• Independent Living
May Faith, Program Supervisor
2020
I am most proud of how quickly and well the staff has worked on Nebraska Health and Human Services projects when we moved to working remotely.
While we were slowly making progress moving that direction to make it so everyone was able to work on the go, the whole team had to adapt within a week to working outside of our offices. While it wasn’t without its challenges, everyone did a good job adapting and working through the headaches of abruptly becoming fully remote.
Monthly Technology Specialist meetings were not a practice for the team prior to COVID-19 restrictions, however, everyone's willingness to try to improve things was apparent. Staff stepped up with agenda topics and led the conversation.
2021
Now that the monthly meetings have been a success our goal is to recruit guest presenters to enhance our understanding of processes or equipment/technology.
We hope to explore additional grant funds that could be used to assist individuals to make their homes more accessible.
• Education
Brian Wojcik, Education Program Supervisor
2020
Coordinating with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) we have launched an intensive professional development experience related to assistive technology services in schools for 21 professionals across Nebraska. We also launched a webinar series on a variety of topics related to assistive technology practices in schools.
2021
The Education program will continue to provide support to every IEP/IFSP team in Nebraska by offering professional
development and technical assistance. We will also
ensure that the ATP Education Statewide Loan Pool meets the needs of the state by
reflecting common and contemporary AT on the market.
• Education Accessibility
Lilly Blase, ADA Coordinator
2020
Americans with Disabilities (ADA) school Special Education (SPED) reviews continued this year and went virtual after March. One project created an ADA accessible Life Skills kitchen with a laundry area at a smaller class D school. New cabinets were installed during the summer with most of the ADA appliances delivered this fall. The district's architect located the kitchen next to the resource room and an accessible restroom with a roll-in shower. All plans and appliance specifications, and access reviews were done from submitted documents, product online specs, and photos of the new space.
The NDE Career and Technical Education (CTE) program started their federally required Methods of Administration (MOA) Office of Civil Reviews (OCR) during the 2019-20 school year. A preselected group of high schools and one community college were visited for civil rights, Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance.The pandemic ended on-site visits and the review process moved to virtual Zoom interviews with Google used for sharing documents and materials.
2021
During the coming year reviews will continue as schools submit budgets and projects to the SPED Office of NDE. We will continue to operate electronically and conduct reviews virtually whenever possible.
• Resource Coordination
Angie Ransom, Resource Coordinator
2020
During the Coronavirus Pandemic ATP continued to provide statewide resource coordination for Nebraskans needing assistive technology (AT). The requests for funding assistive technology items include home and vehicle modifications, durable
medical equipment, communication technology, and much more. Requests have been received from Covid patients needing assistance to return home. In some cases individuals are not able to receive rehabilitation in a facility and their family has taken on the responsibility of caring for them in their home and are not equipped with an accessible entrance and bathroom.
2021
ATP will continue to respond to the increased demand for assistance and will utilize equipment reuse whenever possible for immediate response to requests for long and short term needs.
• Advisory Council
The ATP Advisory Council was able to meet in April 2020 by Zoom. This was a new opportunity for this
council and made it possible to solicit input on goals and objectives. The Council will meet again using Zoom on January 15, 2021.
Marketing
Nancy Noha, Marketing Specialist
2020
The pandemic has impacted marketing and printed materials with the cancellation of in-person conferences and training. We need to rely on social media to promote ATP and other agency webinars, online workshops, and summits. 2021
Links are listed below to join us to connect to technology, webinars, and trainings! We will be exploring opportunities to promote ATP during other organization webinars, identifying website resource listings, enhancing our website, and increasing the sharing of success stories.