The AT Messenger ....bringing technology to you Published by the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative Vol. 2, Issue 5, Sep/Oct 1994 Congress Reauthorizes Tech Act President Clinton has reauthorized the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 and extended the program to a maximum of 10 years for each state. The law revamps some of the old programs and authorizes new grants to establish systems of financing assistive technology. It also requires states to concentrate on changing systems to increase access to assistive technology, rather than to directly provide services. The revised act and its amendments extend for five years the grants to each state. States can now receive an initial three-year grant and, based on performance, a two-year extension and a final five-year extension may be awarded. During the final extension, federal funds to the state project will be reduced to 75 percent in the fourth year and 50 percent in the final year. Each state is expected to seek alternate funds to enable the program to continue after federal funding ceases. A new provision requires each state to set aside funds to contract for protection and advocacy services. The amount ranges from a minimum of $40,000 to $100,000 and is based on the state's grant amount, the needs of people with disabilities within that state, and the population and geographic size of the state. Under the Title I Grants to States (which is how the DATI is funded), six specific systems change and advocacy activities are required. States must: * Develop, implement and monitor state, regional and federal laws, policies, regulations and structures to improve access; * Implement strategies to overcome access barriers. The states should focus on breaking down access barriers and improving funding for assistive technology through state education, vocational rehabilitation, and medical assistance services; * Coordinate state agency activities; * Teach people with disabilities and others to advocate for increased access and participation in assistive technology selection and acquisition of services; * Identify the needs of underrepresented and rural populations and train their representatives as service providers and trainers; and * Implement strategies to ensure that assistive technology is acquired and delivered as quickly as possible. Title II of the Tech Act's Programs of National Significance has also been revised. Awards are authorized to: * Conduct training sessions, develop materials, and train in rural areas; * Train students or faculty in assistive technology careers; * Promote technology transfer to spur development; * Establish more recycling programs; * Allow people with disabilities to own and operate businesses that develop or market devices or services; * Support research and development; and * Develop a national classification system, through each state's Education Department. States can now also compete for matching grants to establish alternate funding mechanisms so that consumers can purchase assistive technology. The financing could include low-interest loans, revolving funds, loan insurance programs and partnerships. States could only receive one such grant. The grants could not exceed $500,000 and would require a 50 percent state match. At this time, Congress has only authorized enough funds to cover Title I, the Grants to States. This means that the other promising activities, including the provision of seed money for loan funds, will not be underway for some time. An in-depth look at the implications of the new law for Delaware-and they are significant-will appear in the next issue. The summary of the new law is based on an article appearing in TRAID News (1994, Vol.4, No.1). DATI Throughout the State... New Castle County Delaware Elwyn 321 E. 11th St. Wilmington, DE 19801-3499 (302)657-5647; (302)658-8860 (TDD) First, for those folks who have been out of touch with us during the summer, welcome back! You will find that our fall schedule is SUPER BUSY, so we hope you will attend at least one of our workshops. Now, more about keyboarding! You may have read about Intellikeys in a previous issue of the AT Messenger. Comfort Keys is another adapted keyboard that can help to prevent injury or reinjury to hands from carpal tunnel or other orthopedic problems. The conventional, flat computer keyboard requires typists to assume an awkward posture of the hands, wrists and arms. The hands must be rotated palms-down, and the wrists bent inward-a posture that is uncomfortable and fatiguing. To lessen fatigue and increase comfort, the operator should type in the natural hand and wrists posture, as if the arms were hanging relaxed at the worker's sides. The three-section Comfort Keyboard System is at the leading edge of ergonomically designed computer technology-giving you an adjustable keyboard that can help you work at the computer more comfortably. The 101-key keyboard is easy to use since it employs the familiar QWERTY key arrangement. The Comfort Keyboard System also has a variety of programmable functions (macros, etc.) to increase productivity. The versatile Comfort Keyboard System is a valuable component of today's ergonomically designed computer workstation. Sections can be positioned close together or further apart, as they adjust to each person's shoulder width. Each section rotates and tilts to an infinite number of positions so that it fits each person's natural typing posture most comfortably. The three sections are for the left hand, right hand, and a numeric keypad. The numeric keypad can be positioned on the left, which is an instant productivity gain for left-handers. Each section adjusts easily and then locks into place. It can be adjusted for use while sitting or standing and includes new, ergonomically designed Cradle Arm Support to provide greater comfort by supporting the weight of the forearms. A programmable "rest period indicator" reminds the user to take rest breaks periodically. Other special programmable functions to increase productivity are featured, including keyboard macros designed to save keystrokes, exit and enter programs quickly, and otherwise help the operator use time more efficiently. The user can also program the left or right space bar to act as a backspace key. The Comfort Keyboard System is designed to be compatible with IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, Macintosh, and other popular computers. For compatibility information, please contact the manufacturer. Suggested retail price is $795.00. If you would like to see the Comfort Keys or obtain more information on it, just give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you with your assistive technology questions! Kent County Easter Seal of Del-Mar Kent County Community School Carver Rd. Dover, DE 19901-2716 (302)739-6885; (302)739-6886 (TDD) The Macintosh computer has become very popular for business applications, education, and personal use. Reasons for this include a high level of compatibility among all Macintosh programs, a consistency in the operation of many programs, and most of all, an operating system that is familiar and easy to learn and use. The graphical user interface that the Macintosh provides may not be considered friendly, however, for people with disabilities. With the increase in popularity of the Macintosh (and computers in general) comes an increase in the availability of alternate ways to access the computer by a person with a disability. When one speaks of alternate access, the question of cost usually comes to mind. What many people do not realize is that there are many forms of access included with every Macintosh (with operating system 7.0 or higher) at no extra cost. How do I know what operating system I have on my Macintosh? If your Macintosh is less than four years old, there is a very good chance you have System 7. To check what version of operating system you have, select "About This Macintosh" from the Apple Menu while in Finder. If you find that you have an earlier version of the system software, you may purchase an upgrade to System 7 from your local computer store. Built-in features include: Sticky Keys: Sticky Keys latches, or "holds down", certain keys on the keyboard awaiting a second or third keypress. These include shift, control, option, and command (open apple) keys. For example, to type a capital `a', one must press the shift key and `a' key simultaneously. Once the Sticky Keys feature is activated, the shift key and the `a' key may be pressed sequentially. To activate this feature, press the left shift key 5 times (you will hear an ascending beep). Sticky Keys will remain active until you perform a simultaneous keypress or deactivate it by pressing the left shift key five times. CloseView: CloseView is a program that will allow you to magnify the image on the screen up to 16 times. The higher the magnification, the less that is visible on the screen at one time. Moving the mouse moves the screen image with the pointer, bringing previously hidden areas into view. CloseView is a control panel and may be accessed by selecting Control Panels from the Apple Menu. CloseView is not preinstalled. It is, however, included with the system disks. Mouse Keys: Mouse Keys allows the numeric keypad on the Macintosh keyboard to perform mouse functions. To activate or deactivate the Mouse Keys feature, press command, shift, and clear keys simultaneously (or use Sticky Keys). The 8, 4, 6, and 2 keys serve to move the mouse up, left, right, and down respectively. The 7, 9, 1, and 3 keys are used for diagonal mouse movement. Pressing the 5 key is the same as pressing the mouse button. For clicking and dragging, the 0 key locks down the mouse button while the 5 key or decimal key unlocks it. Keyboard Response: Various features allow the user to control the response of the keyboard. Slow Keys increases the length of time a key must be depressed before the keystroke is registered. This lets the computer ignore accidental keypresses possibly caused by a person sliding their hand across the keyboard. To activate and deactivate Slow Keys, depress the return key until a series of beeps is heard. Slow Keys is a control panel that can be accessed through the Apple Menu. Other keyboard response features include Key Repeat Rate and Delay Until Repeat. Key Repeat controls how fast characters are repeated when a key is held down. Delay Until Repeat lets the user control how long a key must be depressed before characters begin repeating. Mouse Tracking Speed: Increasing the Mouse Tracking Speed increases the speed of the mouse pointer in relation to the speed the user moves the mouse. For a user with a limited range of motion, it may be necessary to set mouse tracking to very fast. In this setting, a small mouse movement will produce over twice as much pointer movement. For someone with poor coordination, setting the tracking to very slow may be beneficial. Mouse Tracking Speed can be adjusted in the Mouse Control Panel. Visual Beep: A user with a hearing impairment may need to be aware of alert beeps generated by the computer. Setting the computer's volume to 0 will cause the menu bar to flash instead of an audible beep. Volume may be adjusted from the Sound Control Panel. Questions? Call Ed Salisbury at the DATI ATRC in Kent County at the numbers given above. Sussex County Easter Seal of Del-Mar Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center 600 N. DuPont Highway, Suite 100 Georgetown, DE 19947 (302)856-7946 (voice or TDD) When deciding what device to highlight in the AT Messenger, we try to pick items that can be used by a wide range of people. This month's device has been used in a variety of different ways. It's called a phone holder, but its uses are not limited to telephone access. Within a span of 15 days, this popular gooseneck was used to keep a woman from dehydrating in the summer heat, to assist another woman in eating and drinking independently, and to aid a young man in stabilizing his arms for access to his computer and communication devices. These three stories bear witness to the flexibility of the phone holder: Case #1: Phyllis has been stationary on her living room couch for the past eight months. She and her counselor at DVR have selected the Master Voice (an environmental control unit) to help her maintain independence. She is currently dependent on aides from Home Health twice a day for feeding, bathing, and other essential needs. Although Phyllis had some ingenious methods for handling phone calls and TV, she was unable to drink liquids the majority of the day. With the high temperatures and no air conditioning, Phyllis was becoming weak and dehydrated. Because the gooseneck has a swivel end, a long plastic straw placed in a beverage container can remain upright and be easily accessed with a slight touch of the hand. With the purchase of this device, Phyllis can now independently control her fluid intake. Case #2: Cathy is able to drink independently, but she gets extremely wet in the process of raising the cup to her lips. A plastic drinking bottle, when strapped to the end of the gooseneck, eliminates excess motion and spilling. Again, because of the swivel, Cathy need only twist the bottle 45 degrees to sip beverages. All other times, the bottle remains upright and out of the way. In the near future, Cathy hopes to be eating strained foods by the same method. Case #3: Pete is currently in a Del Tech computer class and would like to attend college on a full time basis. His therapists are working with him to find a stabilizing post for him to hold onto with his left hand while his right hand accesses his computer or communication device. The gooseneck presents a viable solution as a post. Pete also would like to drink independently and the gooseneck may substitute as a holder for his drinks. As you can see from these examples, the phone holder is amazingly versatile. This particular model is extra long, extremely strong and has an additional swivel at the end. Give us a call if you'd like to see the phone holder or any of our other equipment. We hope to see you at the Planning for Independence conference on October 21 & 22 in Dover, where we will be demonstrating recreational devices with unusual adaptations. Governor Carper Creates New Division On July 8th, 1994, Governor Thomas Carper signed legislation establishing the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities within the Department of Health and Social Services of Delaware. The new division will develop services and programs to help adults with physical disabilities live as independently as possible. All services will be coordinated at one office. Clients no longer will have to report to different agencies within different divisions to receive benefits and case management. There will be a seamless delivery of services and a single case manager assigned to each client. The new division, created with the needs of the consumer as top priority, was designed after extensive consultation with advocacy groups and community leaders. The services and programs offered are consumer-driven and will be tailored to meet each individual's specific needs. Eleanor Cain, who led the Division of Aging to national recognition, will serve as director. She looks forward to "another opportunity to help people achieve their goals and continue to live meaningful, independent lives." A Conference for Individuals with Disabilities, Their Families, and Service Providers The DATI and the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Planning Council are delighted to join their efforts in bringing the most comprehensive meeting for disability-related consumers, therapists, teachers, and service providers ever to be held in Delaware. The conference is scheduled for Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 at the Sheraton Inn and Conference Center on Route 13 in Dover. s you can see by the schedule of presentations on page 7, this year's conference promises to bring a great variety of new topics and speakers to our area, as well as a chance to meet with state and local officials whose names and faces might be very familiar. The schedule is designed to include something for everyone-for all ages, for all disabilities, and for all activities of daily personal, vocational, and recreational living. Ed Roberts, President of the World Institute on Disability, internationally recognized leader in the Independent Living/Civil Rights for People with Disabilities movement, and father of a 15-year-old son is slated to give presentations on Friday at 9 am and during lunch on Saturday. The Exhibit Hall will feature numerous displays from disability-related product manufacturers and distributors, non-profit service agencies, and other accessibility and service provision companies. A Toy Fair of specially-designed and modified toys and games will be open during both days for teachers, children, parents, and other family members. Pre-registration is required and must be postmarked no later than October 1, 1994. Registration fees (including access to sessions, Exhibit Hall, Toy Fair, lunches, & breaks) are: Consumer One-Day $20/person Consumer Two-Day $30/person All others One-Day $25/person All others Two-Day $40/person Some scholarships are available for individuals with a disability, their family member(s), or personal care assistants who are unable to afford the discounted consumer registration fee. F or registration materials or more information about Planning for Independence, call the DATI Central Site at (302)651-6790(V) or (302)651-6794(TDD). See you in October! Conference Schedule of Sessions Friday, October 21 (Exhibits and Toy Fair Open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm) 9:00 Keynote Presentation, Ed Roberts, President of the World Institute on Disability 10:30 - 11:45 1. Person Centered Planning 2. There's No Place Like Home 3. Augmentative & Alternative Communication 4. Accommodating Mental Illness through Assistive Technology 1:00 - 2:15 5. How to Use ADA to Access Employment 6. Partners in Policymaking 7. AT Benefits Through Social Security 8. The Older Adult: Freedom through Technology in the 90's 2:45 - 4:00 9. Know Your State Services 10. Estate and Financial Planning 11. Funding AT through Social Security Work Incentive Programs 12. Assistive Technology Funding through Medicare Saturday, October 22 (Exhibits and Toy Fair Open 8:30 am - 3:00 pm) 9:00 - 10:15 1. Supported Living 2. Person Centered Planning 3. Tales from the Trenches: An AT Users Panel 4. Computers & Early Intervention 10:45 - 12:00 5. How to Get Services by Being Diplomatic 6. Roundtable Panel on Transportation 7. Bringing Up Baby with the Help of Assistive Technology 8. Assistive Technology in Sports, Leisure, and Parks Services 1:45 - 3:00 9. Earning Money and Maintaining Assistance 10. Estate and Financial Planning 11. Accessing the Information Superhighway 12. Assistive Technology in Education-The Delaware Update Central Site Activities For more details or registration information, call the DATI Central Site Office at 651-6790 (phone), 651-6794 (TDD), or 651-6793 (FAX). Planning for Independence Conference October 21-22, 1994 Sheraton Inn & Conference Center, Dover, Delaware Don't miss Delaware's largest resource for information and materials for individuals with disabilities featuring: * Exhibit Hall of product vendors, information resources, and service providers * Toy Fair of accessible toys and games * Representatives from Delaware's state agencies and service provision centers * Opportunity to meet and network with other disability-product consumers and providers! For more details, see pages 6 & 7 of the Sept/Oct AT Messenger. Co-sponsored by DATI and Delaware Developmental Disabilities Planning Council New Castle County ATRC Workshops For more details or registration information, call the New Castle ATRC at 657-5647 (phone), 658-8860 (TDD), or 657-5649(FAX). Please note: All New Castle activities require pre-registration. (V) indicates a video presentation. ACCI Day - Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. will demonstrate Zygo, Tash, Ablenet, Innocomp, Abovo, and Attainment products. AT for Older Adults Day - Display and demo of how assistive devices help to improve hearing, vision, mobility, and daily activities at home or in the community. Assistive Devices for Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Linda Heller, Director of NCCo ATRC will review signalling and alerting devices, telecommunications, assistive listening devices and captioning technologies. BAT Keyboard Demo - The BAT Personal Keyboard, an innovative chord keyboard by Infogrip will be demonstrated and a video shown on unique uses from data entry to writing music! Chesapeake Low Vision Demo - Chesapeake Low Vision, Inc. will demonstrate closed circuit television (CCTV) and low vision technology for home, school, and work use. Demo of Visual Technology - Katey Semmel, training supervisor for the Division of Visually Impaired, will demonstrate computer and other technology for people with low vision or blindness of all ages at home, school, or work. Fall AT Kickoff! - Come and see what's new. Refreshments will be served. Intellikeys Workshop - Ed Salisbury, AT Specialist from the Kent County ATRC, will demonstrate Intellikeys and its many uses for keyboard modifications and teaching applications. Low Vision Aid Day - Display and sharing of low vision aids for elderly and visually impaired. Low Vision Demo - Glenn Hutchinson, Low Vision Trainer from DVI, will demonstrate low tech magnifiers and visual aids. Make Your Own Adaptive Toy - In this workshop, you will have a hands-on opportunity to adapt a toy that you bring from home or choose from our center. Soldering irons and materials will be provided. Medicaid Workshop - Medicaid Reviewer Mary Ahoorai will talk about how to file a claim for assistive technology and will answer questions on the Medicaid process. Multidisciplinary AT Assessment - Assessment from a team approach for children, including augmentative communication, adaptive play, and active participation will be discussed by Dick Lytton, CCC-SLP and Jody DeCleene, OTR from A.I. duPont Institute. Open Lab - Opportunity for "hands-on" computer hardware and software experience. Reservations required. Open Tour - Your opportunity to have a guided tour of the center and see some demos of assistive technology. Resource Day - Detailed tour of all AT resources, video, print, and databases. All day. Reservations required. Technology Adaptations for the Workplace - Discussion of technology adaptations and computer keyboards for people with disabilities to use at school or in the workplace. Kent County ATRC Workshops For more details or registration information, call the Kent County ATRC at 739-6885(phone), 739-6886 (TDD), or 739-6887(FAX). Computer Access and Beyond - Learn many forms of computer access for IBM and MAC including single switch use, alternate keyboard, voice activation, and much more. I Can Play Too - A workshop stressing the importance of play and a look at various high to low tech toys for children with disabilities. Participants of this hands-on workshop will have a chance to adapt their own toy and make their own switch. Sussex County ATRC Workshops For more details or registration information, call the Sussex County ATRC at 856-7946 (voice or TDD), or (302)856-7296(FAX). Be sure to visit the Toy Fair at the DATI/DD Council Conference in Dover on October 21 & 22! There will be games and sports for all ages-maybe even a few contests! Breaking the Language Barriers for Non-English Speakers - Geared toward people who may need a bilingual communication book in order to access services. More information will follow. If you know of someone who may be interested, please call the Sussex center and put their name on the mailing list. Rehoboth Health Fair - Sussex ATRC will have a booth at the Rehoboth Health Fair and will demonstrate a wide variety of aids for daily living as well as worksite modification devices. Remote Control Workshop - Try a variety of remote controls for TV, VCR, and cable. We have remotes to fit all abilities. Participants will also be able to try out an environmental control unit and view a video on the Master Voice, which is a voice-activated environmental control unit. Velcro Sports Workshop - Consumers will have the opportunity to try their hand at some sports. Rules will be designed on the spot to fit all needs and capabilities. Prizes will be awarded for each category. Word Prediction - Let's Speed up the Process! - Consumers and staff will have hands-on opportunity to experience different types of word prediction programs. FINANCING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY Medicare-The New Game in Town Ron Sibert, Funding Specialist, DATI Part B Medicare health insurance is the primary AT funding mechanism for adults with disabilities and for those who are elderly or have end-stage renal disease. Although much has changed in the past few years about the way Medicare handles equipment claims, program eligibility and the types of coverage it offers have remained essentially unchanged since the program was established in the mid-sixties. Medicare offers two types of coverage: Parts A and B. The first type, Part A, is automatic for all Medicare beneficiaries, and is basically hospitalization insurance. Part B, the type of coverage that pays for assistive technology (called durable medical equipment [DME] in the language of Medicare) is optional coverage. Note that Medicare insurance has costs such as: * a monthly premium ($36.60 in 1993), * an annual deductible ($100 in 1993), * a 20% coinsurance ("co-pay") charge. Under certain circumstances, other insurers may cover these costs. For example, the Delaware Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) will pay all three types of costs for qualified persons. Major medical insurance policies often cover the co-pay. Note here that Medicare only covers 80% of the allowable charge for a piece of equipment-the remaining 20% must be paid by the beneficiary or other insurance. It is also useful to know that the co-pay may sometimes be waived if the consumer can document financial hardship. However, equipment suppliers must always bill their Medicare-insured customers for the 20% co-pay. They must also be careful not to grant hardship waivers on a regular basis, because habitual failure to charge co-pay is considered insurance fraud, which is illegal. Next is the all-important issue of medical necessity. Medicare will purchase many types of assistive devices, but only if they can be deemed medically necessary. So what does that mean? From Medicare's standpoint, it means that the equipment must be: * prescribed by a doctor * directly related to the patient's medical condition/diagnosis * expected to improve the patient's condition and/or ability to function. In other words, Medicare will only pay for equipment if the prescribing physician can certify in writing that the equipment is needed to help the person reduce or manage problems associated with a diagnosed medical condition. Very often, specific diagnoses and/or symptoms must be present in order for certain types of items to be covered. For example, in order to qualify for Medicare purchase of a motorized wheelchair, a person must have a severe neurological, neuromuscular, or orthopedic disorder. The electric wheelchair happens to have several specific covered diagnoses associated with it. In order to qualify for the equipment, the person in our example must have one or more of those diagnoses, be completely wheelchair confined, and be unable to propel a standard wheelchair manually as a direct result of her/his diagnosed condition. Finally, in addition to all of the above, the chair must be prescribed by one of four types of specialists: a neurologist (nervous system specialist), a physiatrist (a doctor of physical/rehabilitative medicine), an orthopedic (bone) specialist, or a cardiac (heart) specialist. Don't be discouraged, though. Not all equipment has such complex coverage criteria/requirements. Even when such complexity exists, it is not necessary for the patient or the doctor to be completely familiar with every detail. Equipment suppliers that bill Medicare must be registered Medicare equipment providers. Such dealers are usually familiar enough with the coverage requirements of the equipment they sell to advise doctors and their patients about all aspects of the prescription process. However, the first and most important step in obtaining equipment through Medicare (or any other source) is the performance of an evaluation by a qualified professional. The information obtained in the evaluation will help assure selection of an appropriate device. It will also help the doctor write a correct and compelling equipment justification; and it is often that justification that determines whether or not Medicare will cover the prescribed equipment. Correction: A general description of the Early Choices program appeared in this column in our June/July issue. We have since received a letter from the Delaware Early Childhood Center, the program's administering agency, clarifying the program's scope and responsibilities. It reads in part: Early CHOICES is an early intervention program providing childhood special education and related services to children with developmental delays three years of age and children with preschool speech delays three and four years of age. The services are provided on behalf of each school district in Kent and Sussex County and the districts of Red Clay and Colonial in New Castle County (except four-year-olds with preschool speech delays served by the Colonial School District)... Early CHOICES is administered by the Delaware Early Childhood Center, (Harrington, DE)...Other districts in the State (Appoquinomink, Brandywine, Christina) also have the responsibility to serve similar children and operate their own programs for children with developmental delays and preschool speech delays. Federal Site Visit Team Reviews DATI On August 31, the DATI will have completed its funding cycle under the Tech Act Development Grant program. Application for an Extension Grant was made in March, and as a part of evaluating our proposal, a site visit team was sent to review our activities, progress, and plans for the future. The team, comprised of staff members of three other state projects and a federal project officer, visited Delaware on June 29 and 30. The team visited the Central Site in Wilmington and all three Assistive Technology Resource Centers throughout the state. They spent most of their short stay interviewing staff, reviewing materials and publications, monitoring accessibility for all disabilities, and looking at the administrative set-up of the statewide DATI system. In a follow-up letter from Washington, the project officer noted that we "are doing a very good job" with the project and that we "should be proud of it." Several of the site visit team members indicated that they learned several things during their visit to Delaware that they will take back to their own projects. We now await the official site visit report and word about our Extension Grant application. By the time this issue of the AT Messenger reaches you, the negotiations of our new award should be history, and we should be headlong into our fourth year of operation. More details in the next issue... Opportunities... Support Group Formed for Teens with Disabilities A new social support group is being organized for teenagers interested in talking about their disabilities and the challenges they present. This is a great opportunity for young people to discuss and work out problems they may be encountering in school, at home, on the job, with friends, or with parents-and to share pizza or goodies with others in the same situation! The group is for young people with disabilities aged 13 through 19. For information, contact Steve Blatchford at (302)322-5374-leave a message if he's not there. Newsletter Available for Wheelchair Users Wheel Life News is available from the University of Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Center and includes information and resources specifically for wheelchair users. For a free subscription, contact: University of Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Center Box 1855 University Station Charlottesville, VA 22903 (804)296-7288 (V) (804)982-HEAR (TDD) New Emergency Warning Systems Designed for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Populations When warnings of tornadoes, flooding, or hazardous material spills are issued, most of us listen for updates and advisories on the TV or radio or can hear the sirens sounding from the nearest emergency management facility. But, for people that are deaf or hearing-impaired there has been no reliable system to warn of such impending emergencies. Now, however, with the help of advocacy agencies like the International Police Relations Council for the Deaf, there are two new emergency warning systems available. First, special yellow flags with the hand sign for "to warn" are being sold to businesses and local governments throughout all 50 states. These will be publicly displayed at the first warning of severe weather or an emergency situation so that people who are deaf and hearing-impaired will know to take cover. Second, a pillow vibrator has been developed that would awaken deaf people from their sleep when triggered by a National Weather Service warning. During the day, the unit would activate designated lights within a home or business. For further information, contact: Col. Rodney Jackson The International Police Relations Council for the Deaf 1919 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20006 (513)821-0013 (V/TTD) National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities Offers No-Cost Resources NICHCY is a free information source funded through the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. While focusing on children and youth from birth through age 22, the Center in Washington, DC offers personal responses to questions on disabilities and disability-related issues, referrals to other informational and support organizations, publications, information searches of NICHCY's databases and library, technical assistance to parent and professional groups, and materials in alternate formats and in Spanish-all at no cost! For more information, contact NICHCY at (800)695-0285 (V/TDD) or at P.O. Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013-1492. The AT Messenger is published bi-monthly by the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative. Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories University of Delaware/A.I. duPont Institute P.O. Box 269, 1600 Rockland Rd. Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone: (302)651-6790 TDD: (302)651-6794 FAX: (302)651-6793 Beth Mineo, Director Ron Sibert, Funding Specialist Bob Piech, Consumer Activities Coordinator Donna Bacon, Education & Training Coordinator Sonja Simowitz, Staff Assistant Gregg Stum, Research Programmer DATI is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education, Grant #H224A10005. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of NIDRR/ED, and no official endorsement of the materials should be inferred. The University of Delaware is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, marital status or disability in conformity with applicable laws.