Pass It On! A National Conference on the Reuse of Assistive Technology May 8-10, 2006 Atlanta, Georgia

1 Summary of Day One

2 Participants learned about models of reuse and discussed barriers and solutions to device reuse. The discussions centered around: Best Practices (those activities that take place at the state or local level), including -- Program Operations Program Operations Program Quality Program Quality Program Coordination Program Coordination Program Policies Program Policiesand

3 Summary of Day One (cont.) Policy Issues (policies that need to be addressed at the national level), including – Identifying the stakeholders who need to be involved Identifying the stakeholders who need to be involved Identifying the laws and regulations that affect reuse Identifying the laws and regulations that affect reuse Identifying other global issues that need to be addressed Identifying other global issues that need to be addressed These topics are further delineated in the following slides.

4 Summary of Day One -- Best Practices: Program Operations Successful reuse programs need to address the following barriers: Storage Storage Transportation/Distribution Transportation/Distribution Labor Labor Tracking and Managing Inventory Tracking and Managing Inventory

5 Summary of Day One -- Best Practices: Program Operations Collection of “activity” data (numbers served, volume of equipment reused, etc.) Collection of “activity” data (numbers served, volume of equipment reused, etc.) Marketing and public awareness Marketing and public awareness Sustainability and funding Sustainability and funding Appropriate disposal of devices Appropriate disposal of devices

6 Summary of Day One -- Best Practices: Program Quality To maintain high standards, programs must: Find and retain qualified staff Find and retain qualified staff Train staff and volunteers Train staff and volunteers Determine the acceptability of devices (age, condition, type) Determine the acceptability of devices (age, condition, type) Match person to device Match person to device

7 Summary of Day One -- Best Practices: Program Quality Provide training and follow-up to consumers Provide training and follow-up to consumers Collect data on consumer outcomes Collect data on consumer outcomes  What is a good outcome? Collect data on cost savings Collect data on cost savings  How is this determined? Have standards for cleaning and repairing Have standards for cleaning and repairing Deal with cultural barriers Deal with cultural barriers

8 Summary of Day One - Best Practices: Program Coordination For programs to succeed by working together, they must: Know who is out there Know who is out there Learn what others do Learn what others do Share their knowledge Share their knowledge Share resources Share resources Collaborate rather than compete Collaborate rather than compete Refer across programs Refer across programs

9 Summary of Day One -- Best Practices: Policies Programs should establish policies to address: Eligibility requirements Eligibility requirements Types and quality of devices accepted Types and quality of devices accepted Ownership of devices Ownership of devices Liability for devices Liability for devices Confidentiality issues Confidentiality issues Warranty issues Warranty issues

10 Summary of Day One -- Policy Issues: The Stakeholders (State and National) National work on device reuse needs to include: Health and Human Services – Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services Health and Human Services – Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services Statewide AT Programs funded under the AT Act Statewide AT Programs funded under the AT Act Vocational Rehabilitation - Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation - Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation Special Education – National Association of State Directors of Special Education Special Education – National Association of State Directors of Special Education Independent Living Independent Living

11 Summary of Day One -- Policy Issues: The Stakeholders (State and National) Vendors and manufacturers Vendors and manufacturers Areas on Aging Areas on Aging Developmental Disability councils Developmental Disability councils Labor Labor Private insurance Private insurance Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration Early Intervention Early Intervention Disability Organizations (ARC, Easter Seals, UCP, etc.) Disability Organizations (ARC, Easter Seals, UCP, etc.) Parent Organizations Parent Organizations

12 Summary of Day One -- Policy Issues: The Policies (State and National) National work on device reuse needs to include examination of the role of : Medicaid Medicaid Medicare Medicare IDEA (including Part C) IDEA (including Part C) Rehab Act Rehab Act AT Act AT Act HIPAA HIPAA FDA requirements FDA requirements

13 Summary of Day One -- Policy Issues: Global National work on device reuse needs to include: What the Federal Government should be involved in vs. what should be left to local and state control What the Federal Government should be involved in vs. what should be left to local and state control Whether standards of practice are necessary Whether standards of practice are necessary How copyright and licensing affects reuse How copyright and licensing affects reuse The role of reuse in disaster preparedness The role of reuse in disaster preparedness

14 Summary of Day Two

15 Summary of Day Two Participants learned about and discussed how and why to develop statewide and national networks of device reuse programs. The discussions centered around supporting networks by: Developing mechanisms to share best practices Developing mechanisms to share best practices Developing ongoing communication between programs Developing ongoing communication between programs Supporting consistency across programs Supporting consistency across programs General suggestions General suggestions

16 Summary of Day Two: Sharing Best Practices The following should be developed: A national public awareness campaign A national public awareness campaign A resource manual A resource manual A comprehensive guide to strategies for reuse A comprehensive guide to strategies for reuse A national study on liability A national study on liability A national website A national website

17 Summary of Day Two: Supporting Ongoing Communication To build networks, programs need: A listserve for reuse programs A listserve for reuse programs Continued support meetings/conferences (this could be added on to existing conferences) Continued support meetings/conferences (this could be added on to existing conferences) Videoconferences Videoconferences A program directory (compilation of programs doing reuse) A program directory (compilation of programs doing reuse)

18 Summary of Day Two: Consistency Across Programs Programs will be better able to network if they: Programs will be better able to network if they: Develop a standard classification system for devices Develop a standard classification system for devices Develop a common “language” for device reuse Develop a common “language” for device reuse Have better data collection: Have better data collection: - How to report data when programs are collaborating - Consistent measures of device value and cost savings

19 Summary of Day Two: General Suggestions Develop a national network by starting statewide, then moving to regions, then to national Develop a national network by starting statewide, then moving to regions, then to national Support an advisory committee composed of stakeholders from various organizations Support an advisory committee composed of stakeholders from various organizations Expand beyond durable medical equipment and computers Expand beyond durable medical equipment and computers Don’t lose focus on helping people get new AT. Don’t lose focus on helping people get new AT.

20 Summary of Day Three

21 Summary of Day Three Participants learned about the importance of partnering with businesses and other community organizations in order to implement and sustain their programs. Participants suggested organizations with which to partner. A list of such organizations follows.

22 Summary of Day Three: Potential Partners Prisons Independent living centers Universities: - Engineering Schools - Schools of Education - Schools of Allied Health Nursing Homes Estate lawyers Health Care entities Libraries

23 Summary of Day Three: Potential Partners Tribal entities Chambers of Commerce Society of Human Resource Managers Rehab Networks Migrant Assistance Programs Red Cross General recyclers Vocational Rehabilitation counselors AT vendors Special Olympics

24 Summary of Day Three: Potential Partners Maternal Child Health Block Grant programs MR/DD systems Early Intervention programs Community Development Block Grant programs Cooperative Educational Service Agencies Speech/language professional organizations Schools Meals on wheels Churches Parent Training and Information Centers