325 John Knox Road, Bldg 400, Suite 402 Tallahassee, FL 32302
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Transcript of 325 John Knox Road, Bldg 400, Suite 402 Tallahassee, FL 32302
325 John Knox Road, Bldg 400, Suite 402 Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 850-487-3278 / Fax: 850-487-2805Email: [email protected]
Website: www.faast.org
FAAST Mission• … to improve the quality of life for all
Floridians with disabilities through advocacy and awareness activities that increase access to and acquisition of assistive services and technology.
• The core work of FAAST’s mission is achieved through Regional Demonstration Centers throughout the state.
Florida’s Dilemma
• How do you deliver services in a culturally relevant and effective way to: – Transient population of over 17
million – Cultural and ethnic diversity– Challenging geography– Large elderly and immigrant
populations– Urban and rural areas
Service Delivery Strategy
• State is divided into six geographic areas served by six Regional Demonstration Centers.
• In each area, FAAST negotiated a partnership with entities deemed most appropriate to meet the needs of local residents.
FAAST Regional Centers
• Education & Training• Information &
Referral • Presentations,
Exhibits & Forums• AT Demonstrations• Resource Library• Assessments• Device Recycling• Device Loans
Regional Demonstration Centers
Central – Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Tampa
Focus: augmentative communication, rehab clients, new injuries
Advantages: on location with many of the clients who need devices; daily interaction with vendors, therapists, social workers.
Regional Demonstration Centers
Atlantic – University of Central Florida, Orlando.
Focus: Exceptional student education; teacher training.
Advantages: On site at major university. Graduate students both learn about devices and provide training on them to clients.
Regional Demonstration Centers
Northwest – FAAST Headquarters, Tallahassee
Focus: Collaborations with local disability organizations (Hospice, ALS, Easter Seals, CIL), schools.
Advantages: Proximity to state agencies and legislature allow for tours, program promotion.
Regional Demonstration Centers
Northeast – Hope Haven Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville
Focus: Children of all ages, all disability types, parents
Advantages: Co-location with existing program that benefits from device loan & demonstrations, excellent community reputation
Regional Demonstration Centers
South – Florida International University Disability Resource Center, Miami
Focus: College students, local disability organizations, immigrant populations.
Advantages: University location provides great exposure, ensures diverse clientele. Staff multi-lingual.
Regional Demonstration Centers
Gulf Coast – NW Florida Center for Independent Living, Pensacola
Focus: ADA issues, community education, telecom, local events.
Advantages: CIL provides needed community base in rural area that clients are familiar with. FAAST’s contract expands many programs CIL already had.
Device Loan Inventory
• In an effort to ensure the inventory for the Device Loan Program was truly reflective of statewide need, each regional center was required to conduct a device needs assessment in their areas.
• These needs assessments determined which devices were purchased for the program.
Local Device Needs
• Recognizing that every center is unique and might have unique device demands, FAAST provided a separate budget for each center and allowed them to send us a “wish list” of devices for their on-site device loan programs.
• These devices supplement the statewide inventory that is maintained at the FAAST headquarters.
Local Collaborations
• To further promote collaboration and outreach to other organizations, each center is required to execute a Memorandum of Organization with a local entity for device reutilization.
• This expands FAAST’s network and increases awareness of our programs among other disability service providers.
Basic Principles of Statewideness
• The most effective statewide strategy is a LOCAL strategy.
• Each Regional Center should reflect the needs and culture of the population it serves.
• Each Regional Center should be encouraged to work with other organizations in their community.
Basic Principles of Statewideness
• Needs, resources, local politics and consumer involvement vary from one region to another.
• People’s AT needs do not conform to “one size fits all” solutions.
• An effective statewide service delivery strategy should affirm that reality.