	Volume 18, No. 1 - Winter 2010	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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What's Inside . . . Volume 18, No. 1, Winter 2010

photo of the tobii C eight. DATI Receives Grant for Educational AT
The Delaware Department of Education recently awarded DATI funding for the purchase of assistive technology (AT) aimed at improving access to educational opportunities for students with disabilities throughout the state. As a result, teachers and students now have greater access to tools that increase communication skills, make print materials more accessible, enhance comprehension, and support teacher-student interactions.

More Inventory Additions for Education
Computers, software, and cool tools like iPods are revolutionizing instruction for all students, yet they can be especially helpful to students who struggle with learning because they can make content more accessible and engaging. In addition, because they are “mainstream” products, their use is not at all stigmatizing. DATI is well-known for stocking assistive technologies in its statewide inventory, but it is equally important that we have general purpose technologies for folks to explore and try.

Help Stop the Spread
Academy Award winner Patty Duke and the former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, David Kessler, M.D., have teamed with Social Security to launch a flu prevention public service campaign.

Homegrown in Delaware. Image includes the title words along with an outline drawing of the state witha tree growing from it. The tree has lightbulbs on it, as if they are fruits, that are being picked by a small figure underneath the tree. Homegrown in Delaware
Imagine: you’ve injured your lower leg and need to be mobile around your home, work, and community. Crutches aren’t a good choice for you, and your environment isn’t wheelchair friendly. Must you become a hermit while your leg heals? No! Your search for alternative mobility brings you to a device that you may want to consider: the Roll-A-Bout. I bet you’re asking yourself what a Roll-A-Bout could possibly be. Well, let me tell you about this device that was invented and is manufactured right in our own little state of Delaware.

A line drawing of a manual wheelchair, from the front, with lines illustrating where to measure for proper hip width, back height, and knee-to-back length. Wheelchair Measurement Guide
DATI receives many inquiries from people looking for wheelchairs and a lot of people listing wheelchairs on the AT Exchange. It is always best to get a proper wheelchair fitting from a professional who takes the necessary measurements and determines the type of chair supports best for the user. Knowing that this may not always be possible, however, we’re presenting a measurement guide that can used to obtain the best fit possible without a formal wheelchair fitting. This guide is applicable to both manual and power wheelchairs.

Fair Housing Discrimination Against People with Disabilities
Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) is a nonprofit agency that represents people with disabilities, low-income, and elderly clients throughout Delaware. For a number of years, CLASI has been persistently battling housing discrimination throughout Delaware in an effort to preserve the rights of applicants, tenants, and home buyers to decent and affordable housing. This article focuses on housing discrimination experienced by people with disabilities, particularly with respect to the denial of requests for reasonable accommodations.

photo of the mobility reacher, dressing, and bathing kit. The AT Bargain Basement
Hello friends! Welcome to the AT Bargain Basement (ATBB)! I am your master of bargain ceremonies, Marvin Williams, and I’m here to bring you all of the assistive technology I can find for $100 or less. I also convey those bargains your fellow Basement dwellers, fans of the ATBB, give me. If you’re a regular Basement dweller, welcome back! If this is your first time, welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.

Communication Devices Available
DATI recently received a sizeable donation of mid-tech devices from AstraZeneca, a local company, and we are making them available to Delawareans with disabilities.

Save the Date
16th Annual Inclusion Conference
Keys to Inclusion: Unlocking Potential
Thursday, May 6, 2010
8:00 am—3:15 pm
Sheraton Dover Hotel & Conference Center
Dover, Delaware

Modified Motorcycle Update
We want to take this opportunity to update you on information that recently came to our attention regarding the “Not Quite Homegrown in Delaware” article in our Winter 2009 issue.

A graphic of the Center for Disability's delAware newsletter logo, which reads "Delaware," in light and medium blue. The logo looks as though it would be read "del Aware." delAware: A Newsletter of Interest
The Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) officially joined the Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) at the University of Delaware on July 1, 2009. The mission of CDS is to enhance the lives of individuals and families in Delaware through education, prevention, service, and research related to disabilities. The Center promotes independence and productivity so individuals and families can fully participate in the life of the community. One of the ways the Center educates is through its bi-annual newsletter, delAware.