TECH-REACH: A Rehabilitation Technology Information Exchange. Final Report.

N

148

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (ED), Washington, DC.

Assistive Devices (for Disabled); Disabilities; Federal Programs; Information Dissemination; Information Services; Information Systems; Models; Needs Assessment; Rehabilitation; Technology

TECH-REACH, a federally funded rehabilitation technology information exchange program, serves New York City and some surrounding areas. Its mission is to improve the delivery of technology information and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and the professionals who serve them. The information exchange has gathered and maintained information from various sources including print, microcomputer-based, and online systems. A technology demonstration center, along with a video and print library including a computerized bulletin board system, was made available. The project also evaluated the technology applications that resulted from the information system and disseminated the information exchange model to programs in other communities. TECH-REACH's role as a federally funded Regional Technology Center for the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) program has involved developing and analyzing consumer and employer needs surveys regarding assistive technology devices, providing awareness training, and providing assessments regarding appropriate assistive devices. Appendices contain a list of vendors of rehabilitation technology products, copies of 13 fact sheets produced by TECH-REACH, lists of library holdings, statistical data from the need surveys, a report of a paper titled "TECH-REACHes to Technology for Answers" by Saundra Berman, and project administration materials. (JDD)

1994

ED371500