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Category: Services

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Services

Bridging the Digital Divide Program

Older woman sitting in her dining room, showcasing the iPad she received from the Bridging the Digital Divide program.

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Bridging the Digital Divide Program

A collaboration between the Department of Aging & Disability Services (ADS) State Unit on Aging & the CT Tech Act Project (CTTAP).

This 2 year pilot program allows us to have a Full Time Digital Divide Coordinators (DDC) at two of our community AT Partner agencies: the NEAT Center at Oak Hill & UCP of Eastern CT.

Our goal is to help bridge the digital divide by providing one on one or group services to adults with disabilities (18 and older) and aging adults (60 and older).

Services to individuals include:

  • Increase access to technology & technology use
  • Provide tech support, troubleshooting, & teach built in device accessibility features
  • Increase access to the community, virtual programming & telehealth to reduce social isolation
  • Connect Individuals to community resources for ongoing supports
  • Provide tablet technology (with or without hotspot) to individuals 60 & older, if eligible
Older woman sitting in her dining room, showcasing the iPad she received from the Bridging the Digital Divide program.
Digital Divide Coordinator Will S. working on tablet with an older woman, both smiling at camera

Why connect with a DDC?

If you or an individual you work with has technology but struggles to use it and would benefit from some training & support, such as

  • Connecting to their Wi Fi
  • Learning to use social media to connect to family and friends
  • Learning to use virtual platforms like Zoom, Teams or virtual community services
  • Learning how to use built in accessibility features in their devices – speech to text, magnification, text to speech, etc.
  • And more …

Services to Organizations:

Provide training to entities, such as staff at senior and community centers, libraries, and others who serve the same population, to help them provide access and tech support to their participants.

Why connect your agency to a DDC?

If your organization serves adults with disabilities or individuals 60 and older and you/your staff could benefit from training to be able to support your clients, such as:

  • Learn how to set up built in accessibility features on your technology or your clients’ technology
  • Learn how to set your client’s up with virtual platforms or your virtual services
  • Help your clients use social media or other internet activities (i.e..: online grocery shopping, accessing eBooks, connecting with friends & family etc.)
Older man smiling at the camera sitting at his home office

Contacts:

Contact the CT Tech Act Project for more information by using the Contact Us feature on our website or calling 860-803-0588. You can contact a DDC directly at the following:

NEAT Center – serving Litchfield Hartford, Tolland & Windham Counties, Call (860) 488-5923 or email  William.Seaman@oakhillct.org

UCP of Eastern CT – serving Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex & New London Counties. Call 860-288-9520 or email DDC@ucpect.org

The Connecticut Bridging the Digital Divide program is funded by the federal Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Expanding the Public Health Workforce within the Disability Network.

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Services

Access Through Technology (ATT)

Sisters showcasing their laptops and cellphones they received from the Access Through Technology program, sitting on a sofa smiling at the camera

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Access through Technology

We can provide a full assessment, a range of equipment and training to eligible individuals who have a combination of Deafness & Blindness (low vision and hearing loss)

and meet the income requirements. ​

The FCC has selected the CT Tech Act Project as the Certified Program the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program to provide equipment needed to make telecommunications, advanced communications, and the Internet accessible to low-income individuals who have both significant vision loss and significant hearing loss.​ ​

There is no cost to eligible individuals to receive assessments, equipment and training.​

Significant vision loss is defined as having at least one of the following conditions:

  • Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses
  • A field defect such that the peripheral diameter of the visual field is no greater than 20 degrees
  • Progressive visual loss with a prognosis leading to one or both of above condition.
Woman with low vision and her colleague looking at a laptop
Sisters showcasing their laptops and cellphones they received from the Access Through Technology program, sitting on a sofa smiling at the camera

Significant hearing loss is defined as having at least one of the following conditions:

  • Chronic hearing disabilities so severe that most speech cannot be understood with optimum amplification
  • Progressive hearing loss having a prognosis leading to above condition

Income guidelines:

  • Household income within 400 % of federal poverty level.
  • Income guidelines for the current year can be found on the National iCanConnect website. 

Application:

For More Information:

man with low vision tying on an alternate keyboard with an audio recorder next to him.
Categories
Services

AT Recycling

NEAT Center staff refurbishing a walker as part of their Equipment Recycling Program

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AT Recycling

AT Recycling - Recycling or Reusing AT devices gives new life to gently used Assistive Technology equipment.

NEAT Center staff refurbishing a walker as part of their Equipment Recycling Program

You can donate devices that are no longer needed and find good, used equipment for much less than purchasing it brand new. ​ ​
​
Our AT Partner, the NEAT Center at Oakhill can accept your donations and they have an inventory of used Durable Medical Equipment, such as wheelchairs, scooters, and more. ​ ​
​
Contact the NEAT Adaptive Equipment Reuse Program directly at 860-243-2869 or visit their website: https://assistivetechnology.oakhillct.org/dme​

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Services

AT Device Loans

Image of a hand using a joystick mouse

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AT Device Loan

An AT Device Loan allows a person to borrow a device for a short period of time to help decide if the device will meet the person’s needs. CTTAP offers several AT Device Loan programs through various partner agencies. There may be some eligibility criteria for a device loan – contact each agency directly for more information on their AT Device Loan programs.

Image of a hand using a joystick mouse

Obtain a Loan From One of Our Partner Agencies

An AT Device Loan allows you to borrow a device for a short period of time to use it where you need it - at home, school, work, or the community. Borrowing an AT devices helps you decide if the device will meet your needs. Try it before you buy it! You can contact one of our AT partners listed below to see if they have the device you're looking for, to learn about any eligibility criteria or for a device loan and to learn more about their AT Device Loan programs.

CREC

CREC offers AT device loans to their consortium members. They have a wide variety of devices focusing primarily on education and communication. Contact CREC and visit the CREC Assistive Technology webpage for more details.

SCSU Center for Educational and Assistive Technology

SCSU Center for Educational and Assistive Technology offers AT device loans of laptops, tablets and smart pens, primarily to SCSU students with disabilities and to surrounding schools (K-12). Contact CEAT for more information or visit the CEAT webpage.

EASTCONN

EASTCONN offers AT device loans to school districts who are members of the EASTCONN AT consortium. Contact EASTCONN and visit the EASTCONN’s Assistive Technology Lending Library webpage for more details.

SERC Library

SERC Library  offers AT device loans to individuals with disabilities and family members and educators. You can view their AT device lending library at the SERC website or contact SERC for more information.

Meriden ATECH

Meriden ATECH offers AT device loans with a robust inventory of items that can be viewed on the ATECH Lending Library webpage. 

NEAT Center at Oak Hill

NEAT Center at Oak Hill offers AT device loans to individuals with disabilities and others. They offer an array of AT devices. Contact NEAT or visit the NEAT website for more details.

UCP of Eastern CT

UCP of Eastern CT offers AT device loans to individuals with disabilities of any age, family members, and others. Contact UCP or visit the UCP AT Lending Library webpage for more details or to view their inventory.

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Services

AT Device Demo

A man with a hat posing with a smile next to his MedMinder device

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AT Device Demo

A man with a hat posing with a smile next to his MedMinder device

Schedule a Device Demo to Make an informed Decision

An AT Device Demonstration gives you the chance to have a hands on (or virtual) experience with an AT device, learn about the different features and compare with other similar devices. An AT Device Demonstration allows you to make an informed decision about whether the device is the right one for you. If it's not the right one, that's okay! We want to help you make a good decision about a device and we can do several AT device demonstrations until you find what you are looking for. You can schedule a AT Device Demonstration by contacting one of the CTTAP partner agencies listed below.

CREC

CREC offers AT device demos to their consortium members. Contact CREC and visit the CREC Assistive Technology webpage for more details.

NEAT Center at Oak Hill

NEAT Center at Oak Hill offers AT device demos to individuals with disabilities, family members, and others. Contact NEAT or visit the NEAT website for more details.

EASTCONN

EASTCONN offers AT device demos to their consortium members. Contact EASTCONN and visit the EASTCONN’s Assistive Technology webpage for more details.

SERC Library

SERC Library offers AT device demos to individuals with disabilities and family members and educators at their AT Corner located in the SERC library in Waterbury, CT. Contact SERC staff or visit the SERC website for more details.

Meriden ATECH

Meriden ATECH offers AT device demos to individuals with disabilities and family members as well as to providers and their staff. Visit the ATECH website for more details.

UCP of Eastern CT

UCP of Eastern CToffers AT device demos to individuals with disabilities, family members, and others. Contact UCP or visit the UCP AT website for more details.​​

You can also contact the CT Tech Act Project directly via the CT Tech Act Project Contact Us page for additional resources, information and device demonstrations.

Categories
Services

AT Loan Program

Man using his wheelchair to enter a modified vehicle with the ramp opened
Accessible car with wheelchair lift ramp for person with disability.

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The Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP)

ATLP is a low-interest financial loan to help individuals with disabilities or their family members purchase Assistive Technology devices and services needed to enhance independence and/or functioning in the community, education and/or employment.

The Assistive Technology Loan Program (ATLP)

The Program is a low-interest financial loan to help individuals with disabilities or their family members purchase Assistive Technology devices and services needed to enhance independence and/or functioning in the community, education and/or employment.

Tips & Facts About the AT Loan Program

The Connecticut Tech Act Project’s Assistive Technology Loan Program assists Connecticut citizens with disabilities and older adults to obtain the assistive technology devices and services they need to enhance independence and productivity in the community, education and employment with an improved quality of life.

Who can apply for a loan?

An individual with a disability / older adult, parent, guardian, family member or legal representative of the person with the disability who:

* Has been a resident of Connecticut for at least 1 year
* And has a disability that permanently affects a major life activity

Young woman in cook's outfit, utilizing a standing wheelchair, as she stirs a pot in an industrial kitchen. She has a big smile on her face.
A young woman sitting in her wheelchair at a desk with a young man reviewing a binder of papers.

What can I borrow money for?

A broad range of assistive technology devices and services, such as:

* Wheelchairs and scooters
* Braille note takers / equipment
* Assistive listening devices
* Augmentative communication devices
* Electronic aids to daily living
* Visual aids with voice output or magnifying features
* Computers and adaptive peripherals
* Home modifications for accessibility
* Motor vehicles that have/need modifications
* Assistance / Service Animals
* Training to learn how to use the AT device

How much can I borrow and for how long?

Loan amounts are generally from $500 to $30,000. Loan terms vary from one (1) year to (10) years – depending on the amount of the loan and the typical life of the AT being purchased through the loan. If you would like to use a Loan Calculator to get an idea of what your monthly payments might be you can visit the Northwest Access Fund to use their friendly Loan Calculator. Please note: numbers obtain from this Loan Calculator are for informational purposes only and are not a guarantee of loan approval or loan amounts.

Who appoves my loan?

The ATLP Program Manager reviewed the application for completeness and makes recommendation to CTTAP Program Director for decision. Once approval is made, the Program Manager will work with Berkshire Bank to process the loan and schedule the closing. Approval takes an average of two weeks to a month.

Young boy, Adrian, sitting in his wheelchair surrounded by family and team who helped him get modified van, in the background.

how do i sign up?

Download an application (PDF Format)

Download an application (Word Format)

Download an application (Fillable Word Format)

Download an application – Spanish (PDF Format)

Download an application – Spanish (Word Format)

For assistance filling out an application, to request an alternative format, or to check on the status of your application, call The Connecticut Tech Act Project at (860) 876-9595, toll free in CT at (800) 537-2549 or send an email via our website.

Who We Are

The Connecticut Tech Act Project (CTTAP) operates out of the CT Department of Aging and Disability Services. We help people with disabilities, family members, employers, educators and other professionals with access to Assistive Technology devices and services.

© CT Tech Act Project 2023. All rights reserved.

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