Legislation Reauthorizing AT Act Passes the House

Beth Mineo, DATI Director

On Tuesday, June 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4278, the Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004, with unanimous consent. Before passage, Congressman Mike Castle spoke about the need for the legislation and the important changes in the new law. Castle stressed that the new law would help individuals acquire the AT that they need, and added, "I am particularly proud of the AT work done in Delaware. The DATI connects Delawareans with technologies that provide many with the opportunity to learn, work, play, and participate in community life safely and independently. Delawareans with disabilities count on the Initiative for access to technology for product demonstration and trial use, for information and consultation about equipment and funding resources, and for the coordination of resources among agencies and organizations … There is no other source in Delaware that could replace these services and supports…[This Act] will help to ensure that access leads to opportunity, and that opportunity results in enhanced employment, academic achievement, and community life. I urge my colleagues to support this reauthorization." (The full text of Congressman Castle's address can be found in the Breaking News section of the DATI website, www.dati.org.)

Federal funding for DATI, and the other state programs funded by the AT Act, was scheduled to end with the FY2004 appropriation, so Congressional attention to reauthorization came just in the nick of time. In the House bill, states are required to start shifting funds from service infrastructure to services that directly impact consumers, such as equipment loan and/or equipment recycling programs. The House bill also requires states to offer alternative financing programs that would enable individuals to borrow the money they need for AT purchases. The DATI is already structured in a way that is consistent with the new Congressional mandate, so it is unlikely that services will need to shift dramatically. That is, however, not the case nationwide. Currently, several states have opted not to offer comprehensive equipment loan and/or equipment recycling programs. In addition, many states, including Delaware, are just getting alternative financing programs off the ground.

A Senate bill is expected to be introduced very soon, and if it differs dramatically from the House bill, it may take a while to work toward a version that both Houses of Congress can support.

For regular updates, check the Breaking News section of the DATI website (www.dati.org). Better yet, sign up as a Breaking News subscriber and have these newsflashes delivered right to your inbox.

For more information, contact Beth Mineo Mollica at the DATI Central Site in Wilmington.