Friday, March 30, 2012

UATP's low-interest loans change lives of Utahns with disabilities

Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) Legacy Story: Low-interest loans bring independence

March 30, 2012 by Connie Pehrson

A year ago, Colleen Cobia and her husband were not thinking about remodeling their Layton home. But after an unfortunate horse riding accident last summer, Colleen found herself confined to a wheelchair and living in a house that was very difficult to move around in. They knew that, in order for her to maintain her independence and be able to continue to take care of her family, many changes would have to be made.

Not quite sure where to turn first, Colleen’s husband, who works for the Department of Services for People with Disabilities, remembered hearing of some low-interest loans that were available to persons with disabilities who need to purchase assistive technology that will allow them to be independent, productive and successful.

And that is just what Colleen needed to become.

While Colleen was still in the hospital, her husband make a quick phone call to Zion’s Bank that started the process for applying for a remodeling loan through the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation. The UATF partners with Zion’s Bank for low-interest loans to purchase not only assistive technology devices, but home modifications, adapted vans, and home-based employment equipment. Once the application was completed over the phone, and eligibility was confirmed, all the Cobia’s needed to do was go down to the bank and sign the papers. Couldn’t be easier.

Read the rest of the story here. Learn more about UATF here.

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