Vol. 3, No. 3, May/June 1995	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Delaware Elwyn Launches New Statewide AT Service

Beth Mineo, Ph.D., DATI Director

On Friday, April 7, Delaware Elwyn hosted an open house to celebrate the official start-up of the Mobile Assistive Technology Services Unit. The uniqueness of MATS is that the services are performed at sites where individuals use their assistive devices-places such as school, work, or home. Services include professional assessments, referrals for assistive devices, installation, training, help in finding funding sources, fabrication and modifications, and equipment repair and maintenance.

For Anthony Ferri of New Castle, who is retired from Dupont and has severe arthritis, the MATS is providing him with a computer system that can allow him to do such things as banking from his home. In order to save Mr. Ferri's energy, the system will have voice recognition and a word prediction program that allows him to cut down on the number of keystrokes needed for each word. Ferri's system is being funded through the Division of Aging. "Because our rehabilitation engineer can often fabricate the equipment, the price is significantly less expensive than many of the devices on the market," says Dora Brown, Coordinator of the MATS.

Mobile Assistive Technology Services is a Medicaid-approved provider. The staff has access to information on a variety of funding sources. The Mobile team will work with consumers and health care professionals to identify appropriate funding sources and determine eligibility for assistance. For more information, call Elwyn's MATS at (302) 657-5583.