Funding+Resources

= //**Funding Resources**// =

**Definition** : Funding for assistive technology is all of the expenses involved in purchasing the assistive technology, insuring, maintaining, repairing, transporting, updating, and training the adults who support the students' use of technology.

**Funding Resources can be obtained from:** 1) **Medicaid -** Medicaid may offer assistance if the assistive technology device is deemed as a durable, medical equipment (DME). If medicaid deems the technology a DME, then they may pay for it. An example of a technology considered DME is communication devices.
 * Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides funding for medical care, rehabilitation, and other services to individuals who meet eligibility requirments based on financial need. Since Medicaid varies from state to state, each state's program has a certain set of mandatory and optional services which they provide.
 * For an assistive technology to be considered a DME the following criteria should be met:
 * 1) Medically necessary for the person (i.e. must be required to prevent or treat a person’s illness or injury).
 * 2) Consistent with the person’s symptoms or with prevention or treatment of that person's symptoms.
 * 3) Not solely for the convenience of the consumer, their family, or providers.
 * 4) Cost effective when compared to alternative medical services for the consumer.
 * 5) The most appropriate type of service for the consumer.
 * Children with disabilities can receive Medicaid benefits.

2) **Healthcare Insurance -**your health insurance may offer assistance if the assistive technology device is deemed as a durable, medical equipment (DME). If the health insurance company deems the technology a DME, then they may pay for it. Examples of technologies considered DMEs are communication devices and powered wheelchairs.
 * Some families may use the healthcare insurance option if they do not qualify for funds offered by Medicaid.
 * If a family chooses to use the healthcare insurance option, any and all assistive technology devices are owned by the individual with the disability.
 * Therefore, the students would not have to give back the assistive technology device at the end of each school year.
 * Even though the assistive technology is being funded by the heathcare insurance, the school is still obligated to provide any necessary services for the student.

3) **School -** Students with disabilties may be eligible for assistive technologies through your local school district. If an assistive technology will be beneficial for the student, it is important to request this technology to be placed in the student's IEP.
 * If an assistive technology is necessary for the student to benefit from a free appropriate public education (FAPE), IDEA requires that school district provides assistive technology devices and services at no charge to student's family.
 * Therefore, a school district must provide any assistive technology that is mentioned or identified in a student's IEP or 504 plan. A school disctrict must provide the assistive technology regardless of cost.

4) **Non - profit Organizations -** There are a number of organizations that you or the school may reach out to for aid. Some of these include:
 * **Disabled Children's Relief Fund (DCRF) -** a non profit 501 organization that "provides disabled children with assistance toobtain wheelchairs, orthpeic braces, walkers, lifts, hearing aids, eyeglasses, medical equipment, physical therapy, and surgery. Blind, Deaf, Amputees, and children with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spastic Quadriplegia, Encephalitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spina Bifida, Down's Syndrome, and other disabilities receive assistance. DCRF focuses special attention on helping children throughout the U.S. that do not have adequate health insurance, especially the physically challenged". (DCRF 2012).


 * **Lions Club** - a local organization that furnishes schools with hearing-impaired students with auditory equiment and gives scholarships to students with disbilities. The organization alo conducts screening programs, supports rehabilitation centers, and provides / fixes hearing aids for the needy.
 * **Knights of Columbus** - a local non profit organizaton that offers aid and assistance to members and their families who are sick, disabled and/or needy.
 * **Rotary Club -** a local non profit organization that offers assistance to families who have a disabled family member.

5) **Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) -** Individuals with a disabilities who meet the medical criteria may qualify for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration.
 * There are two programs that these individuals may be eligible for:
 * 1) __Social Security Disability Insurance__ - This program "pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured",meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes" (Social Security Administration 2011).
 * 2) __Supplemental Security Income__ - This program "pays benefits based on financial needs" (Social Security Administration 2011).

**Funding Resource Websites:** **[|NJ Medicaid Website]** **[|DCRF Website]** **[|Knights of Columbus Website]** **[|Knights of Columbus Brick Township Website]** **[|Rotary Club Website]** **[|Lions Club of Wayne Website]** **[|Social Security Disability Website]** **[|Wati Funding AT]**

**APA Citations:** DCRF. (2012). Disabled Children's Relief Fund. Retrieved from http://www.dcrf.com/ordereze/default.aspx Social Security Administration (2011, June 08). Disability Programs. Retrieved from [] Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initative. (2009). Funding Assistive Technology. In //Assessing// //Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology// (chapter 16). Retrieved from @http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch16-FundingAT.pdf