1. Carolyn P. Phillips M.Ed, ATP Georgia Department of Labor Tools for Life, Assistive Technology Project, phone: 404-638-0384 email: carolynpphillips@mindspring.com www.gatfl.org Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Pass it On National Conference on Reuse of Assistive Technology May 8-10, 2006

2. Guiding Principles  We – Collectively – are Brilliant & Can find an Innovative Path and Create Brighter Futures  We must Think, Live and Act from a place of Abundance – We Have enough time, money, resources…  We Must Focus on Abilities!  YOU have the Power to make the Difference!  Change vs. Progress (Bob Phillips) Georgia’s AT Act Program

3. If we Nurture our Dreams, they will take Root in our Souls & Bear Fruit in our Lives Over 7,300 “ReBooted” and counting…

4. Are you a Connector? The Tipping Point - Gladwell  If Not – meet one!  What makes someone a Connector? The first--and most obvious--criterion is that Connectors know lots of people.  They are the kinds of people who know everyone.  All of us know someone like this.  But I don't think that we spend a lot of time thinking about the importance of these folks.

5. Connecting the Dots! End-User Training? Marketing Participants? Donors? Volunteers Skilled Techs? Model? Storage - Space? System? Licensed Software?

6. Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!  Explore Models!  National Cristina Foundation – 1997  Used What You Learned Here  AT Projects –  Learn from others, NEAT!, Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia and the list goes on  Steal/Borrow…and Give Credit!  Identify Your Partners  Who should be at the table? (96)  Diversify – public, private, non-profit  Not all will buy-in immediately – don’t hold it against them Model?

7. Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!  Continue to Identify Your Partners  TIP: Evaluate and Evolve!  Who should be at the table?  RESNA, ATAP, ATIA, ATA, Goodwill  I hope your list Grew while you where here.  LATAN – Thank you!  TIP: Move toward Sustainability with each Connection  Diversify – public, private, non-profit  Not all will buy-in immediately – don’t hold it against them Model?

8.  Strong Supporters within the First year!  Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC)  Vocational Rehabilitation  Assistive Work Technology, VR  Department of Education – GPAT  Statewide Independent Living Council  Independent Living Centers  Council on Aging  HP, IBM & EDS  TIP: Hold a State or Region Stakeholders Meeting  Communicate & Share Your Vision!  Go where the dream makes sense  Avoid “…in 1918 we tried that and it Flopped”  Promote Buy-In and Build Champions!  “You can accomplish anything if you don’t care who gets the credit.”  Post your Model for all to see Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Model?

9.  Pallets, Pallet Mule, Racks, Gaylord Boxes  Donated by Allegiance – (Yellow Pages – 1999)  End-Of-Life Recycler  Re-Connected after a few years  TIP: Never Burn Bridges!  Georgia Tech Senior Project  1 Semester  Interviewed Everyone, Buy-In,  TIP: Introduce Change Slowly!  All Graduated! Storage - System? Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

10.  Donated Space at FODAC  Paid for space after 1 st year  Out grew space and move down the street 2001  TIP: Communicate & Share Your Vision!  King Properties – (Donated a Computer)  $3.25 a square foot – wrote off rest as a donation  Alston & Bird (Touch the Future Board)  drew up agreement – FREE!  CollectiveGood (Comdex & EPA Meeting)  Sub-lease & a percentage Storage - Space? Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

11.  Research!  Do site visits  Partner with an “EPA friendly” Company  Contact - Department of Natural Resources  Allegiance – (Yellow Pages – 1999)  End-Of-Life Recycler  Re-Connected after a few years  TIP: Find a Partner you Trust! Avoid “Eyewitness News”  Story from a different Point of View Storage - End-Of Life Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

12.  Strong Collaboration with:  Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC)  Independent Living Centers  Assistive Work Technology – VR/GDOL  High School/High Tech VR/GDOL Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! End-User Training?

13.  Planting Seeds for Partnerships  Keep it Simple  Who Do You Know?  Create a Map  Mark Johnson – Connector  Private Companies  Who are you talking with?  HR Network  GDOL Employer Committee  Government Surplus  Local, State, Federal  Build your Board/Advisory Council  HP, IBM, PriceWaterHouse Coopers Marketing Participants? Donors? Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

14.  Social networking sites like Care2, MySpace, and Tribe can play a key role in helping your organization meet other nonprofits, find donations, share information, and more.  Does your organization use a wiki?  Google your organization – what do you find? Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Marketing Participants? Donors?

15.  Worked with the Computer Equipment Disposal and Recycling Council  Pollution Prevention Assistance Division  Sponsor of HB-2, Rep. Terry Coleman Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Marketing Participants? Donors?

16.  “Microsoft Teams With Tools for Life to Provide PCs To People With Disabilities”  Innovative Program Gives New Life to Old Computers  ATLANTA, April 21, 1999 — As part of its continued effort to make computer technology accessible to all individuals, Microsoft Corp. is teaming with Tools for Life, a program operated by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, to update and distribute 80 PCs for free to people with disabilities.  Microsoft's contribution to the project includes software valued at $23,000 and a long-term commitment to support Tools for Life's mission of enabling Georgians with disabilities through the use of technology.  "Microsoft is working hard both locally and at the corporate level to extend access and training to people with disabilities," said Marty Paradise, general manager, Southeast District, Microsoft. "A major part of this effort involves supporting the important work of organizations like Tools for Life." Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Licensed Software?

17.  The Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)  Provides Microsoft Windows Operating Systems to PC refurbishers  To be a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, you must:  Supply 50 or more computers per year to charities, schools, or families.  Be a commercial, nonprofit, school, college, or government-based refurbisher.  Be located in the United States Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Licensed Software?

18.  TechSoup Stock connects nonprofits with donated and discounted technology products.  Both corporate and nonprofit technology partners including Cisco, Groundspring, Microsoft, and Symantec.  Low administrative fees that include shipping, handling, and customer support. Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Licensed Software?

19.  Partner with Hands On Atlanta!  Partnered with Perimeter College and FODAC to Offer PC Classes on site  We offered A+ in exchange for 100 of volunteer work  Become a member of PC User Groups  TIP: Pay for Volunteers to attend training and sharpen their skills  Listen! Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership! Volunteers Skilled Techs?

20.  Create Champions and Ownership  Communicate  Listen  Evaluate and Evolve  Continue to Grow and Share the Vision & Mission  Celebrate your Partners, Volunteers and Participants!  Media Spotlight Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

21. If a person does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. - Henry David Thoreau Pass it On!

22. THANK YOU! “Genius? Nothing! Sticking to it is the genius! I've failed my way to success.” --Thomas Edison