How to Start a Reuse Program – Policies, Procedures, and

Regulatory Issues September 16, 2009 – National AT Reuse

Conference

Heather Young & Alma J. Burgess

CReATE is an initiative of the Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP)

Presentation Overview What is CReATE P&Ps: Initial Considerations P&Ps: How we got started CReATE Processes Mitigating Liability P&Ps: Challenges

What is CReATE Citizens Reutilizing Assistive Technology Equipment (CReATE) Refurbish power and manual wheelchairs and scooters Focus on Northern Utah and Wasatch Front Serve all ages, statewide Part-time technician and office coordinator Charge Service Fee

CReATE Stats Devices transferred: 22 (Oct

08 to Sep 09) Donations received: 87

Wheelchairs and scooters (Jan 20 to Sep 10, 09)

Saved individuals: $92,846 Phone inquires: 97 (Jan to Sep

09) Devices recycled: 70 (Aug to

Sep 2009) Weight of recycled devices:

15,920 pounds or 7.96 tons (Feb to Sep 09)

P&Ps: Initial Considerations Desired process/organization Program based NOT person based Liability Transportation

Partnership with Arc of Utah Verbiage – plain English, not technical

writing

P&Ps: How we got started

Research Talked to other programs and people Attended conferences Spent time at warehouse

Thoughts on paper – brainstorming Staff Advisory Committee

Decided on a format Divided into sections Implemented Lesson Learned:

Put into practice – don’t wait!!! Office Coordinator updating regularly

P&Ps: How we got started Procedure Example

Money Handling Procedure (first procedure)

CReATE Processes Device Donation to Acquisition

Recycling Refurbishing Sanitization Evaluation Service Fee

Mitigating Liability P&Ps Quality Control Process

Checklists Forms

P&Ps: Challenges Employees implementing on daily basis Collaborators implementing Recording changes Managing from a distance

Implementation and revisions

Questions?

Contact Information Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP)

http://www.uatpat.org/

Heather Young 435-797-7412 / heather@cpd2.usu.edu

Alma J. Burgess 435-797-0253 / alma@cpd2.usu.edu