In This Edition:
- REquipment’s Big Move!
- Online Learning with Assistive Technology: My Gateway to a College Degree… Finally!
- Back to School with Grammarly
- Favorites from Abilities Expo Boston
- REquipment Highlights
- Get AT Stuff Highlights
- Upcoming Events (opens the MassMATCH Events page)
REquipment’s Big Move!
The program has expanded and found a new home with REquipment DME & AT Reuse Program, Incorporated (REquipment, Inc.)
It’s hard to believe it’s been just three years since MassMATCH helped launch REquipment, the durable medical equipment (DME) reuse program. In that short time, a fledgling pilot has gone from serving Greater Boston to reaching all the way to Pittsfield, thanks to funding approved by the state legislature. Now, adults, children and seniors can access refurbished, gently-used wheelchairs, scooters, standers and other devices free of charge, statewide.
The REquipment, Inc. staff: |
REquipment Reuse Centers now extend across the state: (east to west) Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, The Boston Home (drop-off only), Worcester AT Center, Stavros CIL, and United Cerebral Palsy-Berkshire. |
It’s a network expansion that “Massachusetts has needed for a long time,” says Karen Langley, Executive Director of REquipment DME & AT Reuse Program, Inc. Langley retired as director of Assistive Technology and Community Support Programs at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in 2015 and has long envisioned the establishment of a statewide reuse program for both durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive technology (AT). “The expansion of DME reuse is wonderful. Many more families and individuals with disabilities will now receive the equipment they need without unnecessary hassle. But, no, we’re not done yet,” she says.
REquipment, Inc. is assuming the role previously held by The Boston Home (TBH), which has been the nonprofit home for the program since 2013. With state funding approved, the reuse initiative had outgrown TBH, prompting REquipment, Inc. to bid for the contract as a nonprofit specifically established to administer and focus on DME and AT reuse. TBH continues serving Greater Boston through its Wheelchair Enhancement Center, Outpatient Seating Clinic, and other long-established, innovative community programs and residential services. Additionally, TBH remains a donation drop-off location for REquipment.
Langley outlines both short-term and long-term objectives for the REquipment program in Massachusetts. Establishing additional donation drop-off sites is an immediate priority for REquipment, Inc. “We know we’re only scratching the surface of what could become available if more people had easier access.” These sites will include permanent locations like TBH, as well as special events and donation days (such as the upcoming Recycle Your Reusables event in Ayer on October 15). “We’re aiming to develop more municipal and community-based partnerships,” Langley adds.
In the longer term, REquipment DME and AT Reuse Program, Inc. aims to broaden its reuse program to include assistive technology, as reflected by the organization’s full name. “DME addresses the needs of individuals with physical disabilities, but assistive technology supports people with all types of disabilities,” Langley points out. “There are listening devices, communication devices, vision aids. We intend to collaborate with other agencies to identify which equipment is most needed in Massachusetts and determine the requirements for refurbishing and redistributing them.” She notes that Kansas has been successfully providing both DME and AT reuse for a long time. “No, we’re not finished yet,” Langley emphasizes. “Not by a long shot.”
Meet the New REquipment, Inc. Staff!
Charles “Chuck” Smith is REquipment’s new program director. Smith brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to the role. In addition to spending the past year refurbishing equipment at the Worcester AT Center, Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and two master’s degrees in education. His professional background includes a military career as well as a career in secondary education, where he served as an academy director and vice principal. Smith has also worked on wind turbines in China, mentored school robotics teams, and most recently held positions as an assistant manager and residential counselor at an adult group home. Smith looks forward to applying his diverse skills and experiences to ensure high-quality programming and satisfaction among REquipment users.
Working alongside Smith is Roxy Rocker, REquipment’s new program coordinator. Rocker identifies herself as a person with lifelong disabilities and as someone with “a passion for helping others overcome adversity in their lives.” Rocker studied sociology in college and began her career working at a school for students with special needs, noting that assistive technology was a significant part of the curriculum. Her career progressed from an AmeriCorps role to a position with the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, leading to various positions with disability service organizations and Arizona state agencies, including employment specialist and Disability Program Navigator. Rocker has lived in Massachusetts for five years and is excited to join REquipment. “I deeply value finding solutions for communities and individuals,” she says.
REquipment, Inc. Executive Director Karen Langley has spent 38 years in public service. She began as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, assisting individuals with new spinal cord injuries and other significant physical disabilities. In 2004, she became director of MRC’s Independent Living and Assistive Technology Programs, overseeing the creation of the Assistive Technology for Independent Living program, the MassMATCH AT Regional Centers, the AT Loan Program, and other initiatives supporting community living. For Langley, REquipment, Inc. naturally extends her lifelong commitment: “Creating and administering programs aligned with the Independent Living philosophy motivates me. Programs that support consumer control, consumer choice, and the right to fail. REquipment enables more individuals with disabilities to live full lives with dignity and options.”
Learn more about donating to REquipment
Search or browse REquipment’s inventory
Contact REquipment:
1-800-261-9841 (toll free)
Roxy Rocker, REquipment Program Coordinator
Chuck Smith, REquipment Program Director
Karen Langley, REquipment Executive Director
Online Learning with Assistive Technology: My Gateway to a College Degree… Finally!
Peter G. shares his story about online courses and how far we’ve come
Charles “Chuck” Smith is REquipment’s new program director. Smith brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to the role. In addition to spending the past year refurbishing equipment at the Worcester AT Center, Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and two master’s degrees in education. His professional background includes a military career as well as a career in secondary education, where he served as an academy director and vice principal. Smith has also worked on wind turbines in China, mentored school robotics teams, and most recently held positions as an assistant manager and residential counselor at an adult group home. Smith looks forward to applying his diverse skills and experiences to ensure high-quality programming and satisfaction among REquipment users.
Working alongside Smith is Roxy Rocker, REquipment’s new program coordinator. Rocker identifies herself as a person with lifelong disabilities and as someone with “a passion for helping others overcome adversity in their lives.” Rocker studied sociology in college and began her career working at a school for students with special needs, noting that assistive technology was a significant part of the curriculum. Her career progressed from an AmeriCorps role to a position with the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, leading to various positions with disability service organizations and Arizona state agencies, including employment specialist and Disability Program Navigator. Rocker has lived in Massachusetts for five years and is excited to join REquipment. “I deeply value finding solutions for communities and individuals,” she says.
REquipment, Inc. Executive Director Karen Langley has spent 38 years in public service. She began as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, assisting individuals with new spinal cord injuries and other significant physical disabilities. In 2004, she became director of MRC’s Independent Living and Assistive Technology Programs, overseeing the creation of the Assistive Technology for Independent Living program, the MassMATCH AT Regional Centers, the AT Loan Program, and other initiatives supporting community living. For Langley, REquipment, Inc. naturally extends her lifelong commitment: “Creating and administering programs aligned with the Independent Living philosophy motivates me. Programs that support consumer control, consumer choice, and the right to fail. REquipment enables more individuals with disabilities to live full lives with dignity and options.”
The flexibility that online courses presently offer to members of the disabled community is in sharp contrast to the limited college opportunities that were available 45 years ago. During my latest course, I did a research project on disability rights activist Charles Carr. In 1970, he was rejected because of his disabilities by every college he applied to except for one, so that’s where he was relegated to go. I’m mindful of his challenges as I work through my own.
Readers may wonder about the quality of online courses. I have found them to be highly informative and thought-provoking. Online courses rely heavily upon homework Discussion Boards in which students share their opinions and ideas as well as their own background and personal experiences. Consequently, these discussions were especially beneficial to me because I gained a deeper appreciation for the variety of perspectives of my classmates.
Through the Discussion Boards, I found out that some of my classmates were people with disabilities using AT who had turned to online courses as a means of attaining a college education just as I had done. Indeed, according to a NY Times article about colleges offering Disability Studies programs, a significant percentage of students enrolled have disabilities themselves (40% at the University of Illinois’ master’s, minor and certificate programs and 60% in CUNY’s bachelor’s program [their figure also includes family members]). We have truly entered a new and exciting era in accessible education for persons with disabilities!
Peter G. is a longtime user of assistive technology and he credits the expert AT training that he received from Easter Seals Massachusetts as a key component to his successfully undertaking online courses.
Back to School with Grammarly
Want support with spelling, punctuation and grammar? Check out this recommendation for back to school from the AT Regional Center in Pittsfield 
Charles “Chuck” Smith is REquipment’s new program director. Smith brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to the role. In addition to spending the past year refurbishing equipment at the Worcester AT Center, Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and two master’s degrees in education. His professional background includes a military career as well as a career in secondary education, where he served as an academy director and vice principal. Smith has also worked on wind turbines in China, mentored school robotics teams, and most recently held positions as an assistant manager and residential counselor at an adult group home. Smith looks forward to applying his diverse skills and experiences to ensure high-quality programming and satisfaction among REquipment users.
Working alongside Smith is Roxy Rocker, REquipment’s new program coordinator. Rocker identifies herself as a person with lifelong disabilities and as someone with “a passion for helping others overcome adversity in their lives.” Rocker studied sociology in college and began her career working at a school for students with special needs, noting that assistive technology was a significant part of the curriculum. Her career progressed from an AmeriCorps role to a position with the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, leading to various positions with disability service organizations and Arizona state agencies, including employment specialist and Disability Program Navigator. Rocker has lived in Massachusetts for five years and is excited to join REquipment. “I deeply value finding solutions for communities and individuals,” she says.
REquipment, Inc. Executive Director Karen Langley has spent 38 years in public service. She began as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, assisting individuals with new spinal cord injuries and other significant physical disabilities. In 2004, she became director of MRC’s Independent Living and Assistive Technology Programs, overseeing the creation of the Assistive Technology for Independent Living program, the MassMATCH AT Regional Centers, the AT Loan Program, and other initiatives supporting community living. For Langley, REquipment, Inc. naturally extends her lifelong commitment: “Creating and administering programs aligned with the Independent Living philosophy motivates me. Programs that support consumer control, consumer choice, and the right to fail. REquipment enables more individuals with disabilities to live full lives with dignity and options.”
Learn more at Grammarly.com. (Thanks Cash!)
Favorites from Abilities Expo Boston!
The expo was held September 16-18th. Thanks to readers for contributing some special moments and equipment!
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MassMATCH Program Coordinator Kobena Bonney greets a visitor at Abilities Expo in Boston. |
REquipment, Inc. staff members Roxy Rocker and Chuck Smith enjoy the spirit of the day. |
The Action Trackstander |
Quantum Rehab vendors adjust a young attendee’s wheelchair |
The Hippocampe beach and all-terrain wheelchair |
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REquipment Inventory Highlights
REquipment provides refurbished, gently-used medical equipment to adults, children and seniors throughout Massachusetts. Devices are provided free of charge. As of this writing, items available at the REquipment inventory include:
- 1 adapted stroller in Worcester
- 1 Medline bed rail for metal bed frame in Worcester
- 1 folding bed rail (for adult) in Worcester
- 2 Manatee Bathing Chairs (for adults) in Canton
- 1 Pediatric walker by Guardian in Worcester
- 1 manual crank lift by Arjo Dextra (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 Trapeze Lift (for an adult) in Canton
- 1 custom-made floor sitter (for a child) in Canton
- 1 Nova 3-wheeled rollator (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 Bruno scooter (for an adult) in Amherst
- 1 Rifton Blue Wave shower chair (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 Invacare shower chair with back (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 sliding shower chair (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 R82 mobile stander (for a child) in Canton
- 3 Lecky prone standers (size 2 for a teens or small adults) in Worcester
- 1 JEG folding manual wheelchair (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 Invacare Hemi Height manual wheelchair (for an adult) in Worcester
- 1 Kids Quickie 2 manual wheelchair in Canton
- 2 Jazzy bariatric basic power wheelchairs in Worcester
- 1 Jazzy basic power wheelchair (for an adult) in Worcester
Have equipment to donate? Learn more at this REquipment webpage.
GetATStuff Highlights
The Assistive Technology Exchange in New England and New York is the “Craig’s List” for AT. Currently there are dozens of items posted for sale or free.
As of this writing, GetATStuff highlights include:
- 8 Vision-related items, including a free Magnilink low vision reading aid for FREE in Cambridge, MA.
- 2 Hearing-related item: including a Mini hearing helper for FREE in New York, NY.
- 63 Mobility, Seating, and Positioning related items, including an Acorn Chair Lift for best offer in Oxford, MA.
- 79 Daily Living related items, including a bed railing for $25 in Groveland, MA.
- 8 Environmental Adaptation related items including a curved stair lift for best offer in Saugus, MA.
- 16 Transportation and Vehicle Modification related items, including a 2003 Ford E150 Sherrod Conversion Fan with Ricon Clear Away lift for best offer in East Taunton, MA.
- 4 Computer-related items, including an ergonomic keyboard for $60 OBO in North Providence, RI
Go to GetATStuff to search items by category or geography or to list what you need.
Learn about additional AT reuse sites.