Treats, no tricks, for CReATE

Happy Halloween! October has been a month full of treats for CReATE, UATP's non-profit intiative to refurbish donated mobility equipment and make it available at a low-cost to Utahn's with disabilities. 

The press conference and open house on the 1st was a success! Thanks to those who attended and participated. Information highlighted includes CReATE's improved efficiency at getting wheelchairs out the door, a greater variety of devices available, and how the program has evolved since it's founding in 2007. 

The CReATE team speaks to a crowd of professionals
and community members about the program.

CReATE chair recipient, Larry O'Sullivan, left; Tom Boman, CReATE technician, middle;
Faye Hauser, CReATe office manager.

The CReATE facility has undergone renovations recently
to make the refurbishing process more efficient. 

Also spotlighted was the Newbie award given to CReATE in 2009 by the Pass It On Center, a national collaboration for the reutilization and coordination of assistive technology. The award recognized CReATE's efforts to put affordable mobility equipment into the hands of people who need it.

The Newbie Award given to CReATE in 2009 is made of
recycled material to symbolize the reuse of assistive technology.

Another highlight of the open house was Gordon Richins', CReATE wheelchair recipient and Center for Persons with Disabilities employee, ride in the Action Track Wheelchair. The device is built to go over difficult terrain and provide access to wilderness activities. 

CReATE got five wheelchairs out to the community in the month of October. View the current inventory of devices available online. 

If you'd like to donate a used wheelchair to CReATE, call 801-887-5064. Thanks to all those who support CReATE! 

Limits raised for small grants for assistive technology

Thanks to recent generous contributions and continued other funding, the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation has raised the amount it's able to give in small grants from $250 to $400.

Small grants can also be used
towards a wheelchair from CReATE.

Small grants can be used to purchase assistive technology such as mobility equipment, communication devices,  
hearing aids and more.

Utahns with disabilities at 150% of the poverty level qualify for a small grant from UATF. Learn more and find applications at www.uatf.org. 

Cache Valley restaurant Thanksgiving dinner fundraiser for Options

Angie's Restaurant of Cache Valley is continuing a generous tradition of the free Thanksgiving Dinner fundraiser for Options for Independence.  

Saboor & Kristine Sahely provide this Thanksgiving Dinner free of charge for individuals and families here in Cache Valley. Donations received go Options for Independence an independent living center for people with disabilities. 

Options provides a variety of services for individuals and families with disabilities and the disability community. Gobble gobble!

Access Board Webinars on Playground Surfaces and Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas

The next webinars in the U.S. Access Board's free monthly series will cover accessible play surfaces and new guidelines the Board issued for outdoor developed areas on Federal sites. These webinars were originally planned for earlier this month but were rescheduled due to the government shutdown.

The accessible developmental playground at
the Center for Persons with Disabilities.

Webinar on Accessible Play Surfaces: November 7, 2:30 – 4:00 (ET)

In this session, Board staff and a representative from the National Center on Accessibility (NCA) will present results from a recently completed study on playground surfaces that assessed how well various types of surface systems, including engineered wood fiber, poured in place rubber, and rubber tiles, perform over time. NCA conducted this research with funding from the Board. (A webinar on accessible prescription drug labels previously scheduled for this date has been postponed.)

Webinar on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas: November 8, 2:30 – 4:00 (ET)

In September, the Board issued accessibility guidelines for outdoor areas developed by the federal government, including trails, picnic and camping areas, and beach access routes. In this webinar, Board representatives will review scoping and technical requirements of the new guidelines which will become effective as part of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards on November 25.

For more information, including registration instructions, visit www.accessibilityonline.org. Questions for the webinars can be submitted in advance through this website.

Zombie Creep for Options for Independence

Creep as a zombie during the Options for Independence Zombi 5K fundraiser Oct. 26.

CReATE on Aggie TV News

Catch CReATE (Citizen's Reutilizing Assistive Technology Equipment) on Aggie TV News this week! The news clip appears at 19:12 minutes and gives an overview of how the nonprofit initiative of UATP assists Utahns in getting refurbished mobility devices like power wheelchairs. 

See CReATE's latest inventory of refurbished mobility devices online. Have a chair to donate? Give us a call at 801-887-9398.

Free online webinar: Assistive Technology for Seniors

The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP) will present a FREE online interactive training, “Assistive Technology for Seniors,” on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST.

This free training will be presented by Amy Henningsen,

Adapted utensils are low-tech devices.

occupational therapist and assistive technology specialist, for the Center for Persons with Disabilities. Amy will present a variety assistive technology device available to seniors to help them maintain their independence. Simple, low-tech products as well as high-tech products will be demonstrated in the area of activities of daily living (ADL’s) such as mobility, bathing, dressing, eating, meal preparation, household chores, etc.  

Amy Henningen, occupational therapist
& assistive technology specialist

Amy is a registered occupational therapist, and is a 1974 graduate of Eastern Michigan University. She is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment in Pediatrics and as an Assistive Technology Practitioner. She has over 30 years of experience working with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. She currently provides direct and consultative services for the Up to 3 Early Intervention Program, and is a member of the UATP.

In order to participate, you will need a computer with high-speed Internet access. If you are interested in participating please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 28, to Storee Powell via email storee.powell@usu.edu, or call 435-797-7412. Participant instructions will be emailed to you.

If you are a screen reader user please contact Sachin Pavithran at 435-797-6572 or sachin.pavithran@usu.edu, no later than Friday, Oct. 25, to make arrangements to participate via phone. If you need any other accommodations in order to participate in the training please let Sachin know by this date also.

Please feel free to pass on this information to anyone that you think might be interested.

Did you hear? Join in the free Assistive Listening Technology Seminar

Do you have a hearing loss? Help is available! Join the Hard of Hearing Outreach Program of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation to learn about technology-related options for help with hearing loss.

Where: Legacy House of Logan 300 E. 1400 N.
When: October 9, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  
What: Amplification systems for help in conversation, Amplified phones; captioned phone systems, Amplified and flashing alarms for the home. These are only a few of the many ways that technology can help you! 
Who: Open to the public – help for all ages! 

This service is free, but please RSVP. Attendance is limited and registration is required. Please sign up contacting Kate Seader, Hard of Hearing Outreach Assistant, Cache and Rich Counties, 541-230-5655 or kate.seader@utah.gov.