Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and

TechnologyLauren Fetherolf

HSA4941

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

What is FAAST?

Technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible

Often allows communication in unique ways for those who cannot communicate through speech

What is Assistive Technology?

Examples of Assistive Devices

Sponsored by Florida Department of Education Administered through Division of Vocational

Rehabilitation

Other organizations involved in funding tend to have a direct benefit from use of FAAST services

How is it funded?

Regional Demonstration Centers◦ Ex: Research Pavilion houses one on Research

Parkway FAAST Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center

◦ Dedicated to those who have survived Spinal Cord Injury and their families and friends, healthcare professionals etc.

FAAST Services in the Community

The New Horizon Fund◦ Provides loans for those in need of assistive

technology◦ Allows loans of up to $30,000

Affordable Housing◦ Helps individuals find affordable housing in all

counties in Florida

FAAST Services in the Community

AT Vendor Services◦ Services with quality Assistive Technology

specialists, engineers and vendors all over Florida◦ Ensures competitive prices and reliability

Community Outreach◦ Assist in outreach events to promote awareness

FAAST Services in the Community

Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program◦ Provides direct case management and resource

facilitation◦ Partners with FAAST to provide those in need with

assistive technology services

AT Lending Program◦ Borrow technology from FAAST at little or no cost

to consumer

FAAST Programs in the Community

Computer Recycling Program◦ Personal computers from businesses or

individuals donated◦ Computers are refurbished for assistive

technology users

FAAST Programs in the Community

14 undergraduate speech-language pathology interns from the Department of communication Sciences and Disorders helped area young adults learn to use assistive technology

Technology in the FAAST Lane◦ 5 day camp in June ◦ Helped at Assistive Technology Educational

Network facility in Sanford

FAAST and the University of Central Florida

UCF Students at Camp

Allows hands-on experience for students

Allows inexpensive services for those in need of assistive technology devices

Benefits the entire community

FAAST and the University of Central Florida

www.faast.org

Contact Pamela Resnick, assistant regional coordinator of the FAAST Center

For more information