Expanding Assistive Technology Services in Maine

A Conference hosted by Maine CITE and
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England

Silhouette of people in meetingHeld on Friday, July 24, 2015, Expanding Assistive Technology Services in Maine provided an opportunity to learn more about recent changes to the Maine Care system.

There are new opportunities through Maine Care for therapists and case managers to assist people with disabilities to reach new heights using assistive technology (AT) and services. This new funding helps people get and use AT for communicating, living safely and working productively. The funding opens up opportunities for you to create greater independence in the lives of those you serve.

Presentations Descriptions

Overview of AT Resources & Funding in Maine – Kathy Adams and Kelley McTague
AT can be a powerful tool for people who have disabilities to achieve greater independence and productivity in life. New Maine Care funding opens opportunities for those individuals to get the AT they need. This session will highlight Maine’s AT resources and new funding for AT.

Technology for Enhanced Communication – Linda Bonnar
This session will explore the key elements of communication assessment and the broad range of communication technology from low-tech strategies to high tech devices. The use of tablets and common apps will be reviewed.

AT for Living in the Community – Ketra S. Crosson
This session will explore how AT can be essential in assisting adults to live in their community safely and independently. Many types of AT devices and solutions will be discussed: AT for personal ADLs, home access and safety, personal care/medical management AT resources and funding options will be provided.

Smart Home Technology –  Meg Dexter
Home Automation and Home Remote Support Monitoring Technology can assist people with disabilities enhance their support system to increase independence and safety. As providers it is important to always be thinking about how we can provide quality services in the least restrictive environment while remaining safe. This session will open your eyes to the possibilities of technology to do this.

Presenters Bios

Kathy Adams OTL, ATP – Maine CITE Director – Kathy is an Occupational Therapist and certified AT Professional. Kathy was a senior manager at Alpha One and is now the Director of Maine CITE, the state’s Assistive Technology (AT) Program. Through Maine CITE Kathy works in collaboration with many Maine AT providers to promote access and the acquisition of AT in Maine. She has done many workshops in Maine and nationally on AT for home access, community living, education and employment as well funding strategies. Kathy serves in the Maine OT License Board, the Maine Care Advisory Committee, and the Maine AT Consortia.

Linda Bonnar, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP – Linda has been with Pine Tree Society since 1996 and is the Director of Communication Pathways Program. Linda works with individuals with profound cognitive and physical challenges as well as those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. She works extensively with high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users both in programming and training the person and their team to use the AT device.

Linda is credentialed as an AT Practitioner by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). She attends international conferences yearly in the areas of AAC and AT, and provides interdisciplinary services with the primary provider team to effectively meet the individual’s communication needs.

Ketra S. Crosson, OTR/L – Ketra is an Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of experience providing independent living services to people with disabilities in Maine. She has worked for 24 years at Alpha One as an Independent Living Specialist. Ketra provides IL services including adapted driver evals, home access, independent living assessment and training, AT consultation for home and worksite.

Meg Dexter – Meg is the Senior Program Director at The Charlotte White Center in Dover Foxcroft, ME. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and has worked in the social services field for 30 years. She has worked with children in the corrections, child care, Head Start, as an Ed Tech in the school systems, as a case manager for adults with intellectual disabilities and as a Residential Director. Through The Charlotte White Center she led a successful pilot project using Home Automation and Home Remote Monitoring technology and services.

Kelley McTague, COTA/L, ATP – Kelley is currently the Program Manager for Assistive Technology Services at Goodwill Industries of Northern New England in Augusta, Me. She is a COTA/L and ATP certified. She worked as an Independent Living Specialist and Regional Manager for Maine’s Independent Living Center for 17 years, was an assessor for the AgrAbility Maine Project serving farmers with disabilities meet their Assistive Technology needs and currently sits on the AgrAbility Advisory Board. She was a Residential Program Manager for Goodwill for 3 years. She also co-chairs the State of Maine Brain Injury Advisory Council.

Gary F. Wolcott is the Director of the State Office of Aging & Disability Services (OADS) within Maine DHHS. He served as the Associate Director for Care & Intervention for the OADS since the office was established in 2012. In that role he supervised Adult Protective Services, Developmental Services, Brain Injury Services and the Quality Management Team. Wolcott has participated in a number of DHHS strategic initiatives to achieve more effective and efficient services for persons with disabilities. Wolcott started working for Maine DHHS as the Program Manager for Brain Injury Services in 2007.

Wolcott has a Master’s in Community Mental Health Counseling with more than 35 years of experience creating and managing community-based programs for elders and persons with disabilities. In 1994 Gary lead the development and operation of Maine’s first community-based neurobehavioral program for persons with brain injuries and directed residential brain injury services at Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.

Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors for their support. All of these Sponsors will have a table at the conference…please stop by and thank them!

< Return to TRAINING