[NFBMT] {Spam?} FW: Improving Lives with Technology

Thu Sep 10 21:47:43 UTC 2020

Greetings,

                This may be of interest to many of our group.  It has some real advantages.

                Ted

EDWARD C "TED" ROBBINS, E-MAIL:  ecrobbins517 at gmail.com

CEO MBEI & Treasurer NFB of Montana 

PHONE & FAX:  406 453 6678, MOBILE :  406 799 6268

104 RIVERVIEW 5 E

GREAT FALLS  MT   59404

From: MonTECH <shawna.hanson at mso.umt.edu> 
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2020 1:37 PM
To: Ed <ecrobbins517 at gmail.com>
Subject: Improving Lives with Technology

$657,686 to MonTECH's Financial Loan Program; Motion-tracking Device for Remote Teaching/Therapy; MonTECH Trike Climbs Going-to-the-Sun Road; What's New to Borrow from MonTECH? And, Oh Yes...Get Ready to Vote!

 <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=aa1657738d&e=5156130ed5> 

MonTECH: Montana's assistive technology program.  Borrow assistive devices and adaptive equipment for free; receive free training in-person or via video-call. 

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We'll show you the money!  MonTECH just received a grant that will infuse our financial loan program (MATL) with $657,686! This program (the Montana Assistive Technology Loan program) allows Montanans to apply for loans for assistive technology, mobility equipment, adaptive recreation equipment, home and vehicle modification, accessible vehicles, hearing aids... Approved applicants can borrow up to $1500 at 0% interest, or $1501 - $50,000 at 3.5% interest.   <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=54ff506fe0&e=5156130ed5> Learn more here. 

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Sherene Ricci and Peter Drakos ride Going-to-the-Sun Road on MonTECH's TerraTrike Rover Tandem.  The Rover is available to borrow for up to 30 days.

MonTECH's Recumbent Tandem Takes a Ride Up Going-to-the-Sun 

by Shawna Hanson
MonTECH

Peter Drakos lives and breathes outdoor adventure.  So when the opportunity rolls around each spring to ride a bike up  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=623a90cc56&e=5156130ed5> Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier, he’s one of the first to strap on a helmet. 

It’s safe to guess that biking up a mountain before the snow plows are parked is not high on the average person’s to-do list.  But Drakos is not average. Raised in Missoula, Drakos was working as an environmental protection specialist in Seattle when he was diagnosed with  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=5e344f4f1a&e=5156130ed5> spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2).  SCA2 is progressive, and Drakos moved back to Missoula to be nearer family. Here, his love of adaptive sport has grown to fierce proportions. “Once you’re in, you’re in,” he says.

Drakos' strong tremors and balance issues do not limit his participation in sports. His seasonal pastimes include  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=f729f4166d&e=5156130ed5> sit-skiing, kayaking,  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=1f797766e6&e=5156130ed5> sled hockey, white water rafting, and biking. 

This year’s annual Going-to-the-Sun-Road ride with  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=0a55bc4828&e=5156130ed5> Dream Adaptive was Drakos’ second shot at riding to the top. (Dream Adaptive is based in Whitefish and provides adaptive recreation adventures year round for people with disabilities.) Because of his tremors, he knew he would not be safe for steering or braking. “I constantly move the bike levers and the steering back and forth,” he explains. The solution was easy:  borrow the  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=b3bd661ab8&e=5156130ed5> TerraTrike Rover Tandem from MonTECH*, then find a willing soul to take the driver’s seat.   <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=e886e6a0ef&e=5156130ed5> Read More Here

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The Montana Family to Family Health Information Center (MT F2F) just received $6,500 to help support families attending appointments and therapies remotely.  MonTECH is working with the F2F to purchase hot spots, tablets, laptops, headphones with mics, and motion-tracking smartphone holders (see Alli's video below). This equipment can be accessed through MonTECH's loan program.

Project officers distributing these funds are surveying families about issues they're encountering with tele-health appointments. Please take the survey (takes about three minutes), or share the link with families and caregivers. Responses may help guide more funding to targeted needs in Montana.    <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=26a7e8bf1c&e=5156130ed5> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FamilyReadiness 

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Teaching remotely, teletherapy... no easy trick, right? MonTECH has purchased equipment to make fall a little easier for families, therapists, and teachers. In addition to buying iPads, tablets, laptops, and hot spots for areas with limited internet access, we've also purchased the Moza Gimbal and the GimbOWL. If you're using your smart phone for a meeting or video call and move out of frame, these devices will follow you hands-free.  MonTECH's Alli Dimmick explains.

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New at MonTECH:  The Compass Chair is designed to withstand continuous rocking movements and has optional stability feet. The raised sides of the seat together with the armrests provide reassuring physical borders. The rear and front legs can be shortened to add recline or forward tilt for optimal positioning. This chair is great for children with autism or those who exhibit movement-seeking behavior. MonTECH has a size 2 Compass Chair for loan, ideal for a knee-to-heel height of 43-48 inches and max weight of 120 pounds.  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=a3580804ad&e=5156130ed5> Borrow Compass Chair from MonTECH for 30 days. Write  <mailto:montech at mso.umt.edu> montech at mso.umt.edu if you need help requesting a loan. 

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Also new at MonTECH:  The Talkable 6 Spinning Communicator records custom audio messages that you can replay at the press of a button, and has six levels, meaning this device can hold up to 36 messages. Turns easily on its rotating base.  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=f96513f960&e=5156130ed5> Borrow Talkable 6 from MonTECH for home, school, or for use in a speech clinic for up to 30 days.  

The Firefly Scooot is a 4-in-1 mobility rider that lets children with special needs play and explore at floor-level with peers. Scooot has four configurations; Scooot, Ride, Pooosh and Crawl. Suitable for children 2-6 years old with a maximum weight of 48 pounds. Scooot is popular! If it's checked out, be sure to get on the wait list. You can  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=5f88fe2fda&e=5156130ed5> borrow Scooot for 180 days. We ship to you for free, you pay to ship back.  

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New for Independent Living:  Do you have a family member living independently, but prone to leaving the stove on? The Wallfower Stove Monitor installs in five minutes or less and requires no tools. This monitor beeps and sends a smartphone notification when the stove turns on or someone forgets to turn it off. Device beeps can be turned on or off and notifications can be sent to who you want, when you want via the Wallflower app. It is a 220-volt plug, fits in the cavity behind most stoves and comes in 3- and 4-Wire models. MonTECH has  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=86311fc06d&e=5156130ed5> both models available to try out for 30 days. We pay to ship to you, you pay to ship back. 

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Montana's 2020 Election and the Disability Voting Bloc

Americans with disabilities are the largest minority in the country, which means as a voting bloc, they have real power to influence healthcare, employment, accessibility, and other issues that directly affect them and their families.

In Montana, the 2020 election will have far-reaching ramifications. We will vote on our nation's next president/vice president, as well as our next governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, and two seats on the Montana Supreme Court. Voters will also make decisions about legalization/taxation of marijuana, and limiting the authority of local governments to regulate firearms.  

Register to vote by October 5th so you can have your say, and  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=bd94c53778&e=5156130ed5> learn more about mail-in ballots, electronic ballots, voter assist terminals, curbside voting, and other accommodations implemented to ensure votes of Montanans with disabilities get counted.   (Voter Information Pamphlets are available in audio, large print, and Braille formats.)

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MonTECH equipment and devices arriving at your clinic or home have been cleaned twice with COVID-19-approved cleaning products. Please contact Maddy if you have questions about our cleaning protocol: (406) 243-4539,  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=0b34168147&e=5156130ed5> maddy.musson at mso.umt.edu. 

MonTECH's Billings office is open for in-person or video-call appointments to help you find the assistive device that works best for you. To make an appointment, call or write Marlena at  <mailto:marlena.lanini at mso.umt.edu?subject=Question%20for%20Billings%20Office> marlena.lanini at mso.umt.edu, (406) 657-2089.

Our Missoula location is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. No walk-ins please. To schedule an equipment drop-off or pick-up, call Maddy at (406) 243-4539. To schedule an in-person or video-call appointment for 1:1 help in Missoula, call or write Michelle at  <https://umt.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8fc799bce894e44dbc8f21d36&id=9f62147f3e&e=5156130ed5> michelle.allen at mso.umt.edu, (406) 243-5486. 

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 <mailto:Shawna.Hanson at mso.umt.edu> 

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Our mailing address is:

MonTECH

029 McGill Hall

University of Montana

Missoula, Mt 59812

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