Missouri Assistive Technology Designates New Demo Site at LAMP Campus
Missouri Assistive Technology will bring an array of assistive technology to its newly designated “demo site” at the Digital Services and Support Center at the LAMP campus in the heart of Kansas City’s historic eastside. KC Digital Drive helps communities expand their participation in digital life to better navigate the future, and the Digital Services and Support Support Center (DSSC) is a place-based approach to making Kansas City a digital leader, helping to expand community organizations’ capacity to help clients access and participate in digital life.
We continue to build out a variety of resources available to community partners and campus patrons, and we welcome the opportunity to support organizations who serve people with disabilities and those who frequent our LAMP Campus office’s computer lab and digital skills classes that can now openly engage with the latest assistive tech equipment provided by Missouri Assistive Technology.
What is Assistive Technology? The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATiA) states that Assistive Technology (AT) is “any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.” AT goes beyond digital inclusion to encompass any tool used to assist with everyday functions. But this partnership has a specific aim to provide awareness and opportunities for individuals of all ages to work with trained staff to facilitate their participation in digital life related to accessing the computer and/or other devices. For more information on the array of available AT, go to ExploreAT.net or check out the MOAT website.
The AT Demo Site will feature equipment that helps users more easily access and navigate a computer, and includes things like – large print or color-coded keyboards, ergonomic-designed mouse, a joystick or trackball, a ‘HeadMouse’ that lets your head movement control the cursor, and more.
MoAT aims to provide awareness and opportunities for organizations serving individuals of all ages to work with trained staff to facilitate their participation in digital life regardless of age or ability. For more information on different types of AT, visit ExploreAT.net or MOAT website.
Join us for a special Open House event to celebrate the launch of our Demo Site on August 15th, 2024 from 3:00-5:00 PM. Click here for more information.
About Missouri Assistive Technology and Other Programs
Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) is Missouri’s federally funded 21st Century Assistive Technology Act Program. The mission of MoAT is to increase access to and acquisition of AT and related services. At home, work, school or play, assistive technology provides choice, opportunity, and independence. Programs and services of Missouri Assistive Technology are directed by the Missouri Assistive Technology Council, which was established by state statute in 1993. The Council is charged to serve as an advocate for policies, regulations and programs to establish a person-responsive, comprehensive AT service delivery system.
Beyond physical equipment, MoAT also has the Telecommunication Access Program (TAP) which provides equipment for qualifying individuals who need assistance sending or receiving phone calls, texts or emails or who have barriers to using the Internet because of a disability. Find details on individual qualifications and the specific programs on the MoAT website. Some of these programs include:
- TAP for Telephone (TAP-T) – access basic voice telephone calling (both sending and receiving) through adaptive telephone equipment (e.g. text telephones, amplified phones, Braille phones, etc.)
- TAP for Internet (TAP-I) – provides adaptive computer equipment necessary for basic access to the internet and e-mail (e.g. screen enlargement software, screen readers, adaptive keyboards, etc.)
- TAP Wireless Pilot – how wireless devices can improve the ability to use telecommunications and communication tools such as e-mail, phone, text, or relay services to become more connected to their friends, families and communities (e.g. iPhone, iPad, Jitterbug, Odin)
Look on their website for the most up-to-date information on what Missouri Assistive Technology has to offer.
Finally, MoAT partners with many sites around the state to demonstrate some of the thousands of AT equipment available to Missourians today. Here is a non-comprehensive list of AT demo sites available in the KC metro:
Statewide Programs
Missouri Assistive Technology (MO)
Address: 1501 NW Jefferson St. Blue Springs, MO 64015
Website: https://at.mo.gov/
Contact Email: Brenda Whitlock – bwhitlock @ mo-at dot org
AT for Kansans (KS AT Resources)
Address: statewide KS
Website: https://atk.ku.edu/ , Disability Rights Center of KS
Contact Email: atkapps @ ku dot edu
Demo Site locations (KC Metro)
Rockhurst Demo Site
Address: St. Ignatius Science Center 5301 Troost Ave Room 111, KCMO
Website: link
Contact Email: Tammy Bruegger – tammy.bruegger @ rockhurst dot edu
KC Digital Drive
Address: 1801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64109
Website: www.kcdigitaldrive.org
Contact Email: Carol Meyers – cmeyers @ kcdigitaldrive dot org
Ability KC
Address: 3011 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
Website: link
Contact Email: Suzie Wiley suzie.wiley @ abilitykc dot org
The Whole Person
Address: 3710 Main St, Kansas City, MO
Website: The Whole Person AT website
Contact Email: info @ thewholeperson dot org
Blind/Low Vision Services: Halley Korff – HKorff @ thewholeperson dot org
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services: Michele Keck – mkeck @ thewholeperson dot org – or Clark Corogenes CCorogenes @ thewholeperson dot org