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Washington Assistive Technology Foundation | |
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WATF NEWS IN THIS ISSUE *** Indicates the beginning of a new article
*** Rachelle’s mother has been in business for four years doing custom embroidery work for people on the Spokane Indian Reservation. A job begins with a picture to be embroidered. A skilled person imports the image into a specialized digitizing software program, saves it onto a flash drive and returns it to Rachelle’s mother. She then downloads the design onto the operating software that turns the image into stitches. This process was working well, except for the delays from having to outsource the digitizing. Her mother just didn’t have the time or skill to do this vital piece of the job. Rachelle began exploring the possibility of getting the software and training to do this part of the business. She became very interested after attending a custom embroidery conference. But what about paying for the digitizing equipment and software? This is when Rachelle heard about WATF and applied for a business loan. She quickly got approved, attended a class on digitizing and was ready to begin. Rachelle, as a single mother with two sons, has since moved on to the Reservation to be closer to her family and the business. The company is growing because they are able to produce much faster. “Before, if there were any problems, mom would have to try and explain long distance what the problem was and send it back to have the digitizers fix it. Now, when there is a problem, mom can just show me and I can make the correction right then.” And the best part is, she can get the work done at her own pace. “Mom has been with me through all of my surgeries and pain and she understands. All that’s important is that we get the project done by the date we promised.” Rachelle has been working on designing a logo for the company. They plan on advertising and growing their business beyond the Reservation. “I feel good when I look at the end product and know that I helped to make it.” Rachelle has found a job that is a “perfect match” with her abilities and newfound talent.
*** WATF provides low interest loans for all types of assistive technology devices and services, as well as business equipment for home-based employment. The loans can be used for any device that maintains or enhances the functional abilities of a person with a disability, and also for related services such as repairs or training. “Loan funds like ours are there to fill in the gaps and give people with disabilities the opportunity to acquire the tools they need or want to fully participate in all aspects of community life,” said Frances Pennell, WATF executive director. This Spring WATF celebrated its 100th loan. As of September an additional 20 loans had been disbursed making a total of more than $450,000 that has been loaned to Washington residents through the fund. WATF boasts a 99 percent loan repayment rate and has interest rates ranging from 4.75 percent to 6 percent for loans up to $10,000. WATF currently has about $250,000 in loans outstanding (representing 82 loans). The top four devices funded include hearing aids (almost never covered by insurance), computers, vehicle accessibility modifications and equipment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired (such as computers with screen enlargers or voice and Braille output.) WATF serves individuals of all ages with disabilities of all types, including seniors with age related hearing, vision and mobility limitations. Although a majority of its borrowers are low income, people of all income levels are welcome to apply. “It’s about giving people choice,” said Frances Pennell, WATF executive director. “Technology in this field is evolving rapidly, quickly outpacing the ability of families to pay for it. People assume these devices are covered by medical insurance but that is often not the case. Up to 50 percent of all such technologies are private pay. Most families do not have the savings or other resources to cover a $6,000 pair of hearing aids or a $25,000 wheelchair,” Pennell added.
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As an individual, you can make a one time or monthly donation through your workplace giving campaign. If you are a state employee, WATF is a member of the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. Select “Charity” Number 316088. If your employer participates in United Way or has its own campaign, designate WATF as a non-profit recipient using EIN 91-2094889. Your contributions will mean a lot to our clients and will help us continue our work of promoting access to technology and economic opportunity for people with disabilities throughout Washington State.
*** In the fall of 2001, right before I started college, I received a new wheelchair from the state that was not right for my ability level or my needs. Previously, I was able to transfer in and out of my chair unassisted but with the new one I was unable to be independent. Consequently, over the five years I had the chair, I lost most of the strength in my legs. Fast-forward five years to when I began working at WATF and the Executive Director suggested I try to get a new wheelchair because what I had was falling apart. The first step was to go see my doctor for a prescription for a new chair. Then I had an appointment with an occupational therapist at Harborview Medical Center for an initial discussion about what I thought I might need to get my independence back. The evaluation process was drastically different from the evaluation in 2001 that only lasted a half hour. After a few weeks of physical therapy to strengthen my legs, my occupational therapists set up a seating clinic for me, which included two three-hour sessions to make sure I would have all of my needs met in the new chair. We decided on a chair that had extra back support, swing away wide footplates and a tilt function so I could finally start to do my own transfers. My favorite features of the new chair are the tilt function and the specialized seating because the pain I was having in my back and hips was gone within a few days of getting the new chair. At first, Medicaid denied my chair, but the team I was working with rewrote the request so that my new chair was finally approved. So on April 6th 2007 I finally got the piece of equipment I had been waiting five long years for. In total, it took eight months from start to finish to complete the process of getting a new chair, but in the end, it was worth the wait. If I had one piece of advice for someone who is currently in a wheelchair that does not meet their needs, I would say go to your doctor today and start the process to get the equipment you need.
*** ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IDA ORIENTATION DO YOU WANT TO OWN A BUSINESS? WHERE TO FIND STARTUP BUSINESS FUNDING IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT SCORE & SETTING A BUDGET CALL or email to sign up: 1-877-428-5116 or info@watf.org
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*** JEFF BURNETT DEBBIE COOK ABBY COOPER KATHY GILMAN ROB HONAN KAREN JOHNSON MARGARET MORTZ WATF STAFF ANDREA DIMOND LIBBY PICKTHORN INDEPENDENCE IS PRICELESS. WE MAKE IT AFFORDABLE. APPLY FOR LOANS ONLINE at www.watf.org |
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Rachelle thought her mom was nuts when she suggested Rachelle join her embroidery business. “I aced motorcycle technology and flunked home-ec…I can barely thread a needle!” Ever since her first spinal surgery at age 17, she has struggled with maintaining a “conventional” job. “Just as I start to recover and get my life on track, I’m back under the knife.” It is a mystery why the discs are prematurely degenerating in her back and neck, causing chronic pain as well as numbness and tingling in her extremities. She has tried several times to work or go back to school, but some days her body can’t take any activity. With her doctor’s diagnosis of Fibromyalgia late last fall, Rachelle thought she would never earn another dollar again. 
Have you ever bought something you thought would fit only to find that it did not when you got home and tried it on? Imagine then that you could not return it and had to wear it every day for five years! That is what happened to me with my wheelchair.