Vol. 9, No. 3 Summer 2001	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Assistive Technology Act Sunsets

If state Assistive Technology Act projects, such as DATI, are to continue, Congress will have to approve an amendment to the Appropriations bill this year. Because of the sunset clause included in the original Tech Act of 1988, which provided for a maximum of ten years of funding for each state and territory, nine states will drop out of the program at the end of this fiscal year. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 authorized an additional three years for each state project at a 50% funding level, but did not remove the sunset clause. DATI has been working with other state projects, through the Association of Tech Act Projects (ATAP), to educate and inform Senators and Representatives in the U.S. Congress about the importance of assistive technology (AT) in the lives of individuals of all ages with disabilities, and the role of the Assistive Technology Act projects in providing access to AT.

Although President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative acknowledges the critical contribution of AT to independence, the Administration’s commitment is to increased funding for AT research-and-development and low-interest loan programs. A glaring omission is support for programs that will enable consumers to make good technology decisions through operation of demonstration centers—such as DATI’s Assistive Technology Resource Centers—training programs, and outreach and awareness activities. ATAP is working with senators and representatives to sponsor amendments to the appropriations bill this year that would waive the sunset clause, and provide a reasonable amount of funding for each state and territory project. This amendment would allow for continuation of all the projects until the Assistive Technology Act could be reauthorized next year with appropriate amendments. Once the states start dropping off, the momentum of the national program that is specific to the states will be lost, and assistive technology access to the individuals in these states will suffer.

In order for the amendment to pass, individuals of all ages with disabilities, family members, and providers must let their Senators and Representatives know the importance of the Tech Project in their states. If you would like to see DATI continue its work, please write, call, fax or email Delaware’s Congressional Delegates and ask them to support the amendment in the FY2002 Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations bill that would provide for the continuation of the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) under Title I of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Be sure to tell them what DATI has meant to you, and what you would miss if DATI were not in existence: the quarterly newsletter, the website, fact sheets, training, information about assistive technology and referral to other assistive technology resources, conferences, no-cost equipment loan, funding information and processes, technical assistance, a catalyst for collaboration among stakeholders, and any other support you or others you know received from DATI.

If for any reason you do not believe that DATI should continue, please contact Beth Mineo immediately with your comments. For more information, please contact Beth at DATI at (800-870-DATI [in state] or 302-651-6790) or Jane West (301-718-0979) or Ellin Nolan (202-289-3900) at ATAP.

Contacting Your Congressional Delegates

It is very important that the delegation get as many calls, letters, emails, etc. as possible from Delawareans who don't want to see DATI's numerous supports disappear due to reductions in federal funding. This letter is merely a sample. Please feel free to tailor the letter to your own circumstances and perspectives. Since the funding piece is a little complicated, though, we thought you'd appreciate having the details spelled out for you. Please send DATI a copy of whatever you send to the delegation so that we can keep track of how many letters have been generated. Thanks in advance for your investment of time and effort in DATI's future.

Delaware's Congressional Delegates

Joseph R.Biden, Jr.
United States Senator
221 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5042
senator@Biden.senate.gov

Thomas R.Carper
United States Senator
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2441
http://carper.senate.gov/

Michael N.Castle
United States Congressman
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4165
delaware@mail.house.gov

Also send a copy of your letter to:

Beth Mineo, Director, DATI
University of DE/duPont Hospital for Children
PO Box 269
Wilmington, DE 19899

Sample Letter to Congressional Delegate

This article is based on “Assistive Technology Act Sunsets” appearing in the May 2001 Great Possibilities, published by LATAN, PO Box 14115, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4115 http://www.latan.org