OUR STORIES ProjectSTART 2010 ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.....................................3 OUR STORIES...................................4-16 PHOTO GALLERY..............................18-21 STATISTICS..................................22-23 INTRODUCTION In January of 2006, the Project START Advisory Council invited me to be a part of this team because I am Jason's mom. Jason suffers from Duchenne, Muscular Dystrophy. He is now 23, and the progressive nature of this disease requires an ongoing process for our family to frequently review what type of assistive technology is needed to make Jason's life better. My personal experiences have forged an interest in finding and providing support solutions for people with disabilities to make full use of Assistive Technology. I understand the difficulties that arise when it comes to the implementation of Assistive Technology, but also understand the abundant benefits that the use of Assistive Technology can provide. Mississippi's Project START offers lending libraries, refurbishing programs, training and demonstrations, and the placement of computers in the homes of those with disabilities. Our 2010 annual report specifically addresses the services delivered. Lack of funding often creates a barrier to providing Assistive Technology. Mississippi Project START staff (under the direction of DorothyYoung), along with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation staff (under the direction of Butch McMillan) tenaciously pursue funding through partnerships and grants. “Empowering Mississippians with disabilities through awareness, education and access to assistive technology is the mission of the Project START Advisory Council. I am proud to be associated with the Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Project START staff, the Project START Advisory team and this mission. Darlene Oliver Co-Chair of the Project START Advisory Team To Project START, My brother, Michael Warren, has been visually impaired since 2006. In November, 2008, we contacted Dorothy Young from PROJECT START / Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. She discussed the program they offer in regards to loaning out their equipment. We completed the necessary paperwork and were loaned the Pico Pocket Video Magnifier with the carry case and power cord. Michael used the magnifier for a couple of months and it was returned back to PROJECT START in April, 2009. However, this gave Michael the opportunity to use the equipment on a trial basis offer to determine if it would be beneficial for him to purchase that product in the future. The Pico Pocket Video Magnifier did an outstanding job; however, Michael discovered that the portable Amigo low vision portable electronic magnifier was better fitted for his specific needs and that is what he currently owns at this time. We both agree that the PROJECT START program offering equipment and assistance for the visually impaired is a wonderful idea! There are so many different options and choices to decide on and it could dramatically change the lives of the visually impaired in such a powerful and productive way! Sincerely, Karen Smith Jackson State University View It is a pleasure each year to have Project Start provide a training for our students in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication course at Jackson State University. The students are exposed to hands on experiences with a variety of low, mid, and high tech devices that you bring from your inventory each year. This is a valuable resource for my course and the students. Your interactive presentation allows them to link their academic knowledge to application. Your services are appreciated each year and we look forward to continuing to partner with you as we advance knowledge and services for those with severe communication impairments who need AAC. Thank you, Marisha Speights M.S. CCC-SLP Instructor/Clinical Super I was introduced to Dorothy Young of Project Start about 3 years ago through my MDRS counselor, David Greene. I was working on a recording project and my computer crashed. I explained my situation to Dorothy and the urgency I was facing to get the project finished. Within a few days she had loaned me a computer and she let me keep it until MDRS could get me a new one. Now I'm working on getting my certification as a computer technician and need computers to practice on, take parts out and put back together, and Dorothy has donated three computers to me for this purpose. They have the latest assistive technology available for loan at Project Start, and Dorothy is the go-to person for these things. Sincerely. Adrian Hester , Madison, MS Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS Speech Therapist Mr. M was a 64 year old who suffered a stroke. When he began outpatient therapy he was independent with mobility, and he required OT services for strengthening, endurance, and fine motor control. His biggest concerns focused on his communication which was greatly impaired. He was able to answer yes/no questions appropriately, but he had no intelligible spontaneous speech. Project START was utilized for communication device trials. I selected 3 communication devices to utilize in therapy to determine their appropriateness. The devices were used for one week in therapy and the most appropriate device was determined to be the DynaVox V. I returned the other loaned devices, but kept the DynaVox V to continue to train and practice with during therapy while the funding and ordering process occurred. At the end of the loan term, the DynaVox was returned to Project START, and Mr. M is now a functional communicator with family and in the community with his own communication device! Project START is a wonderful resource for therapists, families, and teachers. I have utilized their services often with my patients (mostly for communication device loaners). When getting devices loaned from other companies, the wait time can be weeks. Project START is convenient, and I can get devices immediately for use. I feel that I have better outcomes with my patients who are able to have an extended evaluation/trial period with devices and with those patients who are able to use loaned devices during the funding and ordering process which can take up to two months. Heather Wise, M.S., CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist Methodist Rehabilitation Center Dear Ms. Young: I wanted to personally thank you for the difference you made in my life. In January this year the unexpected happened to me. I had a head a on collision that turned my world upside down. I have always been a very independent person, even as a child. Being incapacitated due to the accident was a blow physically as well as emotionally. Having a wheelchair provided through your service helped me to maintain dignity because I was once again able to do things for myself. For my daughter, who is a girl scout, it made all the difference in the world. She had a performance that she was invited to do at the Jackson Heart Study. There was no way I could have attended the performance without a wheelchair. It is not just a question of mobility that makes me so thankful. I learned that even if someone assists you in getting around, there is a considerably greater amount of pain involved when you are injured and you don't have the proper assistive devices. Thanks to you and the wheelchair you provided, those days were short lived for me. It is wonderful to know that there are caring individuals like you who are willing to heed the call for so many people in need. Thank you so much. YOU MADE THE DIFFERENCE!!!. Sincerely Sharon Henderson Hi, my name is Corey Ladner. I am currently attending Pearl River Community College. A few months ago, my scooter broke down on me and I was without a scooter until I got in touch with Project Start. Project Start was able to loan me one of their scooters until I was able to get a new scooter. Without Project Start, I would have had trouble getting around campus to get to all my classes. It wasn't long after I contacted Project Start, they came to my college and gave me the scooter and told me that I would most likely be able to use it for as long as I needed to. I appreciate Project Start very much for them loaning me a Scooter to help me get to and from my dorm to my classes. Project START is a great program. I, Cindy Singletary, an Independent Living Specialist at LIFE of Mississippi had a consumer who was in great need of a modified bath seat. He, Ronald C., was a 11-year old boy who has severe Cerebral Palsy. I referred his guardian to Project START. I placed an internal referral on April 2, 2010. On June 2nd, I was notified that Project START would be meeting with him on June 10th. I spoke with Ronald's mother on June 22nd, and she was elated. She stated that everything went great on the 10th. The bath seat was just what they needed. They were very happy Mrs. Dorothy Young: I am an exceptional education teacher with students who have speech and language difficulties. It was brought to my attention that Project Start has the software program 'Board Maker' which would allow me to create templates for communication/conversation between my students and myself. I created several templates based on stories we were going to read, as well as, shapes and numbers for math. One of my students used the template/pictures to answer who, what, when, and where questions during story time. The software program has allowed all of my students to participate in various language and mathematic activities throughout the school year. The templates were actual pictures of characters from each of the stories; representations of words; numbers; colors; and shapes. There is no greater joy than seeing a child who normally would not be able to participate in class, suddenly realize she has the tools needed to answer questions. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to include all my students in the language and mathematics curriculum. Sincerely, Diana Pace, Exceptional Education Teacher Walton Elementary 3200 Bailey Avenue - The address of Excellence! Dear Director Young: Once again, I must extend my sincere appreciation for the support that you have provided for three years, to budding educators. A number of individual constructs account for the growing diversity in the student population. Due in part to legal mandates, evolving research-based practices and a growing national emphasis on the basic civil rights of individuals with disabilities; a wider array of learning differences and styles are present in all aspects of life (academic and non-academic). I often remind my students that they can choose what they will teach and where they will teach, but they cannot choose who they will teach, to any degree of certainty. As such, they need to be prepared to teach all children. With regards to the special education population, assistive technology is a critical pedagogical mechanism/area of study that must be included in their repertoire of professional skills. The level of professionalism, commitment, cooperation and expertise that you have extended to my students and I is laudable, to say the least. You, your colleagues, and organization in its entirety provide my students with access to authentic experiences and tools of the trade. I doubt if there is another facility in the state of Mississippi that could rival The Addie McBride Center and the services that are rendered. I look forward to working with you again next semester. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Sincerely, Dr. Tracy Knight Lackey Cc: Dr. Ruby Wiggins, Chair Project Start has been invaluable this year in several vocational rehabilitation efforts. Providing Adrian with computer hardware to help him in preparation for Microsoft certification testing has been a great assist. LVA and computer hardware assistance to Ashley and Marquita has helped them stay current in their studies at Hinds CC. Thank you for your assistance and expediting requests that have positively impacted these OVRB cases. Sincerely, David Greene Sr. Counselor, OVRB To Whom It May Concern, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Project Start for allowing me to access the assistive technology devices I needed to assist my child with his communication concerns. As the parent of a child who has transitioned into adulthood, I have used several different devices to assist my child. Project Start has always allowed me to borrow a device to confirm if it would be suitable before I would consider purchasing it. I currently have a device that I have borrowed to enhance his communication and I am pleased with it. Project Start and the staff are always pleasant and helpful and it has always been a great experience to work with this organization. Sincerely, Gwen Brown Administrative Coordinator The Arc of Mississippi Project Start has been very helpful to the students and teachers in the Clinton Public School district. Most recently six of our teachers attended a full day workshop that reviewed different types of assistive technology. The conference played an important roll in our district goal of better educating our IEP committee members in order to make more informed decisions with regard to considering assistive technology for each student/IEP. In addition, the regular training sessions from the DynaVox and Prentke Romich companies for teachers and parents is invaluable. Project coordinator, Dorothy Young, serves as a much needed resource contact. In the last few weeks, she has helped me with information for a visually impaired student in our district. In the fall, I will be getting some devices that she has recommended on loan from Project Start. The loaner program will allow the student to preview different devices to determine what works best for him. As a result, my district will save money because we will purchase equipment that we know will work for him and that he will use. Lisa Oswalt, M.S.P., CCC-S Language/Speech Pathologist Assistive Technology Coordinator Clinton Public Schools My son, Elijah, has hydrocephalus and is developmentally delayed. Because of the weight of his head, he needs extra support when sitting in a stroller. We ordered a stroller from Medicaid and when we got it, it was too large for him but could not be returned or exchanged. Since we had already gotten one, we could not order another. So we were stuck with a stroller we could not use and did not have one to help Elijah. Then we heard of Project START. Not only did they have the perfect stroller for Elijah, but I was able to donate the other one to help others who might need it. I am grateful to Project START every time we go somewhere and use that stroller and have a happy, comfortable son instead of an uncomfortable, unhappy one! A grateful mom, Teresa Dear Ms. Young: On behalf of Ms. Pairlee Washington, I would like to thank your organization on providing a stroller to help her granddaughter, Nicolle, become easier to transport. She has truly enjoyed having this to help her when she travels and Nicole likes the fact she can relax and enjoy the scenery. Ms. Pairlee has stated this stroller is much easier to handle and carry around than Nicolle's mechanical wheelchair. I hope to bring more clients to your attention in the future to help them move toward a more mobile life. Thanks, Teresa E. Thomas Special Education Teacher/Transition Coordinator I am so grateful for this program, because it has allowed me the ability to get around. I'm unable to walk at the present time but with the help of the wheelchair I can get around. When I called Project START I was amazing at how fast they provided me with a wheelchair and transfer board. I have been dealing with a lot of issues and almost always being caught between the cracks, so whenever help is provided in these times of need I appreciate it very much. God has been great through out this whole journey. God has also led me to Project START. This program is great and I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks and God Bless Rita Maxwell Dear Ms. Young: Pearl River Community College (PRCC), Mississippi's first public two-year institution of higher learning, has always been a leader in providing quality education. PRCC continues that tradition with a focus on the success of our students, especially the increased number of students with disabilities enrolling in higher education. This letter is in strong support of Mississippi Project START. The Mississippi Project START program has provided professional development and training for our faculty and administrative staff regarding the needs of people with disabilities, including the latest in assistive technology. For those of us in the educational arena, Project START is the most valuable resource that I have found regarding technical assistance. We have also had an opportunity in the past to partner with Project START for public awareness seminars. However, this year Project START stepped up in a most unexpected way for one of our students. A student who uses a power scooter for mobility had his scooter quit working during the middle of the Spring Semester. The PRCC Campus is a rather large and sprawling campus and although this student was living in the dormitory, he had no way to get to his required classes or the cafeteria while waiting on his scooter to be repaired. A call was made to Project START and within days, the student was loaned a power scooter through the Equipment Exchange Program. If it were for Project START, this student would have been forced to drop out of college and lose a semester of classes. I have worked very closely with the Mississippi Project START program and I am enthusiastically supportive of this program. Project START is the catalyst to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, especially in promoting independence and opportunities for further education and I will continue to work with and assist Project START in any way possible. Sincerely, Tonia L. Moody, M.S., C.V.E. Director of Recruitment and Disability Services I have used the AAC loaner system from Project Start this past year with my home health patient who was in the end stages of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). She had virtually no speech due to the rapid progression of her disease. Frustration was a frequent problem for her as well as her family members as she attempted to gesture with limited mobility. I used a loaner Tech-Speak 32 from Project Start for her, and it greatly enhanced her ability to communicate. At first, she was able to communicate by pressing the keyboard, but soon had to revert to scanning with a tap switch to access the device. Because of the rapid regression in symptoms, she would probably have missed communicating for weeks or even most of the last few months of her life if we had attempted to order the device through regular Medicare channels. I know her family and I are both so grateful for the loaner program at Project START. The staffs are friendly and helpful, and the ability to borrow a device to try with a patient has been a great asset to me in home health speech pathology. Thanks for being such a blessing! Carolyn K. Lyon, MA-CCC-SLP Gilbert's Home Health Flowood, MS Dear Project START, I would just like to say thank you for all your help. The devices I have borrowed from your program have been invaluable. I am a Speech Pathologist at a small non-profit preschool for special needs children. We do not have the resources to purchase a large variety of assistive technology, but many of my students are non -verbal and have no way to communicate when they come to our school. Being able to borrow communication devices from Project START enables me to evaluate their abilities and determine what best works before going to the expense of having the family purchase a device that may not be appropriate. I am always amazed at how much the students begin to interact with everyone in their environment once they realize they are able to communicate. Thank you again for the wonderful service you provide. Sincerely, Terri Kennedy Speech Pathologist Little Light House School Number of Device Demonstrations by Device Type Vision 214 Hearing 78 Speech communication 568 Learning, cognition and developmental 124 Mobility, seating and positioning 175 Daily living 67 Environmental adaptations 3 Vehicle modification and transportation 84 Computers and related 74 Recreation, sports and leisure 124 TOTAL 1,512 Types of Participants in Device Demonstrations Individuals with disabilities 675 Family members/guardians 78 Representatives of Education 568 Representatives of Employment 57 Representatives of Health and Rehabilitation 87 Representatives of Community Living 451 Representatives of Technology 24 TOTAL 1940 Number of Referrals Funding source (non-AT program) 521 Service provider 185 Vendor 362 Repair service 75 TOTAL 1,143 Types of Devices Loaned Vision 126 Hearing 38 Speech communication 104 Learning, cognition and developmental 71 Mobility, seating and positioning 54 Daily living 12 Environmental adaptations 5 Computers and related 15 Recreation, sports and leisure 31 TOTAL 456 Number of Device Loans by Type of Borrower Individuals with disabilities 261 Family members/guardians 68 Representatives of Education 53 Representatives of Employment 41 Representatives of Health and Rehabilitation 10 Representatives of Community Living 13 Representatives of Technology 9 TOTAL 455 Short-Term Device Loans by Type of Purpose Assist in decision making 391 Loaner during device repair or while waiting for funding 49 Provide an accommodation on a short-term basis 15 TOTAL 1,143