Presented by Bob Rust

STAR ReBoot™ Reuse Coordinator

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Touch the Future is committed to increasing knowledge about, access to, and acquisition of Assistive Technology Services (AT), making it possible for individuals with disabilities to live independently and productively with their own families and communities throughout their lifespan.

Mission Statement

Touch the Future, Inc.

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A 501c(3) nonprofit

Designed to Increase Access

to AT & Acquisition of AT

Focused on: Education, Employment, Community Living and IT/Telecommunications.

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Touch the Future, Inc.
History

• Organized in 1989 for the purpose of assisting Tools For Life (TFL) in creating the first statewide AT conference

• Incorporated in 1994

• 1997 ReBoot™ was created under the umbrella of Touch the Future and received TFL funding

• Started with 1,500 sq ft, phone, and office support rented from FODAC. Founded by TFL ReBoot™ State Liaison, Carolyn Phillips, and Lamar Polly

• August 2001: Touch The Future merged the metro area ATRC and ReBoot™ and moved to a 12,962 sq ft new facility space

• Merger completed in 2003 – Joanne Willis became the first Touch the Future/ReBoot™-ATRC Director

• Independence facilitated a business structure and sustainability planning

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Touch the Future, Inc.
Key Accomplishments

• Over 7, 500 systems for Georgians with disabilities since 1997

• Over 1,000 “ReBooted” for other states & international organizations

• Developed a Lifelong Learning Lab with Microsoft

• Piloted the MAR program with Microsoft

• Developed strong partnership with CollectiveGood (a cell phone recycling company) and Allegance (an electronics recycler).

• Hosted Visitors from all fifty states, many territories & countries (Australia, Brazil, China, Guam, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Nigeria, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, & the Virgin Islands)

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ATRC

Info & Assist

Demos

Loan Library

Assess & Train

Products new & used

ReBoot™

Computer Refurbishment

AT Refurbishment

AT Reassignment

Recycle (End-of-Life)

STAR Network

Touch the Future, Inc.

ReBoot™ - ATRC

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ReBoot™

• ReBoot™ is a statewide, collaborative effort dedicated to actively promoting independence for people with disabilities through Assistive Technology & Computer Recycling.

• ReBoot™ has placed over 7,500 recycled computer systems with people throughout Georgia, the Southeast, and the United States. 

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Donation Policy

• Donations are accepted for our refurbishment & redistribution mission

• Reasons for established policy

  • To set a minimum standard for equipment

  • To assure space capacity is not overextended

  • To assure that staff time is not spent in handling items that have no refurbishment value

  • To assure that donations do not increase “cost of doing business”

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Tax receipt given for charitable donation

Request a recycling donation of $10 per system

Customers are assured that items are kept out of our landfills

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Evaluating the Accepted Equipment

Visual Evaluation

Technical Evaluation

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ReBoot™ LAB

• Wipe Hard Drive

• Reformat

• Load licensed OS

• Load freeware

• Track systems

• Quality Check

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• • Be an individual with a disability (any age), or be a senior, or an agency providing disability services

  • Give 20 hours of volunteer time to a nonprofit of your choice

  • Complete the application (match to needs)

  • Receive computer and issue training session (consumer satisfaction survey & Liability)

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• Help desk available by phone

• ReBoot™ & other system repairs are done

at our site

• 6 month to 1 year warranties on all

hardware

• ReBoot™ Support Training for outreach sites

ReBoot™ Technical Support

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Consumer Reuse Benefits

• Decreased cost

• Appropriate matching for individuals special needs

• One stop shopping

• Services by skilled AT specialists focusing on the persons abilities and goals

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Our Goal For Expansion

• 2½ years ago, Touch the Future set a goal to increase distribution and delivery services for ReBoot™ Program

• TFL, FODAC and Georgia’s Assistive Technology Resource Centers collaborated to pursue a Reuse Demonstration Grant

• Grant was awarded to TFL as lead agency with Touch the Future/ReBoot™ & FODAC being central equipment depots

• Result – Increased distribution locations and delivery services become a reality

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STAR Network is born

(STAR)

The Southeastern Technology Access and Reuse Network

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STAR Network

• Aimed at meeting the challenges of AT Reuse Acquisition

• A response to GA’s disability communities expressed needs and barriers

• An envisioned solution for:

  • • transfer & sharing of skills and resource

    • development of new skills and partners

    • a foundation for a unified network

    • growing capacity and sustainability

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STAR 2007 Accomplishments

42 – Visits made

29 - Training sessions on STAR Training Modules

13 – STAR Processes Documented

180 - Calls handled

32 – Collaborative Meetings

19 – Referrals made

171 – DME Deliveries made

83 – Computer and AT Deliveries made

113 – DME Donation Pickups made

788 – Computer and AT Donation Pickups made

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• FODAC and TTF Partnership Established

• Methods for Depot Communications Determined

• 12 - Training Modules Developed

• STAR Satisfaction Survey sent out in September 2007 to all Outreach Centers

• STAR Network Candidate Process for SE Area formulated

• STAR Network Candidate Questionnaire developed

• STAR Network Sustainability document drafted

• Contacted by Other State Agencies.