National Issues

Nationally, AT Reuse programs share many issues such as liability, training, transportation, marketing, evaluation, and assuring program sustainability. The Pass It On Center is committed to working with AT Reuse programs and leaders in the field to collectively find solutions to these common problems. This site will serve as a place to begin our discussion of how to address these issues and shape solutions.

National Taskforce

The Pass It On Center has developed a National Taskforce that is working with leaders in the areas mentioned above. Of course, we recognize that with the wide variety of reuse programs all across the country, issues will arise that we have not yet addressed. We look forward to the Center and its web site serving as a forum for the free exchange of ideas. Out of these conversations we will develop the national strategies to address issues facing AT Reuse programs. A number of ideas that begin to address many of these issues are presented in this section.

Summary of AT Reuse

The Rehabilitation Services Administration has provided significant leadership in exploring the concepts surrounding AT Reuse, and in identifying national issues to be examined. Jeremy Buzzell, Program Specialist, at Rehabilitation Services Administration developed a powerful presentation that further explains the need for exploring and understanding AT Reuse activities.

For an overview of Assistive Technology Reuse . . . What is AT Reuse? Why Reuse AT? and Who is involved in AT Reuse? The full text of this article is available in these formats:  PDF | TXT

3rd annual National Task Force meeting on May 6th and 7th in Atlanta, GA  Agenda [PDF]

Meeting Objectives:
a. Review and discuss progress and products and proposed plans of the Pass It On Center.
b. To further focus the goals of Task Force Study Groups.
c. To provide a forum for sharing and exchanging information about national AT reuse issues.
d. To further explore and define the concept of a national network of AT reuse programs through various program initiatives.

The 2006 Pass It On Conference

The 2006 Pass It On Conference on the Reutilization of Assistive Technology focused discussions on national issues affecting AT Reuse. Out of discussions at this Conference, national issues such as: liability, training, transportation, marketing, evaluation, and assuring program sustainability were identified. From a national perspective, Pass It On participants concluded that we need:

...to understand how to define and measure the successes of AT Reuse programs

...information that documents successful models and techniques, provides practical implementation guidelines, establishes quality indicators of “best” or successful practices, and

...to consider possible operational standards and outcome measures.

Finally, the 2006 Conference participants voiced a clear need for:

...developing a thorough knowledge base about the liability, legal, and regulatory issues that impact reutilization of such equipment.