Researching affordable, accessible, and integrated housing is a difficult and time-consuming process. Here at The IMAGE Center, we work with individuals on identifying their options and advising them on various research opportunities to help broaden their research, keeping their access needs in mind throughout the process.
The IMAGE Center is aware of many housing resources in the community which we would like to spotlight for you. Check out our website!
Have you heard about Assistive Technology (AT) but aren’t really sure what it is? Join us on next week’s I AM weekly broadcast to learn what AT is and how it can help you gain or improve your independence. We will also discuss Loan Libraries and Community Lending Libraries that are available at some Centers for Independent Living and MD TAP.
Here’s the closed captioning transcript
To download the presentation, see below. If it is not accessible, please contact Heather at hcomstock@imagemd.org.
Maryland Accessible Telecommunications program: mat.program1@maryland.gov is the email for the MAT program. You can also contact me tarita@mdrelay.org
Maryland Assistive Technology Program (MDTAP) Reuse program: MDTAP.AT-Reuse@maryland.gov
Central Office
Maryland Technology Assistance Program
Workforce & Technology Center
2301 Argonne Drive
Room T-17
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-554-9230 (voice)
1-800-832-4827 (toll-free)
1-866-881-7488 (TTY)
Eastern Shore Office
Bay Area Center for Independent Living (BACIL)
909 Progress Circle
Salisbury, MD 21804
443-260-0822 (voice)
1-877-511-0744 (toll-free)
Southern Maryland Office
Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living, Inc. (SMCIL)
38588 Brett Way, Suite 1
Mechanicsville, MD 20659
301-884-4498
info@smcil.org
Western Maryland Office
Resources for Independence, Inc.
735 East Oldtown Road
Cumberland, Maryland 21502
Phone:301-784-1774
Toll Free: 1-800-371-1986
You can contact Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) in need of legal assistance related to denial of Assistive Technology devices. Our intake phone line is: 410-727-6352
Toll Free: 1-800-233-7201
TTY: 410-235-5387
I Can Connect, is the program approved by the FCC to assist Deaf Blind individuals. Learn more at National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)
Assistive Technology, also known as AT, encompasses a wide variety of items and techniques from low-tech such as a cane to high-tech software that can read computer screens. The idea behind Assistive Technology is to increase an individual with a disability’s independence.
The IMAGE Center is home to a variety of Assistive Technology programs that we would like to spotlight for you.
J is a young woman with autism who participated in the AT purchase program to purchase an Ipad Pro that has helped her communicate, practice her social skills, and decreased her anxiety. Here’s what J’s mother told us in an email!
“Thanks to a grant from The Image Center of Maryland, whom helped my child with disabilities get a grant for an IPad Pro with cellular capabilities. Covid 19 made this process became a little more challenging than expected. But, we made it through! This iPad Pro will help to:
My child loves photography, music, art, and dance. She is a whiz at doing puzzles, word finds, and CandyCrush. This Ipad Pro allows her to bring out her best abilities for her disability, and achieve many goals. Due to it having cellular ability, she’ll be able to listen to music, watch movies, and use her behavioral apps to calm herself down in any setting. So, one can see that it is definitely considered an emergency if it is left home. Most of all this Ipad Pro will allow her to live the life she deserves, and to her fullest potential. Thank you Image Center for making the many challenges in her life a little easier for her to adjust to.”
The IMAGE Center may be able provide home modifications, vehicle modifications and/or assistive technology services to eligible individuals with significant disabilities when needed to achieve the goal of living independently in the community.
These can include non-work related technology items, home modifications and even vehicle modifications. There is a maximum limit of $5,000 per request. Consumers are responsible for 30% of the project costs.
Learn more about the Assistive Technology Purchase Plan.
The IMAGE Center was pleased to partner with the Maryland Department of Disabilities on the Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program to help individuals with hearing difficulties access telecommunications equipment designed to overcome issues with traditional phones. Our staff member works with individuals to identify equipment that best suits the consumer and provides training and follow-up on the equipment.
Get more information about The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) more information about our MAT Evaluations, please visit our page or contact ilat@imagemd.org.
In a partnership with the Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP), the IMAGE Center has a selection of temporary ramps that may be borrowed, free of charge, for up to six months. These ramps can fill in while a permanent home modification is being explored or in the event of a temporary need.
The IMAGE Center is home to a display of various assistive technology including a modified kitchen. Visitors can see various items available and test them out, including a motorized cabinet to help identify optimal heights for cabinets.
Partnering with MDTAP, IMAGE is set to be one of the sites of a Community Lending Library of Assistive Technology. Individuals will be able to borrow AT items to evaluate how well they work for the person before making a financial investment for an item of their own!
For more information about our AT Programs, please contact:
atservices@imagemd.org or call 443-275-9395
Please consider a donation to support our Assistive Technology programs. You can visit our webpage to make an online donation or set up a recurring gift! A gift will help us continue to make these services available within our community.
2020 was a year of unexpected challenges and opportunities. On March 13, we closed to our office due to the lockdown but were immediately serving consumers remotely without a gap in service on Monday, March 16, 2020! While many other organizations were still figuring out how work remotely and deliver services, IMAGE staff used their skills and ingenuity to find solutions to the challenges of serving clients during the lockdown!
All of this was accomplished on top of our core services! With a small but mighty staff and limited funding we served over 25,000 people with disabilities last year. We are not stopping here. We have bigger plans for 2021 including doubling our supports services for Veterans, adding supports planning to our existing portfolio of services, building a community lending library of assistive technology devices, and continuing the weekly Zoom events. You can partner with us by investing in our programming so we can continue to serve and advocate for people with disabilities.
You can invest in IMAGE in a several ways:
We’ve compiled a Performance Report of our activities for 2020. The infographic shows the impact of IMAGE during the Pandemic year. Invest in IMAGE for 2021 so we can do even more! We’ve provided the report as visual images, a PDF file, and a text transcription.
2020 Performance Report Text docx
We appreciate your continued support of the IMAGE Center through this difficult year. We look forward to a better 2021 where we can be together in person and do even more!
The theme for the Independence Amplified Maryland session on Monday March, 8, 2021 was focused around introducing several support groups available in Maryland.
Women Embracing Abilities Now (W.E.A.N.) Meetings on the 3rd Sunday 4pm.
Contact Janice Jackson at 410-433-0614 ablejan@aol.com www.wean1.org. You can find them on Facebook: facebook.com/weanqueens
Socky Bellamy: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (L.E.G.S.): For more information, please email: theextragents@gmail.com You can find the public group on Facebook
Maryland Trans Unity and on Facebook at facebook.com/MarylandTransUnity or for information on the Support Group, please contact the group at facilitators@transunity.net
Lighting Your Path: Navigating Your World and Enhancing Your Everyday Life 2nd Wednesday 1-3pm via Zoom. Please contact Rochelle Harrod at rharrod@innow.org for information or visit the Independence Now calendar.
Crystal Brockington: Live and Thrive on the Third Friday of Each Month. Contact Crystal at 443-219-7407 cbrockington@imagemd.org or Shannon at 240-638-0070.
For more information about upcoming Independence Amplified Maryland broadcasts, visit our website where you can register or donate to support this program!