Session Code: CATT-02

A Successful Match with Reuse

January 31 | 8:00 AM

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Joy Kniskern

Liz Persaud

Learning Objectives

Understand the basics to matching a client with

reused equipment.

Learn about a successful and nationally

recognized community reuse program operated

within one of the country's largest Center for

Independent Living.

Understand the primary key points to operating a

reuse program and how to access helpful

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Ripple Effect

• The ripple effect is a term used to

describe a situation where, like the ever

expanding ripples across water when an

object is dropped into it, an effect from an

initial state can be followed outwards. - Wikipedia

• Getting a piece of equipment has an effect

on the person’s life - from the smallest to

the largest ripple

Where to Start?

• Getting a piece of equipment is a very serious decision and can have positive or negative ripples.

• Matching a person with the wrong piece of equipment can not help a person or even cause more problems.

• Matching a person to the correct equipment can make their daily routine easier or make it possible to take a long awaited trip to Italy!

Paraquad’s Reuse Program

• Paraquad started

42years ago and is an

Independent Living

Center with

approximately 40

different programs.

• Reuse program started

in 2005 due to large

Medicaid cuts in MO.

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Paraquad in St. Louis

How Paraquad’s program got started…

• Missouri proposed major cuts to access to DME.

• 2005 Paraquad received a local corporate grant to begin the program.

• 2006 Paraquad applied for 1 of 12 special demonstration programs grants through the Rehabilitation Services Administration and received the grant.

• Their unique features included: • Occupational therapist on staff

• Collaboration between an ILC & Washington University

• Create an outcome measure

• Create a repair program for sustainability

• Collaboration with other ILCs

• Grant was from 2006-2009, after Paraquad adopted the program

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Who Does the Matching?

• An occupational therapist will see all clients

getting a mobility device

• Cane, crutch, walker, power or manual wheelchair, scooter, or cushion

• Other trained staff will distribute raised toilet seats, commodes, shower chairs or benches, reachers

Gathering Information on the Client

• AT Referral Form

• Mobility Skills Course Score Sheet

• Delivery and Instruction Form

• Liability Release

• Satisfaction Survey

AT Referral Form

• Usually done over the phone but can be done in

person

• Client Information – name, date of birth, height,

weight, diagnosis

• Address Information – address and phone

number

• Equipment Interested in Purchasing

AT Referral Form

• Do they currently have any insurance and have they tried to obtain equipment through this source (possibly refer to Washington University)

• If using a mobility device now, what, and do they know the dimensions (i.e. Seat width and depth)

• What will they be using the device for?

Appointment to see AT

• Topics of discussion include:

•Home considerations

•Transportation options

•Special Considerations

• Measurements

• Pull options from warehouse

Consumer Data

•Fit to person/Clinical Evaluation

•Current mobility device

•Device requested and planned use

•Weight, height and diagnosis

•Seat width and depth

Appointment to see AT

•Delivery/Instruction Form

•Liability Release

•Mobility Skills Course

Delivery and Instruction Form

•Includes clients name, device number and date

of delivery

•Checklist to make sure the client has been

instructed on how to use the device

•Signed and dated by consumer or person picking

up the device

Uses of Skills Course for Reutilized AT

• Evaluation of Skills

• Training of Skills

• Modify/adjust equipment

Mobility Skills Course Score Sheet

• Scoring is done on:

•Completion of the task

•Safety

•Task Instruction

4 - completes task without

assistance

3 – completes task with

verbal assistance

2 – completes task with

physical intervention

1 – unable to complete the

task

Mobility Skills Course

• Includes:

•Curb Cuts

•Stairs

•Ramps

•Curbs

•Carpet

•Gravel

•Cross Slope

Mobility Skills Course Layout

Carpet

Figure 8 course

Area for

practicing pick

up items safely

Ramp 1:20

Potholes Curb cut ramp

Turning

radius

Gra

vel pit

Sand p

it

Cross Slope

Stairs

Ramp 1:12

Different

Curb

Heights

3 pt

turns

Ramp

1:20

Ramp

1:12

Potholes

Stairs

3” curb

Turning Radius

Consumer Data

•Training

•Device usage

•Device breakdown and

transportation

•Cleaning and maintenance

•Safety

If there are any barriers…

We have a 90 day warranty on all reuse

equipment so if anything is not working

we will fix it for free

• Also if the client needs more training

we will set up training appointments

PASS IT ON CENTER

Take advantage of our free resources to

support AT Reuse

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Questions?

Thank you for attending this session

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• CEUs – Session Code: CATT-02 • More info at: www.atia.org/CEU

• For ACVREP, AOTA and ASHA CEUs, hand in completed Attendance Forms to REGISTRATION DESK at the end of the conference. Please note there is a $15 fee for AOTA CEUs.

• For general CEUs, apply online with The AAC Institute: www.aacinstitute.org

• Session Evaluation • Please help us improve the quality of our conference by completing your

session evaluation form.

• Completed evaluation forms should be submitted as you exit or to staff at the registration desk.

• Handouts • Handouts are available at: www.atia.org/orlandohandouts

• Handout link remains live for 3 months after the conference ends.

Contact us

Joy Kniskern

Joy@passitoncenter.org

Liz Persaud

Liz@passitoncenter.org

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DISCLAIMER

Pass It On Center is supported under cooperative agreement #H235V060016 awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office

of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and is administered by Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act

Program, a program of the Alternative Media Access Center of The Georgia Institute for Technology (Georgia Tech.) However, the

contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the policy or opinions of the Department of Education or Georgia Tech, and

the reader should not assume endorsements of this document by the Federal government or Georgia Tech.

Lindsey Bean-Kampwerth

OTD, OTR/L

Director of AT

lbean@paraquad.org

www.paraquad.org