have a way to communicate if Grid 2 works for them. Grid 2 provides symbol communication, text communication, and on-screen keyboards. It advertises “Highly configurable access options for switch users and a range of communication vocabularies”. Learn more about Grid 2 communication software.

Browse the Short-Term Device Loan Program inventory

Welcome Josh Arico and Joan Cosentino

The AT Regional Center in Pittsfield Welcomes a New Program Manager

Josh Arico joined United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Berkshire County in April 2012 as an Assistive Technologist. He now serves as the Program Manager of the Assistive Technology Regional Center (ATRC), which UCP operates as a MassMATCH community partner. Josh recently completed the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) at California State University, Northridge, and is currently working toward his CompTIA A+ certification in Information Technology. In a previous chapter of his career, he worked in Network Security and Administration and completed the CCNA Routing and Switching program for Network Engineers. Outside of his tech pursuits, Josh enjoys traveling with his wife and their 2-year-old son.

The Massachusetts AT Loan Program Welcomes a New Assistant Director

Joan Cosentino has been with Easter Seals, a MassMATCH community partner, for more than six years. She joined the AT Loan Program last November, transitioning from the Accounting Department. Joan has spent most of her career working in accounting and customer service, and she has also worked as a preschool and substitute teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Regis College in Weston, MA, and is the proud mother of a son and daughter, both currently in college. Joan loves reading, traveling, kayaking, boating, knitting, and spending time with family and friends.

Long-Term Device Loan Program Success!

Joan Cosentino shares her job satisfaction

Joan Cosentino

“Marie” was one of my first AT Loan Program clients. I had just moved over from working in the accounting department at Easter Seals to helping with the AT Loan Program when I met Marie. She was delightful to get to know, well-spoken, a former English teacher. Talking with Marie made me even more enthusiastic about working in the department and getting the word out about the MassMATCH Long-Term Device Loan Program (LTDLP) in particular.

The LTDLP provides equipment to income-eligible applicants with disabilities for as long as the equipment is needed. Marie had recently lost her sight. As result, she’d left her teaching job to live on a very modest fixed income and since that time she’d begun to feel detached from the world. She told me that getting out and about was a new challenge for her, but that the hardest part was the lack of “feeding her head.” She was no longer reading and found this especially confining.

The Long-Term Device Loan Program can provide equipment valued up to $500. There is a limit to the number people who can be served each year and a priority is given for certain situations (health and safety etc.), but a range of assistive technology is eligible.

Marie had a list of devices she was interested in and was overjoyed when she learned she qualified for the LTDLP. Reviewing her own priorities, she opted for the Victor Reader Stream and Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. Victor Reader Stream is a mobile device the size of a cell phone that provides audio access to DAISY libraries (like NLS and Bookshare) as well as books and music from iTunes, and rich media content on the Internet. Dragon NaturallySpeaking, on the other hand, enables voice-navigation of a computer and the ability to write using Dragon’s powerful speech-to-text technology. Together both technologies add up to under the $500 LTDLP limit.

I followed up with Marie after she’d received Dragon and her Victor Reader Stream. She told me that the technology was helping her keep up with current events, stay entertained, communicate–and most of all –read again. Reading, she said, gave her back some dignity and independence, along with a sense of accomplishment. Needless to say, she was so grateful for the LTDLP!

Working with Marie taught me more about the power AT can have to make a difference in a person’s life. I look forward to working with her and others who can benefit by assistive technology. If you or someone you know would like to learn more, please contact the MassMATCH Long-Term Device Loan Program to see if we can help!

Joan Cosentino, Assistant Director, Massachusetts AT Loan Program
MassATLoan@eastersealsma.org
1-800-244-2756 ext. 428 or 431 (voice)
1-800-564-9700 (TTY)

7th Annual MassMATCH AT Expo is August 6th!

Join over 200 other professionals, educators, therapists, consumers, service providers and businesses to learn about the latest in assistive technology for work, home, school and community living.

When: August 6th, 2014

Where: Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Massachusetts

What: Expo of the latest AT as well as conference presentations on mobile devices, AAC implementation, workplace solutions for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, workstation ergonomics, transition planning, and more.

Cost: $95

Transportation: FREE transportation is available for the AT Expo from communities in/around Pittsfield!

Learn more and register

Save the Date: Abilities Expo Returns September 5-7th!

Last year’s Abilities Expo attracted over 4,000 attendees, making it their largest ever first-time to a city show! So it’s no surprise Abilities is returning to the Boston Convention and Exhibit Center this fall. Abilities is an especially strong conference for seeing the latest in mobility equipment and adaptive sports. Read about last year’s Abilities Expo Boston.

When: September 5-7th, 2014 (Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Where: The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Hall C, 45 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210

What: Come to the Expo to experience Adaptive Sports, Essentials for Seniors, Fun for Kids, Cutting-Edge AT, Dance Dance Dance, Informative Workshops, Important Services, Latest Products

Cost: FREE! Register online for priority access

Learn more about Abilities Expo

Vision Tech Fair – A New Collaboration

Last year, MassMATCH ATRC Co-coordinator Cathy Bly had an “a ha!” moment with Alexander Pooler, Director of Assistive Technology and Consumer Database Systems at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Bly and Pooler both serve on the MassMATCH AT Advisory Committee, which brings together representatives from state agencies, community members, and organizations to help guide the direction of the MassMATCH program. Every statewide AT Act program has such a committee, with one of its intended goals being to spark new collaborations and promote the sharing of resources. In this case, a bit of informal brainstorming expanded the purpose and reach of MCB’s Vision Tech Fair.

“MCB had a Vision Tech Fair for their staff last year at their building,” Bly explains. “During the Advisory Committee meeting, we realized they’re just down the street from us, so why not join forces? We have space in our building.”

Indeed, the AT Regional Center in Boston is operated by Easter Seals at 89 South Street. The building houses several nonprofits under an arrangement that includes shared meeting spaces, making it an efficient collaboration in a high-cost real estate market. Last month’s Vision Tech Fair took that efficiency a step further. MCB, located at 600 Washington Street, is less than a ten-minute walk from Easter Seals. As a result, numerous MCB staff attended the fair alongside members of the general public. Bly estimates that 50 to 60 attendees came to Easter Seals’ first-ever expo focused entirely on vision technology.

In addition to sharing a venue that was easily accessible to the public, another benefit of the MCB and Easter Seals partnership was their combined ability to attract vendors. Nine vendors exhibited, representing leading names in vision technology: Humanware, HIMS, Freedom Scientific, Kurzweil, ABiSee, New England Low Vision and Blindness, AdaptiVision, Perkins Products, and newcomer Baum USA. Pooler notes that working with Easter Seals helped him connect with new vendors. And Bly reports that having MCB as a co-sponsor opened the door wide for enthusiastic exhibitors.

So what was featured at Vision Tech Fair 2014?

The technology on display included everything from the latest hand-held and desktop magnifiers to refreshable Braille displays, devices, educational software, and more. Below are three standout innovations worth noting:

The HIMS E-bot ADV

The HIMS E-bot ADV is a portable video magnifier with OCR (optical character recognition) that supports reading, writing, and distance viewing. It has its own WiFi hotspot, and its standout feature is the ability to connect to tablet computers. While similar devices have long been compatible with laptops, the E-bot ADV breaks new ground with support for tablets. It works with both iPad and Android devices, weighs 5 pounds, and can operate for more than 4 hours on a single charge. “I wish I had one of these for the ATRC!” says Bly.

The BAUM VarioUltra

Also exciting was a new refreshable Braille device from BAUM USA. BAUM, a German company entering the U.S. market, is making an impression with its beautifully designed technology. The VarioUltra’s standout feature is its design, offering improved ergonomics, Braille cells that feel “crisp, almost like paper,” a lightweight brushed-aluminum body, and a super-quiet keypad. Another key feature is its rare ability to connect to up to five devices at once and maintain those connections, thanks to four Bluetooth channels and one USB port. Possibly deserving of a spot in MoMA, the VarioUltra is not yet part of the Boston ATRC demo and loan inventory.

The ABiSee Eye-Pal Ace Plus

Here’s a device that is available through the Boston ATRC. Stop by and check it out.

The Eye-Pal Ace Plus is the latest innovation from ABiSee, a vision technology company focused on seniors and others looking for intuitive, ready-to-use reading devices. The Eye-Pal Ace is their portable reader and magnifier. The Plus version adds WiFi for downloading books and sending email. Both versions feature improved read-aloud voices compared to the Eye-Pal Solo, ABiSee’s desktop model, and include AutoMinder, which helps users manage their schedules. ABiSee’s OCR technology works reliably on everything from books to glossy menus and pill bottles.

“The Vision Tech Fair was a great opportunity to demonstrate the impact and untapped potential of building and strengthening partnerships between community-based organizations and government agencies,” says Pooler. “We’re looking forward to future opportunities that can deliver such positive results.”

Look out for Vision Tech Fair 2015!

GetATStuff Highlights

New England’s “Craigslist” for AT, GetATStuff, currently lists hundreds of items available for sale or free across the six New England states. As of this writing, highlights include:

• 15 Vision-related items, including a Braille Blazer, Braille ‘n Speak, and other assistive devices available for best offer in Boxford, MA
• 3 Hearing-related items, including a Super Phone Ringer available for free in Salem, NH
• 19 Speech Communication-related items, including a Dynavox DV4 AAC device for $200 or best offer in Portland/Bangor, ME
• 18 Learning, Cognitive, and Development-related items, including free Alphasmart 3000 portable word processors in Portland/Bangor, ME
• 262 Mobility, Seating, and Positioning items, including a canopy for a mobility scooter in Mendon, MA
• 270 Daily Living items, including an adjustable bed foundation and mattress available for best offer in Needham, MA
• 87 Environmental Adaptation items, including a free stair lift in Arlington, MA
• 40 Transportation and Vehicle Modification items, including a Ford Econoline conversion van with power lift for $5,200 in Clinton, MA
• 17 Computer-related items, including a free adjustable computer workstation compatible with wheelchair seating in Watertown, MA
• 2 Recreation, Sports, and Leisure items, including a Bi-Ski Junior by Spoke ‘n Motion for $1,750 or best offer in Hanover, NH

Go to GetATStuff to search items by category or geography or to list what you need. Searching for a wheelchair? Scooter? Rollator? Or other gently-used durable medical equipment? Be sure to check out REquipment!

Learn about additional AT reuse sites.