DRC Programs

The PAAT Program of the Disability Rights Center protects and promotes the rights of persons with disabilities to access assistive technology (AT) devices and services.

DRC advocates for each individual's AT needs in conjunction with other DRC programs to gain maximum protections in education, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, or wherever there is a need.

Assistive Technology can benefit children and adults with disabilities in educational, employment, housing, recreation, institutional and community integration activities. Assistive Technology can be as simple as a device to turn on a light or as complex as a computerized communication system.

For more information and further reading on assistive technology you can read this Wikipedia article.

Resources on Assistive Technology

Aimee Mullins: The Opportunity of Adversity

In October of 2009, Aimee Mullins gave a talk at TEDMED on embracing the opportunities she has seen because of the adversity in her life. Born in 1976 without shin bones, this double-amputee became empowered by her adversity to become an athlete, actress, and fashion model, and is a source of inspiration to people with, and without, disabilities.

Assistive Technology News

North Carolina Enacts Hearing Aid Insurance Coverage Mandate

6/7/2010 - North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue signed into law a requirement that hearing aids for children and teens through the age of 21 be covered by North Carolina health benefit plans, including the North Carolina State Employees Health Plan. The new insurance benefit provides coverage of up to $2,500 per ear every three years.

Nine-year-old Collin Tastet, whose family is a member of the Alexander Graham Bell Assoc. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, gained statewide media coverage as the leading advocate behind passage of the mandate. Collin has worn hearing aids since he was 8 weeks old and his parents largely credit early access to listening and spoken language for Collin's success in school. At the bill signing ceremony, Collin said, "I can hear my friends...that's why I want other kids to have them." From the AG Bell Update, agbell.org

Resource Day at Camp Aldersgate

The AR Center for Respiratory Technology Dependent Children Resource Day, at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock, 8:30 AM to 9:15 AM. Call AR Children’s Hospital Pulmonary Office 501-364-1006 for more information.

Companion Bill to 21st Century Communications Act Introduced in the Senate

5/24/2010: Earlier this month, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) introduced Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act (S. 3304) in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. As a companion bill to the House bill entitled "21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009" (H.R. 3101), the legislation addresses hearing aid compatibility, relay services, access to Internet based services and equipment, and emergency access and real-time text support, among other issues.

Northwest Arkansas Hands & Voices Family Events

University Of Arkansas Speech & Hearing Clinic, 410 Arkansas Avenue, Fayetteville AR
April 10, 2010, 8:30 am to 1 pm

AR Hands & Voices invites the public to have the opportunity to hear from adults who are deaf/hard of hearing and learn from their experiences. In addition, there are opportunities to connect with other families and attend a session on Assistive Technology. There will be activities for children but we will need to know who is coming. In the past, the children have loved this time - and so have the family members!!

Please register soon! There is no charge to attend but please let us know that you are coming. Lunch is provided.

Also, mark your calendars for a couple of other upcoming events - Aim High Camp - June 20-24, 2010 iTransition College Camp - July 27-31, 2010. More information can be found on both of these camps on Facebook.

Don't forget to check out our website - www.arhandsandvoices.org and our Facebook Page - Arkansas Hands & Voices. For more information contact Mandy McClellan, Chapter Coordinator, Arkansas Hands & Voices, 501-626-4640.

DRC Priorities for PAAT in Fiscal Year 2010

DRC will assist people with disabilities in institutions, community settings and psychiatric programs in advocating receipt of services and supports in a safe environment.

Monitor community settings and public and private facilities and investigate 30 cases of suspicious deaths and claims of abuse, neglect, unlawful commitment, seclusion, physical or chemical restraint, and violations of rights.

DRC will assist people with disabilities in rural Arkansas in accessing the internet so they can become informed and active participants in their communities.

DRC will work with ARS and ICAN to distribute and customize computers ARS is no longer using to people with disabilities who are unable to purchase their own computers.
DRC will work with an internet provider to ensure that the computers that are distributed are linked to the internet at little or no charge.

DRC will assist students with disabilities to advocate access to a continuum of placement options in the least restrictive environment.

Represent students with disabilities in the public school system receiving special education services that have been denied appropriate evaluations or services in the area of assistive technology.

DRC will inform people with disabilities of their legal rights at trainings conducted by DRC and other organizations.

Conduct community trainings on the services DRC provides, sensitivity awareness and on specific topics related to DRC priorities as requested by other agencies.
DRC will raise issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities at meetings attended by policy makers and/or people with disabilities.
DRC serves on the Arkansas Advisory Council for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities to advise the Council on ways to stop discrimination against children with disabilities in public schools.
DRC will serve on the Division of Youth Services (DYS) Oversight Committee to ensure that DYS is meeting the deadlines of the DYS Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Reform Plan 2009-2014.
DRC will serve on ACED (Arkansas Coalition for the Education of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing) to develop a seamless system of services to stop discrimination against children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
DRC will serve on the UALR Auditory and Speech Pathology Department Development Council to advise the Council on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
DRC will convene meetings of ARPie to share information with parent advocacy groups/Parent Training Information Centers about education advocacy issues.
DRC will network with the PTI and other disability groups to develop mini-conferences in unserved areas of the state.
DRC will publish and distribute DRC newsletters to people on the DRC mail list, the e-mail list, and will publish each on the DRC website in accessible formats to inform the public on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
DRC will print and distribute "A Parent's Guide, Civil Rights/Education" Bluebooks to inform persons how to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
DRC will distribute "IDEA, a Parent's Booklet" (companion to the Bluebook) to inform persons how to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
DRC will inform parents about assistive technology by disseminating brochures explaining assistive technology, devices and/or services.
DRC will write "A Parent's Guide, Civil Rights/Early Intervention" (Yellowbook) to inform persons how to stop discrimination against infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Provide the DRC display and materials in conferences to inform the public about DRC activities to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
Timely information will be provided on each DRC program, upcoming events, cases, investigations, legislation, etc.

Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT)