Programs and Services

San Diego Assistive Technology Center (SDATC)

As an Alliance for Technology Access Resource Center, San Diego Assistive Technology Center (SDATC) offers many opportunities for increasing your knowledge about assistive technology solutions through the hands-on exploration of a wide array of adapted computer hardware/software, environmental control access and AAC devices. The mission of the San Diego Assistive Technology Center is to:

• Support families in the critical role they play in helping their children reach their full potential by providing access to toys as learning tools.
• Develop strategies, which assist individuals who are non-speaking to say what is on their mind without the need for interpretation or guessing by others.
• Assist people who use AAC and their teams in developing a consistent means of communication; one that facilitates independence, learning and active participation in school, home, work and the community.
• Train and support the community through a multitude of educational opportunities focusing on assertive technology. Our goal is to assist individuals to live as full and independent life as possible given the wealth of technology available on the market today.
• Collaborate with a variety of people in the community to ensure that life-changing technology becomes accessible to those who need it most.

Who is Eligible?
Anyone! The San Diego Assistive Technology Center is available to individuals with disabilities, their families, professionals and the community at large! See the schedule of open lab dates.

Here are some of the services offered through SDATC:

• Toy Library - Mobile library designed to serve you in your own community. Our librarians travel throughout the county, using libraries, churches, recreation centers and Boys and Girls Clubs as play sites.
• Software Library - Program which loans computer software and adaptive hardware (for example, TouchWindows, IntelliKeys, Computer Switch Interfaces, etc.) to children with disabilities for use in their home environment.
• Funding Advocacy Assistance - Provide no-cost, one-to-one advocacy services to obtain funding for AAC devices and computer technology.
• Information and Referral Services - Provide information to the community with regard to assistive technology, funding eligibility and various complementary services.
• Workshops and Presentations - Provides opportunities for you to learn more about augmentative communication and assistive technology. Call for more information.
• Open Lab - Frequently scheduled times when anyone in the community may come to the center to explore communication devices, specialized software & computer hardware and the Internet. See the schedule of open lab dates.
• Individual Lab Appointment - Set appointment with SDATC staff, intended to provide more specific information about equipment and software. One hour FREE.
• Individual Lab Consultation - Takes the individual Lab Appointment one step further by providing in-depth consultative services with SDATC staff. An hourly charge is assessed.
• Full AAC Assessment - Staff conduct full interdisciplinary team assessments in order to match consumers to the most appropriate AAC system features. Funding availability needs to be established prior to the assessment.
• Training & Follow Up Services - Consultation is available for attendance at team meetings, development of device vocabulary, programming and training, etc. An hourly rate is assessed.
• Language Assessment - Speech language pathologist can provide a full speech language assessment, as needed. An hourly charge is assessed.
• Professional Use of Assistive Technology Lab - Set appointments to use the lab and available equipment to assess or consult with an individual. Open to Professionals; an hourly charge is assessed.
• AAC Loan Program - Program designed to facilitate the determination of appropriateness of an AAC device by providing equipment on loan.
• Vendor Trainings - Regularly scheduled equipment training available at no cost throughout the year. Call for more information.

About the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)
SDATC is a resource center of the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) and draws on the expertise and information of the entire Alliance network, in responding to the needs of people with disabilities. The Alliance for Technology Access is the leading network of community-based resource centers, affiliates, developers and vendors dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities and increasing their use of standard, assistive and information technologies.

ATA Centers:

• Provide guided technology exploration for people with disabilities, as well as families and advocates
• Utilize technology to diminish or eliminate environmental barriers for people with disabilities
• Distribute current information regarding assistive technology

ATA Headquarters
1304 Southpoint Blvd., Suite 240
Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: 707-778-3011
E-Mail: ATAinfo@ATAccess.org
Web: www.ataccess.org

For more information about San Diego Assistive Technology Center (SDATC), please contact UCP at (858) 278-5420 or send an e-mail.

http://www.ucpsd.org
Updated: 02/07/2007