Online registration is now open for this year’s 17th Annual Assistive Technology Summer Conference – Putting Assistive Technology to Work; - July 12-14 at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. Register by May 31st to take advantage of the $199 early bird registration fee for the 2 day general conference.  If you are planning to stay at the hotel, keep in mind that the special room block rate of $99 per night including resort fees expires on June 15th. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to affordably update your assistive technology knowledge and earn free continuing education hours in a premier resort environment. We are offering a choice of two pre-conference instructional workshops, more than 40 breakout sessions presented by experienced national and local speakers who will be sharing their AT expertise, successes and challenges. New for this year - a guided hands-on iPad exploration lab!
 

We expect approximately 50 assistive technology vendors, disability organizations and state agencies.  The Exhibit Hall provides an opportunity for everyone to learn more about assistive technology products for vision, hearing, communication, mobility, education, employment and daily living activities. Our Networking Reception on Monday afternoon provides a conducive, relaxed atmosphere for connecting with colleagues and exhibitors.

Speaking of the Exhibit Hall, if you work with or are a consumer/family member, AzTAP is again very excited about offering consumer access to the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall will be open to the community – at no charge – with our complimentary Exhibit Hall Pass on Monday afternoon, July 13st from 1:30 – 6:00 p.m. (The Exhibit Hall closes at 6:00). Please note that this pass is valid on Monday, July 13, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for the Exhibit Hall Only and does NOT provide access to conference sessions or meals.  To receive your FREE Exhibit Hall Pass, please register here.

If you plan to attend the full conference and want more information about the schedule, sessions, speakers, and the possibility of limited consumer scholarships, go to the AzTAP website.

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Adi Kalika Schaeffer at 602.728.9532 or by email at Adi.Kalika@nau.edu.

On February 26, 2015, AzTAP was honored to host a lunchtime visit by Aaron Bishop, Commissioner, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during his recent visit to Arizona.  Within HHS, AIDD falls under the auspices of the Administration for Community Living. AzTAP - along with the other 55 Assistive Technology Act Programs - will be moving from the US Department of Education over to the Administration on Community Living at HHS.  Although AzTAP will not be directly administered by Commissioner Bishop, there is a close connection because, as an IHD program, AzTAP is part of NAU’s University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) which is administered by AIDD. Further, Commissioner Bishop had been involved with the reauthorization of the AT Act in 2004 and, therefore, was especially interested in seeing our program. 
 

Along with two of his staff members, Dr. Ophelia McLain and Ms. Allison Cruz, Commissioner Bishop toured the AzTAP office, met with staff representatives from the Advisory board and listened to three consumers who shared how they have benefitted from a variety of AzTAP services. Tony and Tina, two of the consumers who met with the Commissioner, are a recently married couple and both of them are blind.  Tina also has limited use of one hand. They met one of AzTAP’s AT Specialists at the Arizona chapter conference for the National Federation for the Blind.  As a result of the interaction at AzTAP’s exhibit booth, they learned they could borrow devices from our lending library. Tony borrowed several different items, including a Braille note taker, a labeling system, a bar code reader, and several different Daisy players for accessing books.  Tina has borrowed one-handed kitchen items such as a jar opener and adapted cutting board.  
 
Their device demonstrations also included more detailed consultations about their overall assistive technology needs. Tony and Tina were interested in buying some of the devices that were demonstrated as well as loaned to them, but did not have the cash in hand to do so. The AT Specialist suggested that they learn more about AzTAP’s financial loan program, Arizona Loan$ for Assistive Technology (AzLAT).  As a result, they submitted an application and were approved for a one year, low interest loan for $600 that allowed them to purchase several different blindness-related products.  While Tony initially hoped to borrow money for a computer, there was concern that a larger loan would overtax their budget.  Instead, AzTAP was able to provide Tony with a free laptop computer through our partnership with AZStRUT computer reuse program.

Our 20th Anniversary Open House last November was a huge success with more than 80 persons attending. We are now planning another event with a focus on Charter Schools.  If you work at a charter school and provide services to students with special needs or learning challenges, or are the parent of a charter school student, join us on  April 8th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. You will learn about AzTAP services and how to access the ADE-AzTAP Short Term AT Loan Library. Light refreshments will be provided and a free raffle prize drawing will be held.  Please RSVP online here or call 602.728.9534.
 

Two years ago we featured Mario Zapata in a newsletter article describing the services provided by AzTAP which supported Mario’s ability to identify and obtain a range of assistive technologies that have resulted in improved function and quality of life for him.  We are pleased to report that Mario is now working on obtaining his GED and was just inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society.  Mario’s assistive technology is certainly a significant factor contributing to his step by step success as he pursues his educational goals.

Our staff keeps their knowledge current by doing online research, participating in webinars, local training events and going to national conferences.  Clayton, Mellowdee and Laura just returned from the CSUN-Center on Disabilities’ Annual AT Conference in San Diego. They attended lots of educational sessions and spent considerable time in the exhibit hall talking to vendors and exploring many of the new and updated AT devices currently on the market. This hands-on approach helps AzTAP decide which items to purchase to keep our loan and demonstration inventory up to date.