What's Inside . . . Volume 13, No. 1, Winter 2005

New Legislation Impacts AT Access
President Bush signed two bills into law recently that will have significant impact on access to AT. The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (HR 4278) supports continuation of the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) and its counterpart programs throughout the country. The new AT Act requires states to offer services that will ensure direct access to technology, such as equipment demonstration and loan programs, device reutilization programs, and alternative financing programs such as low-cost financial loans.

Meet the DATI's New Funding and Policy Specialist
As of December 2, 2004, the DATI has a new Funding and Policy Specialist, Debbie Wright.

Working Around the House: Selecting the Right Tools
With the snowy winter weather keeping you locked indoors, now is the time to start many of those household repair projects you have been putting off for so long. Whether you are planning on doing some small projects around the house such as hanging photographs or painting a room, or are planning some major household tasks such as building an entertainment center or upgrading your bathroom's plumbing, here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing the tools you will need for any household project.

DATI Offers Workshop on Universal Design and Home Modification
The DATI will offer a two-day workshop titled Access to the Environment: Universal Design, Home Modifications and Assessment for Safety and Independent Living. The workshop will be held April 13-14, 2005 at the Delaware Technical and Community College Stanton Campus and will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days.

Community Legal Aid Society Works for Fair Housing
The Disabilities Law Program (DLP) and the Fair Housing Unit (FHU), programs within Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI), advocate for the rights of people with disabilities throughout Delaware.

The AT Bargain Basement
Hello friends, and welcome to another edition of the AT Bargain Basement. For those of you unfamiliar with this column, this is where I, your humble AT Specialist, bring you glad tidings of AT bargains priced under $100. I also try to find AT that is available from local stores throughout Delaware.

In Case of an Emergency–Create a Plan
Help, I've fallen….That classic commercial featuring an elderly woman has been used many times in the context of a joke, but emergency situations are no laughing matter. And if an individual has a disability, emergency situations can potentially be life threatening if planning is not done in advance.

The New IDEA, Still Great But Different
On November 19, 2004, Congress passed landmark legislation to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and on December 3, 2004, the President signed it into law. The reauthorization of this historic bill, the first since 1997, follows three years of development.