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DATI Central Office and New Castle County ATRC are Moving
The Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) is moving its central office and New Castle County Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) from A.I. duPont/Nemours Hospital for Children to the Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS). The ATRC will be closed from March 19 through March 23 for the relocation process; it will reopen March 26 at CDS. DATI staff members Marvin Williams and Joann McCafferty will have offices at CDS beginning March 26. If you need to reach the central office or New Castle County ATRC March 19-23, call the CDS main number 302-831-6974.
The new contact information is:
Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative
Center for Disabilities Studies
College of Education and Human Development
University of Delaware
461 Wyoming Road
Newark, DE 19716
800-870-DATI (3284) (Voice/TTY)
302-831-0354 (Voice)
CDS Partners with Goodwill to Launch Durable Medical Equipment Reuse Program
On August 3, Goodwill Durable Medical Equipment (DME) opened its headquarters in Wilmington.
Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County was awarded a contract through the Delaware Recycles and Reuses Assistive Technology Project of CDS’ Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) to provide access to safe and appropriate gently-used durable medical equipment for Delawareans with disabilities who are otherwise unable to acquire this equipment. Goodwill has received donations of equipment from A.I. duPont Hospital for Children and the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS), and will also receive equipment that was purchased with Medicaid funds and is no longer useful to the original recipient. Goodwill can also accept equipment donations from the public through its 18 drop-off sites in Delaware. Individuals can arrange for pick-up of large items by calling 1-866-317-2299 ext. 600.
“Durable medical equipment” includes wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, lifts, home care beds, commodes, communication devices and other items. As a part of this program, Goodwill will collect equipment from donors; sort, assess, clean, sanitize, repair and refurbish the equipment for resale; create a database to document the inventory; store the equipment and match appropriate available equipment to people with disabilities in need. It will also recycle or dispose of unused materials. Current employees involved in the process of sanitizing and reconditioning items include adults with disabilities from Chimes Delaware, a provider of day, vocational and residential services for people with cognitive disabilities.
CDS Director Beth Mineo, who also directs DATI, spoke at the Goodwill DME grand opening ceremony. In her remarks, she explained that DATI established the goal of providing AT to everyone who needs it several years ago. Equipment reuse was one idea developed to promote AT availability and accessibility.
“Making a very long story short, we are here today launching a program that makes incredibly good sense,” Mineo said. “Get useful equipment out of basements and garages and attics into the hands of people who need it. Employ people with disabilities in the refurbishment process. Stretch federal and state dollars farther. Keep material out of landfills. Give people a tax deduction for contributing to the greater good. What's not to love?”
For information about Goodwill’s medical equipment refurbishment program, call 302-463-1465.
Babies Driving Racecars!!
Cole Galloway, PT, PhD and Hsiang han Huang, OT, Ph.D. at the University of Delaware have a fun new project up and running that is a low tech version of their famous "Babies Driving Robots" project. In this new project, they are studying the impact of providing modified ride on toy cars (hence the 'babies driving racecars') for use by children with mobility impairments. Who is eligable for entering the study? Children 1-3 years of age who are not yet walking independently, and are not blind/deaf. The study involves approximately 7 months of involvement which includes a 3 month intervention period in which children and their families have a modified race car at their home! View the brochure 
Free communication devices available to Delawareans through AstraZeneca's generous donation
The Zam Communicator, a lightweight device that enables a person who has a significant speech impairment to communicate by spelling out words with a keypad or pressing an icon to display a message on a LCD screen, is available to individual Delawareans at no charge through a generous donation by AstraZeneca. The device was developed to enhance health and communication between patients and medical professionals; it does not have voice output.
Delaware-based AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, donated these devices to the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) for distribution directly to patients; they may not be distributed to or through physicians, other health care professionals, medical group practices, or to hospitals. They can be distributed directly to patient groups in individual, outpatient, or health clinic settings. Health care and disability professionals can promote the availability of these devices and encourage individuals to contact the DATI Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) in their county.
If you or someone you know could use a communication device, such as the Zam Communicator, please contact DATI at 800.870.3284 or through the Contact Us button on the website.
Free peak flow meters available to Delawareans through AstraZeneca's generous donation
AstraZeneca, a Delaware-based pharmaceutical company, has donated digital peak flow meters made by nSpire Health to be distributed to individuals over the age of 12 who require use of such devices for taking care of their health conditions. People with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pulmonary disease may use a peak flow meter to help stay healthy. A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that measures your ability to push air out of your lungs and can show signs that an asthma attack is coming. Peak flow meters are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis to Delawareans over the age of 12.
These devices must be distributed directly to patients and may not be distributed to or through physicians, other health care professionals, medical group practices, or to hospitals. Health care professionals can promote the availability of these devices and encourage individuals to contact the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative. AstraZeneca and the University of Delaware make no warranty and assume no liability on the device or any of the included components.
If you or someone you know could use a peak flow meter, please contact DATI at 800- 870-DATI (3284) or through the Contact Us button on the website. If you represent a group that would like to us distribute the peak flow meters to individuals in your program, please contact Tracy Mann at (302) 831-3150.
