1. Supporting your Reuse Program Through the California AT Reuse Coalition and Keep the Wheels Rolling Fund
Presented by
Kevin Hansen, Device Lending & Reuse Manager Rosemarie Punzalan, Technology Coordinator
Ability Tools
Monday June 20, 2016
This conference is provided by Ability Tools and California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation.
© 2016 – Ability Tools– All rights reserved
Ability Tools materials may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.

2. During this session you will learn about the California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition.
You will also learn about the tools and resources available to help fund repairs for community based non profit organizations to create easier access to DME Reuse for consumers with disabilities.
This conference is provided by Ability Tools and California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation.
© 2016 – Ability Tools– All rights reserved
Ability Tools materials may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.

3. California AT TECH ACT
Ability Tools is funded by the California Assistive Technology Act Program
Information& Referral
Financial Loan Program (AFP)
Device Lending Libraries (DLL)
Technical Assistance
Reutilization

4. California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition History
July of CFILC was contracted as the lead of the AT Act for California
First Quarter of 2010 – Ability Tools, formerly AT Network, launched the AT Exchange Website to list Reuse items.
End of Jun we had eight items listed and 5 people inquired about these items

5. California AT Reuse Coalition (CATRC)
The California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition (CATRC) was originally designed to connect organizations doing Reuse in California.

6. AT Reuse Summit
In November 2011 CFILC organized an AT Reuse Summit in Sacramento.
12 organizations that were engaging in AT reuse activities attended
17 people attended the summit.
Carolyn Phillips, Executive Director of the Pass it On Center facilitated the discussion
The Reuse Summit looked at Reuse Activities that were currently going on in CA and they also looked at existing programs throughout the Unites States.

7. AT Reuse Summit’s Outcome
7 of these organizations joined to create what came to be known as the AT Reuse Task Force
The AT Reuse Task Force name was later changed to California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition

8. California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition History
In December 2010 the AT Reuse task force met to discuss how to allocate a Capacity Building Grant from DOR.
The AT Task Force decided to have a formal bidding process for five $30,000 Capacity Building Grants.
Nine (9) organizations applied for the funding

9. 5 Recipients
The Task Force selected 5 recipients in March Each received $30,000.
Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF)
Convalescent Aid Society (CAS)
Disability Action Center (DAC)
Center for Independent Living, Inc. (CIL)
Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID)

10. Award Winner – CALIF Los Angeles
The 5 Award winners did the following with the DOR funds:
Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF)
Repaired Van
Remodeled Storage Unit
Trained Staff how to repair AT devices

11. Award Winner – CAS Pasadena
The 5 Award winners did the following with the DOR funds:
Convalescent Aid Society (CAS)
Purchased a Hubscrub DME Washer
Hired an efficiency expert to help increase efficiency

12. Award Winner - DAC
The 5 Award winners did the following with the DOR funds:
Disability Action Center
Purchased a van
Modified the van for transporting power wheelchairs and scooters

13. California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition History
The 5 Award winners did the following with the DOR funds:
Center for Independent Living, Inc. (CIL)
Purchased a Hubscrub
Made van modifications to help load and unload power chairs

14. Award Winner – CID San Mateo
The 5 Award winners did the following with the DOR funds:
Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID)
Purchased a Van
Equipment for storing their DME

15. California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition History
Almost all of the Capacity Building equipment purchased in 2011 is still in use today.
Each of the grant recipients are still doing reuse.
Part of the Capacity Building grant allowed CFILC to hire a Reuse & Finance Coordinator.
They task Force also created the Reuse and Repair fund with $20,000.

16. Vision Statement
To create an effective AT Re-use Network that enhances
the opportunities for Californians with disabilities to obtain
assistive technology and equipment that empowers them to
live more independently

17. Mission Statement
The mission of the AT Re-use Network is to enhance and extend accessible technologies that assist in the daily life of all Californians with disabilities by enabling and promoting re-use.

18. Questions?
This conference is provided by Ability Tools and California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation.
© 2016 – Ability Tools– All rights reserved
Ability Tools materials may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.

19. Partnerships
We currently have partnerships with 28 reuse programs within the State of California.
Each center accepts donations of gently used AT/DME that are cleaned and repaired before giving at little or no cost to individuals with disabilities.
We are currently working to create more partnerships in California

20. Monthly Meetings’ Presentations
Types of Presentations during the monthly meetings:
AT Reuse Policy Brief (In Swag bag)
Liability Waiver Forms
Policies & Procedures
Peer Support
Training
Public Policy
Fundraising
Finding Partners

21. Monthly Meetings’ Presentations
Types of Presentations during the monthly meetings:
Repairs under Medicare & Medi-Cal (2013)
Diversifying DME Donations
Private & Nonprofit Organization Disaster Assistance
Earth Day 2014 Annual Event
Austin Reuse Conex Conference
Storage
Sanitization

22. Monthly Meetings’ Presentations
Types of Presentations during the monthly meetings:
Inventory
KWRF

23. Future Training Topics
Some of Coalitions future training topics will include:
Peer Support
Training
Public Policy
Collaborative Fundraising
Finding Partners

24. Future Training Topics
Some of Coalitions future training topics will include (cont.):
Operating Procedures
Equipment Repair Resources
Funding Equipment Donations

25. California Assistive Technology Re-use Coalition History
In the first quarter of 2012 the Coalition
Created an information brochure about Reuse
Policy Brief on how get donations of AT/DME

26. Earth Day
Next Earth Day 4/22/17 Saturday.

28. CATRC & Earth Day Our First Earth Day was in April 2014 DAC
The purpose of the Earth Day Drive was to promote the work of reuse programs in saving useful equipment from landfills and getting them into the hands of people that need them
DAC
ILC of Kern County
Able People Foundation
Inland Hospice
Convalescent Aid Society

29. CATRC & Earth Day Continued participants: CID San Mateo
ILR of Contra Costa
Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living
The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society
ILRC Santa Barbara
CFILC/Ability Tools
Our Next Earth Day will be in April 2017

30. Repair & Reuse Fund 2011 the Reuse and Repair Fund was created.
Purpose was to help fund repairs of donated wheelchairs/scooters that were donated to non profits
$20,000 was donated by DOR as part of the Reuse Capacity Building Grant
Originally Ability Tools would pay up to $300 to repair a wheelchair or scooter

31. Repair & Reuse Fund
Number of Repairs
Cost Of Repairs
MSRP of Devices
Saving to Consumers
2011 27
$ 11,425.40
$ 84,489.00
$ 73,063.60
2012 31
$ 13,854.23
$ 72,405.00
$ 58,550.77
2013 $ $ 58
$ 25,279.63
$ 156,894.00
$ 131,614.37
$20,000 Repair Fund was Exhausted by the end of 2012

32. Repair & Reuse Fund At the end 2013 we received 3 donations from:
Clearing House CDFI
Anthem Blue Cross
Quality of Life Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Totaling $8,000

33. Repair & Reuse Fund It was at this time that we made two changes
Rebranded the program to Keep the Wheels Rolling Fund.
Increased the repair amount to $450 per device.
Number of Repairs
Cost Of Repairs
MSRP of Devices
Saving to Consumers
2011 27
$ 11,425.40
$ 84,489.00
$ 73,063.60
2012 31
$ 13,854.23
$ 72,405.00
$ 58,550.77
2013 $ $
2014 30
$ 7,254.93
$ 34,344.00
$ 27,089.07
2015 35
$ 12,395.55
$ 136,638.00
$ 124,242.45
2016 16
$ 4,274.90
$ 17,053.00
$ 12,778.10
139
$ 49,205.01
$ 344,929.00
$ 295,723.99

34. Keep the Wheels Rolling Fund (KWRF) Donors
Clearinghouse CDFI
ATNetwork
Anthem Blues Cross
Department of Rehabilitation
Department of Education
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Anthem Blue Cross
Molina Healthcare
Batteries + Bulbs
California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF)
AT&T
California Health & wellness

35. KWRF – Purpose of the Fund
Provide small grants up to $450 to purchase parts/repair Wheelchairs and scooters so that the DME may be reassigned to a low income Californians with a disability for free or low cost.

36. KWRF – Who May Apply for Grants
To Apply an Organization Must:
Be an established nonprofit
Accept donations of used wheelchairs or scooters.
Primarily serve people in California.
Currently provide cleaned and/or sanitized and repaired/ or refurbished wheelchairs and scooters to low-income Californians with disabilities at no cost.
Must be a member of the Ability Tools (Join our listserv)

37. KWRF – Eligible Activities & Uses
Funds may be used to purchase parts and supplies to repair or refurbish a wheelchair or scooter
Labors costs of specialized repairs that cannot be completed by program staff

38. KWRF - Rules Must be a non profit 501(c)(3)
Can only submit one repair per month
Maximum amount that can be reimbursed is $450

39. KWRF - How to Apply
Apply at
First time applicants must submit the nonprofits IRS tax exempt letter

40. KWRF - Recommendations
Approved Repairs cannot exceed $450
Organization must create an account on the AT Exchange
Repaired device is listed on the AT Exchange with Recipient requesting the item
Get quote for repair PRIOR to applying

41. Questions?
This conference is provided by Ability Tools and California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
in partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation.
© 2016 – Ability Tools– All rights reserved
Ability Tools materials may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.

42. THANK YOU!
Contact Info & Location Ability Tools 1000 G Street, #100 Sacramento, CA TTY Kevin Hansen, Device Lending & Reuse Manager Rosemarie Punzalan, Technology Coordinator