14:05:03 hopefully the rest of us our folks will come on shortly. I'm just going to give a few introductory remarks and then we'll start with the presentation. 14:05:21 Welcome to IM independence amplified Maryland. It's a presentation put on by Maryland independent Centers for Independent Living. My name is Lidiya is and I'm with southern Maryland with independent living we serve St. Mary's St. Charles. 14:05:34 We brings you today a program that affects the lives of all misdemeanorers -- Marylanders and we're happy you're joining husband thank you for joining us. We're recording the program and it will be put on YouTube. 14:05:38 It usually takes about 48 hours to show up so please be patient. 14:06:00 All participants will be muted so we can minimize the distractions and the background noise but you guys can unmute yourself and ask questions or we'd encourage you to put your questions in the chat box and then we have time for questions and answers at the end of the presentation we'll get to you I promise. 14:06:12 Now I don't want to postpone it anymore. Let's get on to the presentation. Today we have the pleasure of learning more about assistive technology and it is my pleasure to introduce the officer today. 14:06:51 Stacy tobeen. She's the independent living and technology specialist here at the center for independent living. He's been with us since 2015. She's really passionate about assistive technology as you will hear today. She provides also training and support for -- through our 5 core services as an IM specialist but her passion is HC. She oversees the purchases of all assistive technology, all devices that we provide for our consumers as well as home and vehicle modification that promotes the 14:06:57 and get out in the community and participate fully. 14:07:13 She maintains assistive technology waiting lists she completes environmental assessments she vets all the vendors who provide services to our consumers, and ensures that all their modifications are compliant with the ADA requirements and serve the needs of our consumers as well. 14:07:39 She collaborates with agencies around our counties and make sure every dollar -- makes every dollar stretch -- I don't know how she does it but she collaborates with Christmas in April, office on aging and other agencies, the Kiwanis club, agencies that donate labor so that we can stretch our funds and serve more clients with assistive technology. 14:07:58 In 2018 we began a loan library in partnership with Maryland tech and Stacy is responsible for all ordering the equipment, maintaining, sanitizing and the daily operations of the library. All the tours, demonstrations, loans so on and so forth. 14:08:02 She wears a lot of hats. 14:08:20 She takes care of our social media website as well. She loves that so she's very, very active. Her tenacity and attention to detail has proven why she's able to wear so many hats so I'm going to hand it over to her so she can talk to you guys about assistive technology. 14:08:23 >> Thank you, Lidiya for that lovely introduction. 14:08:46 As Lidiya said I'm the AT specialist here at southern Maryland for independent living and I'm responsible for the AT library. I'm going to share my screen. We have a little PowerPoint for you guys. Give me just a second. 14:09:04 Okay. So our topic today is assistive technology what's it all about and it's brought to you by the Maryland Centers for Independent Living, the Maryland technology assistance program which is part of the Maryland Department of Disabilities. 14:09:27 So what is assistive technology? According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the IDEA, assistive technology is defined as any item, piece or equipment or product system, whether they're acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. 14:10:04 So here's our little flowchart. How do you gain access and acquire assistive technology devices for yourself, your family members, your clients to enhance their life's work and play. It starts with information assistance. This is where you're going to contact either the state program at Maryland TAP or your local CI Lynk about information about AT home modifications or vehicle modifications. The CIL will then discuss with you what device you might need 14:10:11 and refer you to either a library or their community lending library or to Maryland TAP. 14:10:39 Once you get to one of those places you'll have a device demonstration. You'll discuss what your needs are and then try out a few different devices; see which one might work best. And then generally you're going to get a device loan so you're going to take that device home and see how it works in your everyday life because the device that might work in my office might not work in your home life or your work-life or your play life so we want to you try it in your everyday life and make su 14:10:51 Then you will acquire it, whether it be you purchase it yourself or whether you go to another agency, whether the CIL helps you, whether you take out a loan you're going to acquire it. 14:11:03 And then if you no longer need it we actually have a reutilization program where you can give it back or sell it cheap to another individual would might need it. 14:11:11 And then we also have state financing so we have a program that can help you with that purchase if you're going to purchase it. So that's our little flowchart. 14:11:33 So Maryland technology assistance program is the statewide access through assistive technology through equipment demonstrations, loans, reuse, financing and training and their address is wwwwww.mdtap.org. And we're going to give a little bit more information about them, their contact at the end as well. 14:11:40 So what do they do in Maryland? Maryland TAP maintains four regional offices and libraries across the state. 14:11:56 We have the central Baltimore main office, the southern Maryland, the western Maryland and the eastern shore AT libraries where the service includes trainings, demos, loans and stretch. 14:12:04 They also host 4 additional community AT libraries. 14:12:27 AT libraries demonstrations and customized consultations with on staff AT specialists in-person or virtually. They issue short-term device loans up to 4 weeks at a time and they host in depth AT sessions exploring a variety of AT topics in-person and virtually. So they have a blog and they do 30-minute trainings regularly at Maryland tap. 14:12:55 They also maintain the MATER Facebook page it's an equipment exchange site for the Facebook yards sale. So I want to share this with you real quick. It's not a page it's a group so you do have to ask for an invitation -- sorry, I'm getting invitations. Oh, my goodness. Here's the MATER Facebook page. And you can see people are able to list -- 14:13:13 here's a wheelchair ramp, a portable wheelchair ramp or modular ramp. They're giving it away for free so they were able to list the information. They paid -- I guess they're not giving for free. It says free down here but they're selling it for 650 and they paid 2200. 14:13:54 Somebody has a BRUNO curbside boom arm style lift for sale. A used stair lift so you can go on here and see lightly used that you can purchase or give away. And you can purchase them as well. Things like diapers, anything you can think of, a scooter so you do have to join the group so you can just request -- find MATER Maryland assistive technology equipment reuse on Facebook and they will invite they will accept your invitation to the group and you can check out all the stuff that's be 14:14:00 Let's go back. So that's the Facebook page that they maintain. 14:14:37 And here their website so they do virtual AT library, they have a directory for home modifications. They have a loan closet directory so if you're not sure where a loan closet is near you, you can go on into check out where loan closet might be close to you and they also have webinars that they keep in their archives so you can go to this website wwwwww.mdtap.org and right up here on the right-hand corner they have -- once you go to their home page they have the archived webinars so you c 14:14:40 about assistive technology. 14:14:52 So here's what an AT loan library looks like. As you can see I'm in our AT library today so behind me is our shelf and this month we are featuring -- 14:15:10 I'm going to move a little bit, magnifiers so you can see that's what we have out. There's all kinds of different kinds of magnifiers, assistive TVs anything that would deal with low vision. But you can also see iDevices with lots of apps. 14:15:36 The options for apps are endless. Proloquo2 go, KNFB reader, touch chat, JAWS, screen-readers, go talk, just to name a few that we have and have had people request but the apps are endless and we don't have it, we can find it for you. 14:15:58 Here's a if you've got other -- few of the other items that are in our AT library and the Maryland TAP library and I'm assuming in the western Maryland and the eastern shore libraries -- so you can see here the traveler we have lift ware that helps people that need help getting the food to their mouth. 14:16:40 It helps stead steady their hands if they have tremors or shakes. This is proloco to go or go talk on a device on an iPad so it helps somebody communicate. This is the tall stick for people that can't bend over it helps them reach it has a magnifier on it -- a magnet on it and also it has sticky pad so if you don't want to bend over or pick up your keys or bend over to pick up your keys without falling it will pick up keys, it will pick up paper just about anything that you can think of it wil 14:17:14 which is a memory aid it has little stickers that you put on things around you and somebody programs it and so when you touch the pen friend so that little sticker it's going to tell you what the item is. It may even give you instructions so it's great for seniors or individuals that have some memory issues. You can give them directions on how to open a can of Campbell's soup heat up in the microwave and make their lunch so it helps to have some -- 14:17:18 >> Hey, Gail? -- 14:17:29 >> Here you see the HR reveal which is behind he and it magnified and it has the OCR function so it will read the document to you as you -- 14:17:31 magnified and look at it. 14:17:42 Different keyboards that allow you to see better. They're larger keys or larger print or different colors because you have a vision issue. 14:18:08 You can see here an advertisement for JAWS which is a screen reading application for your computer or laptop. We actually do have Amazon Alexa devices and Echo, the Dot that helps you with your room control so you can program if you have smart plugs like you see down here you can program lights to come on and off by just telling Alexa to turn it on. 14:18:39 This is another favorite -- actually this is Pam's favorite in our office, the pocket talker. Literally if somebody has a hearing issue, you put this headphones on them and I can whisper into that microphone and they can hear me loud and clear. So if you have a client or consumer or family member that has hearing issues but doesn't feel they need hearing aids or they lose their hearing aids or they're just not ready for hearing aids, this would allow you to have a conversation with them. 14:19:21 You also can see this is a med alert so you can fill a pill box and set an alarm and lock it so that the individual is going to hear an auditory and visual alarm and it's going to go off until they take that medication out of the spot but they're only going to get the medication that's in that slot so you're sure that loved one is not going to take three different doses because of people can't get to the next dose until the appropriate time and you're also assured they're at least going to 14:19:33 And, again, the see pen and, again, I told you the smart plugs that goes along with the Amazon Alexa. So those are just a few of the devices that you can find in an AT loan library. 14:20:02 So now I want to talk about funding. The state has an AT financial loan program that can provide low interest loans to Maryland residents with disabilities or their families to buy assistive technology. It covers all types of AT so it includes vehicles. It includes computers. It can put a lift system -- a track that goes in the ceiling to help with a lift. 14:20:11 It can modify a bathroom. It can do any type of home modification that makes your home more accessible to you and so much more. 14:20:18 The interest rates, I am told, between 3 and 4%. I am told that this loan is typically easier -- 14:20:22 >> 1, 2, 3. 14:20:41 >> And that loan amounts range between 500 and 50,000 -- I actually think it can go up to 60,000. I think this slide needs to be updated. I mean, here's a link to that. You can also just go to Maryland -- 14:20:49 mdtap.org there'll be a place to click on the financial program if you cannot get with this link? 14:21:01 So what can you buy with a financial loan. A home modification so that stair lift, that ramp, that bathroom modification -- like a Hoyer -- 14:21:12 ceiling mounted Hoyer lift whatever you need for your home to be modified can be borrowed for the loan. 14:21:26 You can get a vehicle adapted. You can purchase the vehicle and have it modified through the financial loan program. Scooters and wheelchairs, the lifts that go with them so that you can take them out into the community with you. 14:21:29 You can -- sorry, guys. 14:21:38 You can purchase braille equipment, vision aids like CCTVs and magnifiers. Something as simple as a hearing aid. 14:21:48 Communication devices, smart home devices, recreational AT like adapted bikes or adapted gaming systems and so so much more. 14:22:00 The loan is really about making your life as independent as possible so if you have a disability or a family member with a disability, the loan programs are there for you. 14:22:48 We also have AT grants through our CILs. Each of the Centers for Independent Living has funding a grant that we receive from the Department of Rehabilitative services. Each CIL has to run their CIL as they wish. They assist with modifications to home or modifications to vehicles. Each sills sets their limitations or qualifies so if you're interested in a grant for assistive technology you should reach out to their local CIL and talk to their technology specialist to find out what their 14:22:54 in AT grant. 14:23:41 Maryland TAP, Maryland technology assistive program runs the Maryland high tech reuse center called MATER. They have bigger items at this center so things like used CCTVs video magnifiers, your iDevices, your adapted computer keyboards and switches. Your speech and communication devices your amplified telephones and so much more. You are able to is search the items online but they are only accepting in-person by appointment only. So if you're needing to schedule a consultation or a pic 14:24:00 you need to send an email to MDTAP -- 14:24:23 MD.AT-Reuse@Maryland.gov. So that's Maryland tap.AT.reuse@Maryland.gov and that location is located in Columbia. Denise Schuller is the one that runs that location. 14:24:45 In partnership collaboration with Maryland accessible telecommunications MDTAP maintains the central Baltimore adapted telephone evaluation center and SMCIL hosts the southern regional MAT center. So what does that mean? 14:25:09 Maryland accessible telecommunication has evaluators that provides free assessments and help with purchases of communication devices so it's not telephones. They do specialize in telephones both L.A.N. lines and cell phones but they also have Google homes, iPads -- anything that helps with communication. 14:25:30 So these types of devices are available for people with hearing loss, vision loss, physical disabilities and intellectual or developmentam disabilities. There is an application that you have to complete so if you need help with that application, you can contact your local center for independent living and I'm sure somebody can help you. I know I do those applications here but I'm sure 14:25:57 an independent living specialist can help you with that. You can also complete the application online and you'll be reached out to and one of their evaluators will either come to your home or meet you at one of those location centers to evaluate you and make an assessment, make a determination on the device you need and whether you qualify for them to purchase it for you. 14:26:13 Okay. So here's the contact informational for the Maryland technology assistance program and this is the main office or the central office in Baltimore. You can see here the phone numbers and the numbers and that email is mdtap.org. 14:26:25 The southern Maryland regional office and loan libraries is hosted here at southern Maryland center for independent living. I am the AT specialist that runs that and this is my contact information. 14:26:49 And our Facebook page and website. And here's the eastern shore regional office and loan library that is hosted at bay center for independent living their AT specialist is Cory Haggins and this is his contact information. Cory was enable to be on the call today but he did share some information with me that I wanted to share with you guys. 14:27:23 So their AT loan library has been around for years. They actually started an AT library before they started partnering with Maryland technology assistance program so they have toxins different types of devices but they have some special things that I wanted to tell you about. They have an adapted clothing line so if you're on the eastern shore and you need help with adaptive clothing that he let have pieces that you can come in and see and touch and see how they work and they actually so 14:27:56 Byron Jones is a soft mannequin that allows you to dress him or her -- he's either/or and you can put dresses on, pants anything and try another adaptive clothing line. It's good for not just with individuals with disabilities but their caregivers and nurses to come in and practice dressing Byron Jones in that adaptive clothing line. 14:28:18 They also have braille printers CCTVs and they recently obtained the -- a robot that helps you with feeding so if you have difficulty feeding yourself, the Robert actually allows -- robot actually allows to you eat independently without anyone being there. 14:28:39 They do nonMedicaid assessments just like we do at southern Maryland center for independent living and I'm sure they do for resources for independence and they do presentations for schools and civic associations. So those are some of the things that they wanted me to let you know that they have on the eastern shore. 14:29:14 And we have the western Maryland resources for independence and this is their contact information And then we have our community lending libraries that are going on all the other CILs so this a image center they serve Baltimore City, Baltimore county and harford county and that is their invitation at independence now they serve Montgomery county and Prince George's county and their contact people is Denise Sosbe and that's her email address there. We have accessible resources for independ 14:29:58 or ARI they serve Howard County, Ann Arundel County and their contact person is Betsy Hein and there's her contact information and then we have freedom county they serve Frederick county of and Caroll County and Paulette Sheppard is the contact person and there's her email information. I would like to open it up for other AT libraries or community lending libraries staff to share about what makes your centers AT likes accessible and I would like to open it up to see if anybody wants to share a 14:30:00 >> I have a question. 14:30:01 >> Okay. 14:30:19 >> You said -- my name is geno Hess. You said you work with people out there with developmental disabilities. You ever work with certification of the Deaf. Have you ever heard of them as CCSD, Inc.? 14:30:27 >> No, I have not heard from them. I work for the southern Maryland center so I work with people in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's. 14:30:31 >> Oh, yeah, this one is in the Baltimore County. 14:30:33 >> Yeah, so I wouldn't be familiar with that. 14:30:35 >> You said you work in Howard County too? 14:30:38 >> I don't but one of the other CILs does. 14:30:42 >> Well, can you recommend them Philip -- 14:30:43 >> I'm sorry. 14:30:46 >> Phillips school of law -- 14:30:48 >> This is Heather from image. 14:30:52 We're talking about assistive technology today. 14:30:52 >> Oh, okay. 14:30:56 >> Yeah, we're talking about our assistive technology libraries. 14:30:59 >> Oh, okay. Thank you. 14:31:01 >> Thanks. 14:31:07 >> Stephanie, did you want to add anything about our library? 14:31:40 I know you'r --e here today. 14:31:42 >> I think you a lot of adaptive -- 14:32:19 >> We have a complete kitchen setup in our office. With cooking utensils and adaptive microwave and -- we started and shut down from COVID and we haven't had anybody in there but we're able to do a complete kitchen -- lessons on cooking and all kinds of things. I'm trying to expand some of that now and see what other things that Denise, you know, suggests we get. 14:32:32 >> Great. What about any of the other CILs? Maybe at independence now or ARI. Do you guys want to talk about some of the things that you currently have and maybe what you're going to expand to? 14:33:14 >> I'm Denise Sosbe and I'm with independence now and we serve Prince George's and Montgomery County and we too are working with Denise to try to really grow our program and provide more things. We have minimal equipment. We do offer cooking classes and folks there have, you know, benefited from some of the devices that we have for cooking and -- but we're really in the process of growing that and marketing that. 14:33:17 >> That's great. Thanks, Denise. We'll be excited to hear what you guys get this summer. 14:33:20 >> Yes. 14:33:23 >> Katie, what about your staff? 14:33:25 Do you guys have any current devices in your library? 14:33:27 >> Hi, this is Betsy. 14:33:29 >> Hi, Betsy. 14:33:42 >> So I will Echo what Stephanie and Denise said that we are also working with Denise Schuller at MDTAP too to expand our library. 14:33:55 We got a grant from them a few years ago so we currently have quite a bit of AT for demonstration purposes. We have a lot of cooking things, vision things, a lot of the things that you shared on your previous slides we have in our library. 14:33:55 >> Right. 14:34:11 >> So -- I don't know. We serve Ann Arundel County so if anybody has -- what they'd like to see in our lending library, we are open to what to buy that's going to be helpful for people. 14:34:34 The other thing that I'll mention that we have -- we also do the grants and we have the demonstration library. We also house the MAT evaluation center for Ann Arundel and Hoyer County and I do those evaluations and I don't think I heard you talk about the statewide ramp program. 14:34:35 >> I did not. 14:34:38 >> That's also something that I think all the CILs have. 14:34:41 >> They do as well. 14:34:54 >> We got -- M Tdap tap got a grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation and they use the money to purchase portable ramps so I believe all the CILs have ramps that range from threshold to 12 feet. 14:34:55 >> Correct. 14:35:23 >> That can be borrowed for up to 120 days that are used for somebody who has had surgery and can't walk yet and they need a temporary way in and out of their house maybe have a family member coming to visit who is in a wheelchair or uses a walker or maybe you're looking to get a permanent solution onto your house and you need something temporarily to get in and out of the house so that's a fabulous program that is also out there. 14:35:45 >> Yes. So the portable ramp program you will want to contact your local CIL if you know somebody or you yourself need a portable ramp or think you may in the future. Definitely contact your local CIL because we have information none of and can and can tell you what ramps we have available and whether they are appropriate for your situation or not. 14:36:03 What about freedom center, anybody from freedom center on that can talk about your library? If you have anything in it currently? I know a lot of the libraries are still working with Denise. I just wanted to give you guys a moment to shout-out anything that you currently have. 14:36:06 >> Hi, it's Dave from freedom center. 14:36:08 >> Okay. Go ahead. 14:36:12 >> I just wanted to say -- I apologize 'cause I had to step out so I missed a lot of the presentation. 14:36:13 >> That's okay. 14:36:38 >> We're still currently working with Denise, so I don't have all our libraries set up yet. We currently have some AT devices that we can loan out or for demonstration purposes. Some for assisting with feeding and some utensils, some communication devices, hearing devices. Those kinds of things but it's very small and limited. 14:36:44 We're hoping to really expand that and putt it all together -- 14:36:47 put it all together in the very near future. 14:37:01 And I do want to clarify that freedom center originally did not participate in the ramp program so we were the CIL that did not have those ramps, the portable ramps. We are in the process of purchasing them -- 14:37:04 >> But you are getting -- you're in the process of getting them; correct? 14:37:05 >> Yes, we -- 14:37:11 >> They don't currently have them but if you have any, maybe they can contact you and get on a wait-list? 14:37:12 >> Absolutely, that'd be great. 14:37:14 Thanks. 14:37:26 >> Did I -- what about the western Maryland library? Would you like to talk about your loan library today? Is anybody on? 14:37:35 From resources for independence? 14:37:43 >> While they're trying to get on the call, or chime in, we do have a few questions for Stacy. 14:37:44 >> Okay. 14:37:50 >> So what AT is available to support persons who are both blind and Deaf? 14:37:55 >> Blind and Deaf? 14:38:05 >> So we do have video magnifiers that have OCR function that will allow you to read along as well so they -- 14:38:28 the magnifiers both magnify, highlight and read along at the same time so we have them -- in our library we have them in different sizes. We have 8 inch, a 10-inch and a 13-inch and also the reveal that you see back here has the same functions. Of course, we also have the Maryland assistive -- 14:38:45 the Maryland accessible telecommunications so they can help with phones and communication devices. We also have the -- the iPads with app so they have app where somebody can communicate back and forth. 14:38:49 One of those apps has -- it's a flip writer. s so they have apps where somebody can communicate back and forth. 14:39:25 One of those apps has -- it's a flip writer. So -- so the iPad is sitting here and I can type on this side and the other person can respond and we can see it -- we don't have to flip the iPad. It's shown so that you can see it or hear it and follow-along -- it will read a loud. I don't personally have braille writers in our library but the main library does have brain writers and printers and those can be borrowed at any time that's necessary so if you are -- if you're fluent in braille, we h 14:39:49 I can tell you if there's something specific that you're looking for and I don't know about it because I'm just learning, I can get in touch with Maryland Tap and reach out to speech pathologists or vision pathologists and we can work to try and get it into our libraries. 14:39:59 >> Thank you, Stacy. So similar question from Debra. What AT available to support persons who are both hard-of-hearing and have a mental health condition? 14:39:59 >> And have a mental health? 14:40:00 >> Yes. 14:40:25 >> That you're going to want to call your AT specialist because it would really depend on the mental health disability and you would have to get in more in-depth what the mental health needs are so that's why we have AT specialists available to kind of talk with you, and if we don't know about it we have resources where we can reach out and, would with you to try to find the device that's right for you. We don't have it here, we can borrow it from the main library 14:41:07 I know that the main libraries get funding-year so maybe it's something that we can purchase to let you try before you take out a loan or get assistance purchasing it but that's going to be something that you're going to want to talk to your AT specialist about the specific need because there's such a wide range of mental health disabilities that I couldn't speak to all of them in one setting so if you're in southern Maryland you're welcome to contact me. If you're in one of the CILs are 14:41:19 >> Thank you. Another question is from Rhonda. She's asking if income is a requirement to get AT loans or equipment? 14:41:31 >> So the loan obviously does have to be repaid so they're going to ask for income requirements. It could be family, though. It doesn't have to necessarily be individual. 14:42:00 Each center for independent living has an assistive technology grants and they have their own specific grant requirements so if you're talking about the AT grants through the CILs you're going to want to contact your local CIL to see what their requirements are. Some of them have income requirements and some of them don't so you would need to reach out to the specialist at that center for independent living to see what the income guidelines are for that grant. 14:42:13 >> Thank you. Another question from Keri, do they have hospital beds that can be loaned out to hotels so that people with multidisabilities can go on vacation? 14:42:49 >> I don't know the answer to that. I do not keep durable medical equipment in our facility and we just don't have the space. I don't know if that's something that maybe with the local reuse center you could -- if they have one available that could be worked out to be delivered to the hotel while you were in Maryland and youths nationwide what programs would be available but if you want to contact me to your local CIL the AT or IL specialist can do some research with you and make some recommen 14:42:56 I don't know if hotels provide hospital beds or if that's something you would need to arrange. 14:42:59 >> Katie was chiming in for that question. 14:43:00 >> Go for it. 14:43:23 >> She said there's a law that makes hotels have more accessible beds and there's a bill asking for delay in its implementation. So it's in the economic matters committee so she will need our help to defeat that piece of legislation so we need some advocacy, advocacy warriors here. 14:43:30 >> So definitely you want to reach out to your CIL and let them help you out with some advocacy. 14:43:35 >> Stacy, I have a question. 14:43:37 >> Okay. 14:43:52 >> And I set this in the box to Lidiya. What is it? Is there a computer and a link for people that will be used for people who use computers. 14:44:09 >> I don't know a specific computer themselves there's programs that can help with computers. I'm not sure how it works but you can contact you're local CIL -- your local CIL and do our research. Specifically what are the needs? 14:44:17 >> Are you also looking with school children who are blind and Deaf so like the Maryland school of the Deaf. 14:44:32 >> I don't work specifically with them I make referrals with them. We do work with our local schools and we do presentations to the parents and the students there for the assistive technology loan libraries that we have at our center. 14:44:35 >> Okay. Thank you. 14:44:40 >> There is some great information in the chat, guys, if you want to check it out. 14:45:05 There's some links to, for example, for folks who live in Baltimore City, Baltimore county. There's a link to a church that loans out hospital beds as well that you can borrow so that's a great resource and there's also information regarding the bill that Katie mentioned, that I mentioned earlier so please get in the chat and look into some of these resources, please. 14:45:30 >> It looks like Tarita from Maryland relay say there are devices that can be contacted to a braille reader or writer. I believe some of the braille readers or writers are able to connect with computers so there's lots of different types of assistive technology and I am in no way an expert. I'm learning as big, but we are excited to continue to expand our library. 14:45:58 In our current library we have a wide range of items so this month we have -- here at southern Maryland center for independent living, we have a newsletter that comes out every Tuesday from our AT loan library. It's called AT library corner. We focus on a different disability and in March we've been talking about low vision. 14:46:28 We talk about devices and talk about some myths and facts and we talk about how to get devices and how to get support for individuals dealing with low vision. We talk about what we have here in the loan library so like I said, here on my table I'm actually featuring the devices that help with low vision this month but we have some great devices that I just -- that are some of my favorites that I want to show since we have a little bit of time. 14:46:35 This is the lift ware so you can see the spoon bends so if you have -- 14:46:36 >> Do you think -- 14:46:41 >> It's Sarah. Yeah, I was going to say if you're done with the PowerPoint close it 'cause then we can see you bigger. 14:46:43 >> Absolutely, sorry. 14:46:44 >> The devices. 14:46:47 >> I already did it. You're good Stacy. 14:47:09 >> Good it's -- so this is a piece of lift ware. This is level -- there's a left or steady so I think you guys can see there's a strap so if I was having trouble with that smooth motion, the spoon is going to bend to try to keep as much of the food as much as possible. 14:47:28 We also have lift ware steady which I don't have out but that helps for individuals that have tremors or shakes so that as you're bringing that spoon to your mouth, it's keeping the majority of the food on the spoon so we have those available for demo and loan. 14:47:55 We have devices that talk to you so I have -- I brought out one of our alarm clocks and you can hear. I think it's a minute fast but it does say that it's 2:48. Well, I guess it just changed anyways so we have a talking alarm clock. We have a talking watch. We have a talking scale which we all love to use in our offices with the door shut so no connection can hear. 14:47:56 >> It's loud. Everybody can hear how much you weigh. 14:47:59 (Laugh.) 14:48:01 >> It's nice for individuals -- 14:48:20 I had an individual that had a vision issue and he was on dialysis and development to do -- and he needed to do daily weights and it was perfect so he can keep track of his weight for his doctor and he couldn't see it but he could hear it. 14:49:03 Pen friend like I described earlier. It has these coated dots and you will need somebody to help set up this device. You turn it on; you put it to the dots and it's going to give whatever instructions have been coded on that dot so it could be as simple this is a can of soup to this is how you cook the the can of soup or to prescription bottle, you know, so that you know not only what's in that bottle but what is the directions, you know -- are you supposed take one tablet and how often 14:49:13 or an oval or square or triangle whatever it would be so it helps our individuals who has some vision issues -- or I'm sorry, some memory issues. 14:49:27 I will say that it's not perfect for people that has severe Alzheimer's or dementia but for those people who are just have some memory issues the pen friend is great. 14:49:52 I have the see pen. This is great for individuals who have reading difficulties so it can help students as their's taking -- as they are taking the test or they can put in their IEP that they can help with assignments but it's also greatly for maybe a senior that's had a stroke -- or an individual that's had a stroke that's lost some of that ability to read. They can take it. 14:50:22 It's very small. It can fit in a pocket or a purse. It can be hooked up to a set of headphones and it can, you know, read a menu or read something, you know, on a sign, you know, you have -- but you don't want it to be loud where everybody can hear it and know that you're having that difficulty but also you can download to it so it's going to read for you and you can read and see what you're hearing at the same time. So this is a great little device that we have. 14:50:27 I talked a little bit earlier about our telestrip. 14:51:03 Which is my favorite. I'm always dropping my keys and I can bend down and pick them up but sometimes I'm lazy and I can pick up my keys, you know, or if it's under a device, you know, it's under your desk and maybe crawling under the desk is not safe for you, I don't think it's safe for anybody, but, you know, it has a very strong magnet. It also has a sticky end so it can pick up things as small as a piece of paper and you can replace this piece as well so this telestick is very affordable. 14:51:11 to pep for those people who have issues with balance or bending or like I said, like getting under small things. 14:51:20 >> Hey, Stacy, before you put it away. It's Bong. How long does that extend just out of curiosity. How far does it extend? 14:51:21 >> 36 inches. 14:51:23 >> Okay. So it extends pretty far. 14:51:24 >> Stacy? 14:51:29 >> Do you also work with people with Parkinson's disease? 14:51:32 >> It could definitely help people with all disabilities, I think. 14:51:34 >> Including dementia? 14:51:35 >> All disabilities. 14:51:38 >> Including dementia? 14:51:48 >> It's got the magnet but it can also scoot with the -- I'm trying to do it up high so you guys can see but it can scoop things up as well with the hook. 14:51:55 >> Oh, wow? Does it help people with dementia or in nursing homes or stuff like that? 14:52:15 >> It's not going to help them remember anything but it's going to help them pick up things if they see something. This one is a favorite of mine and it's in the library. It's so easy. We have dressing aids and I got out a button hook -- I was like I didn't wear a shirt with buttons so I can't help you. 14:52:23 It helps with dressing. It has two different ends with buttons or, you know, getting your shirt together. 14:52:27 >> Hey, Stacy, can we move on to the next one. We have a few questions. 14:52:28 >> Go ahead. 14:52:29 >> That's so fun. I love when you show all these. 14:52:31 (Laugh.) 14:52:44 >> But I just wanted to get to the questions and the announcements before it gets too late. If a consumer needs to borrow a device and they need help learning how to use it does MDTAP do house calls at this time or is it all virtual? 14:52:50 >> No, we are not doing -- that I know of none of the centers are doing house calls. 14:52:53 >> We also MDTAP? Is Denise doing anything in-person? 14:53:30 >> They're not doing anything in-person that I know of. I believe almost everything is virtual and they're sending everything out -- they will arrange some pickups but mostly they're sending it via upstairs or -- UPS or FedEx. What you do -- you do the assessment with them they'll do it virtually with you, borrow it and once it gets in your home you can set up more sessions virtually to work with you while you're learning how to use that device. So MDTAP or any of the loan librarians should b 14:53:33 libraries should be able to set up any of the virtual sessions. 14:53:38 I know that our center -- 14:53:43 I am doing some environmental assessments. It's kind of situation-dependent. 14:53:45 >> Yeah, we're getting back into it but -- 14:53:46 >> Right. 14:53:48 >> It's going to be a little slow. 14:53:50 >> Once I have my second vaccine -- 14:53:50 >> Right. 14:54:01 >> We will be doing a little bit more in home depending on the situations so I would say reach out, but I believe MDTAP is doing everything virtual. 14:54:04 >> Okay. All right. That's what I thought, thank you. 14:54:05 Katie -- 14:54:10 >> Lidiya -- go ahead, Katie. 14:54:55 >> I had to find my unmute I had mentioned this earlier in the call but I wanted to make sure that everyone has heard and maybe you have not heard but beginning March 30th they have expanded eligibility for 2B for vaccines to all Marylander and older receiving SSI, SSDI, Maryland Medicaid employed individuals with disabilities, Maryland Medicare rare and case-specific and Maryland receiving disability program benefits or Marylanders receiving long-term and state plan services so that was somethi 14:54:58 (Laugh.) 14:55:08 >> So just -- letting everyone know it might still be hard to get an appointment but as of March 30th that entire group of people is now included in priority categories. Thank you. 14:55:35 >> I do see the chat I opened it up so I see Rhonda you asked about where to pick up the stick today? We purchased it on Amazon and it's called telestick. T-e-l-e-s-ti-k? You may be able to find it in your Walgreens pharmacy or possibly in Walmart but you can definitely find it on Amazon. 14:56:06 I did just post a link in the chat. We are doing a training on magnifiers it's a 30-minute training -- a closer look at the different kinds of magnifiers and their features on this Wednesday so that's March 24th at 1:00 PM that's the link to register if anybody is interested. It's opened to anybody in the state family members, friends -- anybody that just wants to get a closer look at the different kinds of magnifiers and apps for low vision, that link is in there. 14:56:10 >> Stacy, I had somebody send a question directly to me. 14:56:10 >> Okay. 14:56:21 >> Two questions. She said does MDTAP or other AT organizations publish data about the most requested or used AT devices? 14:56:36 And second, does M Tdap tap have a strong contact -- after leaving post-secondary school. 14:57:16 >> NV TAP is similar to MDTAP and I don't know if they put out a most requested devices but I'm sure Denise could give you a top 10 if you were to ask her. And I think -- or I know regionally it's kind of different. I know the Maine library in Baltimore gets lots of different requests than we do in southern Maryland and I'm sure Bay area CIL gets different requests than resources for independence so that -- I can only speak to the state. I don't know about nationally if there's a list. 14:57:54 And then as far as MDTAP in the schools, I know that they have done presentations to some of the schools and I know -- I have done some presentations to the schools here in southern Maryland, and everybody else we have -- and, of course, here at Maryland center for independent living we do have a relationship with the special education coordinators so we work with them. We do send in some IEPs so we can help with that process as their's getting ready to graduate and kind of helping them t 14:58:02 and then we help them through our CIL grants if we have the funding available or we make -- 14:58:16 we make referrals to other agencies so it's possible that the other CILs or the other libraries have those relationships but I can't speak to that specifically nationally or even that MDTAP has that close of a relationship to the schools. 14:58:20 >> Betsy posted a comment -- 14:58:27 said M Tdap tap is holding a webinar on April 29th at 1:00 called: What if my AT doesn't transition with me? 14:58:33 >> Right. I didn't -- I don't have access to the date so -- 14:58:39 thank you so much, Betsy, because I didn't want to say it without knowing the date. 14:59:00 So I do see -- there are some people putting in some community information for their specific CILs so if you guys want to chime in, I am finished with my presentation unless there are some more questions if you guys want to chime in and make your announcements, please feel free to do so. 14:59:29 >> Hi, this is Audrey from accessible resources for independence. I wanted to share about some community that we're going on AR hix this week we have 4 events tomorrow we have among a dating group if you haven't played among us it's really fun it's a 4 to 10-player game. It's really cooperative, really quick, really easy to learn about aliens in space -- 14:59:33 come to find out more. It's fun. 14:59:40 And then Wednesday we have an info session for the Maryland apprenticeship training program. 15:00:02 We have inaccusative yoga and then Friday we have inclusive cardo. I put the information in our chat box if you go to with the ARI.org and go to the bottom of the page you'll see all our events. You've got to register for access info and I hope to see you there. Thank you. 15:00:10 >> Thank you. Anybody else have any announcements? 15:00:48 >> Sure, on Thursday, independence now is hosting its next monthly housing seminar for seniors and so I'm going to post in the chat a link to register for it and I think my cofacilitator wants to say anything about that. It's going to be this Thursday online. I believe 1:00 -- 1:00 to 2:00 PM, affordable housing options for seniors, and I'm posting a link right now. 15:00:49 >> Great, thank you, guys. 15:00:52 Those are wonderful. 15:00:53 >> We need one of those backgrounds. 15:00:56 (Laugh.) 15:01:01 >> Back to Sarah. 15:01:04 >> All right. Anybody else before I close today's session? 15:01:20 That was great information I really enjoyed it. Thank you Stacy, thank you to all the other CILs for participating. I see other links going in the chat. That's great. Please take advantage of all these resources and opportunities. 15:01:38 And thank you for participating in IM. If you guys are able to contribute financially that will help greatly the program with the funding. So we can keep it going. And I think Heather can tell us what the next week's program is. I'm not sure I know the topic. 15:01:47 >> I don't have an official blurb yet but we have some representatives from HOSA the hearing assistance -- I'm going to butcher it. 15:01:50 (Talking Simultaneously.) 15:01:50 >> Thank you, Mike. 15:01:52 (Laugh.) 15:02:03 >> And we're going to have -- I think MDTAP is going to be on and the MAT program the Mountan accessible telecommunications program so it's all going to -- 15:02:09 it's going to be all about resources for hearing loss and supports for that some -- for that. 15:02:13 >> That's a great follow-up. 15:02:22 Great follow-up of today's session. Wonderful. Thank you all for participating. The presenters, the guests and we hope to see you next week. 15:02:24 >> Thank you, guys. You did a great job. Thank you very much.