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Volume 15, No. 3, Fall 2007 |
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AT Exchange: Making Connections, Saving Money
Beth Mineo, DATI Director
DATI unveiled its new AT Exchange a little over a year ago. One of the powerful new features is something that the general public never sees: an administrative tool that keeps track of how many devices have changed hands and the resultant cost savings to consumers and families. I recently used this tool to generate an outcome report, and was delighted with what I saw. Just this year alone, 41 individuals have been able to secure needed equipment through the AT Exchange. The cost-savings data are even more exciting: consumers saved $107,742 by using the AT Exchange to meet their AT needs!
For those of you unfamiliar with the AT Exchange, it works like a matchmaker of sorts. Those who no longer need equipment list it as available, and those looking for equipment can search the database or post "wanted" listings of their own. By far, the greatest number of successful "matches" have been for mobility, seating, and positioning devices. Environmental adaptations, speech communication devices, and modified vehicles were also frequently exchanged. Most devices are offered at significantly reduced prices, and many devices are actually available for free! One of our most remarkable exchanges resulted when a family no longer needed its wheelchair-accessible van and, knowing how difficult it is for people to afford accessible vehicles, listed the van for FREE. The lucky recipient of the van needed it to be able to get to medical appointments. Both parties involved in the exchange were delighted with the outcome. The recipient said, "I couldn't be any happier. If it wasn't for a wonderful, kind, generous lady that placed the van for free... I wouldn't have the van to help transport my power chair. She made me cry and smile at the same time... "
If you are not familiar with the AT Exchange, visit our website at www.dati.org, and click on the tab for AT Exchange. For full access to all the features of the service, you'll need to become a registered user, but you can browse the listings without registering. This service is free to all users.
Please think about whether you have equipment that is no longer needed... you can make a real difference for someone by making that equipment available through the AT Exchange. For more information, contact the DATI Central Site at (302) 651-6790 or (800) 870-DATI (toll-free for Delaware only).
