WATF NEWS
WASHINGTON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION
Fall 2006

IN THIS ISSUE
A WATF BORROWER HELPS OTHERS REGAIN INDEPENDENCE
WITH A WATF LOAN THE PICTURE IS CLEAR
WHAT’S NEW AT THE WATF ACCESS FUND
WATF NUMBERS
REPORT ON DISABILITY
WATF WORKSHOP SERIES

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Save the Date!
WATF’s Wine & Cheese is in MARCH this year.
March 24th, 2007

Kevin Berg says that one of his hobbies is pushing his limits. When he was born with cerebral palsy, doctors gave his family a grim prognosis, claiming that he would not be intelligent, able to talk, or operate a wheelchair. Kevin’s life has proved them wrong time and time again. At age 32, Kevin has 2 bachelor’s degrees, has published a book, and makes motivational presentations. He enjoys spending time with his wife Melinda, his daughter Gabriella, and nephew Zachary.

Kevin uses a power wheelchair for mobility, which he says he drives, “better than many people drive a car.” Kevin came to WATF for a loan this summer because his 8 year old wheelchair was “on its last wheel.” After a 3 year struggle, Kevin’s insurance agreed to replace the chair, but when Kevin asked for an elevating seat and a headlight, they were deemed “luxury items” and the insurance company would not cover them. Kevin experienced the improvements an elevating seat made during a wheelchair test drive, and knew it was something he needed, so he came to WATF for a loan.

The elevating seat has made a dramatic difference in Kevin’s life. Being able to talk to people face to face has increased his confidence, and people treat him with more dignity and respect. “It is simply amazing!  I can see things I've never seen before.” He can reach items on high shelves, and his wife does not have to bend over to assist him in personal care tasks.

The difficulties they experienced in funding Kevin’s new chair inspired the Bergs to start an organization of their own, the Access Life Foundation. Through the foundation, Kevin and Melinda are working to help other people with disabilities access life by providing equipment such as wheelchairs and modified vehicles. “We want to reach those that can't even afford monthly payments for a loan,” Kevin explained. To raise money for the Access Life Foundation, Kevin set to work defying one more prognosis that doctors had made in his early years. They said that he would never walk. But with the help of family and friends, Kevin walked a mile around a track as a fundraiser for the Access Life Foundation. It took a grueling 11 hours, but when Kevin delivered a wheelchair to the foundation’s first recipient, he knew that the walk was completely worthwhile.

On September 24th, the Access Life foundation donated its first wheelchair to Charles Hernandez of Des Moines, WA. Kevin was deeply moved by Charles’ situation. Like Kevin, Charles is a father, but his ability to interact with his daughter had been greatly limited by his injuries and lack of a power wheelchair that he could operate independently. Now, Charles has a power chair with seat elevator. Kevin’s description of the moments after Charles received his new chair demonstrates the immense benefits of access to assistive technology. “Quite literally, after 30 minutes of being in the chair, dreams and ideas came pouring out of him as he realized all the new possibilities in front of him!”
To learn more about the Access Life Foundation visit www.accesslifefoundation.org. 

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WITH A WATF LOAN THE PICTURE IS CLEAR

Becky Bell is a talented artist and active member of her community. She has been creating pottery for over 15 years at Pottery Northwest. She also enjoys drawing. Becky loves the outdoors and is a frequent participant in SKIFORALL and Ski for Light events. Becky also is an active member of the Washington Council of the Blind, where she has learned a great deal about group dynamics and leadership. Becky has degrees in speech communications from the University of Washington and business from Highline Community College.

Becky reads large print, and is also an assistive technology user. “I could hardly imagine living without a CCTV of some kind,” said Becky. A CCTV is a device that magnifies printed material on a TV screen. CCTV help people with vision loss perform many daily tasks. Becky relied on her old CCTV for basic activities, such as paying bills, writing checks and reading her mail and church materials.

Then Becky’s old CCTV, purchased in 1981, began to fail. The picture was graying around the edges, and using the unit was causing Becky to experience eye strain. She thought she would just have to save money until she could afford a new CCTV, which would take a long time on her fixed income. But luckily, she was able to find a demo CCTV for a lower price than a new unit.

Becky remembered hearing about WATF at Washington Council of the Blind events.  WCB offers zero interest equipment loans for its members through a program managed by WATF. WCB members apply through WATF’s normal process. A large print copy of the WATF loan application was the last thing Becky read on her old CCTV. Becky appreciated the individualized attention she received during the application process. WATF staff helped her identify other useful resources in the community.

Becky’s loan was approved, and she is thrilled with her new CCTV. Not only is the picture clear and reliable, but the new unit is in color, while her old unit was in black and white. As an artist, Becky is thrilled with the close-up views she can now get of colored objects such as coins and postcards. She is looking forward to trying drawing using the new CCTV. She can read labels on cans and bottles, use the phone book, and is planning to read a novel. Friends and family even notice the difference the new CCTV has made for Becky. When she addresses letters using the CCTV, she gets compliments on her small, neat handwriting.

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WHAT’S NEW AT THE WATF ACCESS FUND

WATF’s 1st Annual Borrower Survey Confirms Access to AT Improves Lives
Ninety-three percent of respondents in WATF’s First Annual Borrower Survey report that the technology they purchased with a low interest loan from WATF resulted in a strong or very strong improvement in their ability to play important life roles.  Respondents reported improved ability to participate in community activities (85%), and greater enjoyment of these activities (86%).  Eighty-eight percent reported strong or very strong impact on their ability to interact with friends and loved ones.

Big gains also were reported in education, employment and financial status.  100% of those who obtained AT to further their education reported improvements in their ability to participate in learning activities.  A relatively small percentage of WATF’s borrowers are employed but those who are reported a strong or very strong improvement in productivity and performance in the workplace (70%).  100% of respondents engaged in self employment reported improved sales or ability to expand business and 83% reported strong or very strong improvements in productivity.

Overall, 67% of all respondents reported some degree of improvement in their net worth and 70% reported improved abilities to manage debt.  WATF thanks its borrowers and volunteers, Gayle Kahled and Anee Brar, for the many hours devoted to survey design and data analysis.

WATF is Hiring
Are you personable, organized and detail oriented?  Interested in micro lending as a strategy to improve access to technology for people with disabilities?  WATF is recruiting candidates for the position of Assistive Technology Loan Officer.  Please submit a resume and cover letter describing relevant background and experience to Andrea Dimond at: andrea@watf.org.  This 80% (32 hr/wk) position is open until filled with a salary $25,000-$32,000 depending  upon qualifications.  Please click her for more information on the AT Loan Officer position.

WATF Transitions
This summer, we said good-bye to Assistive Technology Loan Program Coordinator, Mia Lipner, who left WATF to join the Seattle office of the Department of Services for the Blind and VISTA Volunteer Erin Lauridsen who completed her year of service at the end of August.  We wish both Mia and Erin all the best and thank them for their many contributions. 

We welcomed Nathan Dufault – a University of Washington student and accounting major, and Kelli Welter, our new VISTA volunteer.  Nathan quickly made himself indispensable – helping with every aspect of our move to a new office.  Kelli also has jumped into a variety of projects with enthusiasm including the development of several new resource lists.

We also bid farewell to Board members, Brian Dudgeon, U.W. School of Medicine and Tony Oliver of Microsoft – both of whom contributed many hours and much expertise to the development of WATF’s loan programs!  Thank you Brian and Tony!  New member, Ron Adams, Community Development Block Grant Manager for Kitsap County, will join the Board in November.

You’re invited - Open House for the Wheelchair Project
Wheels for the Developing World - November 9, 2006  Did you know that only one percent of people with mobility disabilities in the developing world have access to wheelchairs, and the great majority of these do not meet their seating needs?  WATF is the Fiscal Agent for a newly forming nonprofit that uses e-technology and local resources to build and design appropriate and affordable ($250 per chair) wheelchairs for the developing world.  Join us 7:00pm @ HomeStreet Bank (Wedgwood ), 8200 35th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
RSVP at 206.328.5116 or thewheelchairproject@watf.org.

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WATF Numbers

76                 # of Loans
$184,718    $ Outstanding
$282,591    Total $ Loaned
99%             Repayment Rate
$3,718         Average Loan Size

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REPORT ON DISABILITY CONFIRMS CONTINUING DISPARITIES IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
According to a new report published by the Washington State Department of Health and U.W. Center on Disability Policy and Research, approximately 934,000 Washington residents five years of age and older (14.3% of the population) have a disability.  As a community, this population is more than twice as likely as individuals without disabilities to live in poverty (19% vs 9%).  The largest disparity in poverty rates exists among individuals 21 to 64 years of age (22% vs 8% for individuals without disabilities.)  People with disabilities also are much less likely to be employed (49% vs 75% for individuals without disabilities) and to report that their participation in “work, school, caring for the home, recreation or social contact with friends and family was limited (55% vs. 7% for those without disabilities).  Overall, the report finds that “[d]isability-related disparities in income, employment, education, social participation, health and life satisfaction persist in the Washington State population.  Addressing these disparities . . . is an important task for public health and other public and private sector agencies.” Click here to find the entire report on the Department of Health Website.

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WATF Workshop Series

DO YOU WANT TO OWN A BUSINESS?
Seattle: Nov. 30th 10:30pm-12:30pm
Tacoma: Nov. 29th 4:30pm-6:30pm

WHERE TO FIND START UP BUSINESS FUNDING
Seattle: Dec. 5th 2:00pm-4:00pm
Tacoma: Dec. 6th 4:30pm-6:30pm
SAVVY SAVING
Seattle: Dec. 12th 10:00 am-12:00pm

AVOIDING BANKRUPTCY & IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT
Seattle: Dec. 14th 2:00pm-4:00pm

Click here for more information about WATF's Fall Workshop Series.

INDEPENDENCE IS PRICELESS. WE MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
The Washington Assistive Technology Foundation seeks to improve the socio-economic circumstances of people with disabilities through access to technology and by providing affordable credit to help people with disabilities live independently; to succeed at school, at work, and at play; and to participate fully in civic and community activities.

NEW ADDRESS!
WATF Access Fund
100 South King Street, Ste. 280
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206.328.5116
Toll Free:  1.800.214.8731
TTY: 1.866.866.0162
Fax: 206.328.5126
E-mail: info@watf.org