Makers Making a Difference – A Note from a Customer
I am writing to express my gratitude for your Makers Program… for a life-changing, custom-made device.
I am a sixty-some-year-old woman who invested in several battery-operated pieces of lawn equipment… In my effort to reduce pollution, I ended up with several batteries that have to be removed from the equipment, placed on chargers, then removed from the chargers and returned to the equipment…
The particularly unsolvable problem for me was getting those large batteries off the chargers. My hand isn’t large enough to grasp the full width of a battery with the strength to pull it free from the charging dock, and I have both osteoarthritis and lupus arthritis in my hands. The task wasn’t difficult – it was impossible.
Last summer, I came to IATP with one battery and one charger, and [an IATP staff member] made a simple, durable plastic device that slides under the battery and, with minimal pressure, releases it from the charging dock without contacting the pins. Before that, aware of the danger, the only way I could complete this task was to carefully pry the battery loose with a large flathead screwdriver – turning off the power strip first and being careful never to touch the metal pins. Each of these six batteries costs $250 to replace, and I was slowly damaging their plastic casings by prying them loose this way.
I use the device [the IATP staff member] made almost daily through spring, summer, and fall. Every time I do, I quietly thank IATP and [that staff member] for making it possible for me to use the equipment I purchased.
I wish the whole world knew about the Makers Program, and about this device specifically… That small piece of custom-made plastic is the only thing standing between me and the independence to care for my two-acre property. I’ve always said that when I can no longer take care of this property, I’ll move. So, truly, that piece of plastic is the only thing keeping me in my home.
I don’t have the words to express my gratitude. Thank you, and your staff, for this lift-up to continued independence.
Sincerely,
Sharon M
How the Ruby Device Restored My Mom’s Independence – A Note from a Customer
Thank you so much for the Ruby. Here’s a pic of my mom using it to read a store receipt. My mom is so grateful to have this device. It gave her back some independence she’d lost. One example is that she doesn’t have to ask or wait on me to read her the expiration dates on her food packages anymore. The Ruby allows her to read whatever she wants without waiting for help. The adjustable magnification has been the best feature for her rapidly changing eyesight.
Regards,
Wendy G. on behalf of Joanne S.
Navigating Benefits and Building Independence
A beneficiary receiving Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits contacted WIPA for help understanding how her employment would affect her benefits over time. Through individualized benefits counseling, the Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) helped her begin tracking her Trial Work Period and developed a plan to prepare for the next stage of employment.
The benefits analysis also revealed that the beneficiary would face a substantial Medicaid spenddown. The CWIC identified Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) as a significantly more affordable healthcare option and provided guidance on pursuing this coverage.
Looking ahead, the CWIC identified that the beneficiary may qualify for the Subsidy and Special Conditions work incentive after her Trial Work Period ends. The CWIC helped her understand how supports she receives on the job may reduce the earnings Social Security counts when evaluating her continued eligibility for cash benefits.
Without the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counseling, the beneficiary may not have known about the more affordable Medicaid option or the work incentives available to support her continued employment. She now has a clear, proactive plan for navigating changes to both her cash and healthcare benefits. This support has equipped her to make informed employment decisions, maintain essential healthcare coverage, and pursue greater financial independence with confidence.
Bridging the Gap: How Assistive Technology Helped an Auto Technician Return to Work
As we age, our bodies gradually wear out, and activities that once weren’t difficult become just that. For Thor, an auto technician with a 40-year work history, that time came far too soon. Post-operative complications following a total knee replacement left him unable to complete standing-to-floor transitions, which are necessary to ensure safe vehicle placement on floor jacks. Because he could not go from standing to lying on the floor (and vice versa) 40 to 60 times a day, he could no longer work as an auto technician. Thor was then moved to a different division in his workplace where he took a significant pay cut.
Thor’s DRS counselor made a referral to IATP’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program. He was evaluated at his workplace for solutions to help him return to work as an auto technician. The only possible solution found (through Thor’s own research) was a device called the “Human Hoist.” This battery-powered device would take Thor from sitting to a fully reclined position (on his back) with the touch of a button in a matter of seconds. He could then roll around on the device to reach the perfect access point for positioning each jack arm under a vehicle, then raise himself back up to a seated position the same way. The problem was the device’s prohibitive cost; Thor felt he had no chance of obtaining it.
After the comprehensive assistive technology evaluation was completed and no other alternative solutions were found, the Human Hoist was purchased for him using funds from IATP’s Open-Ended Loan (OEL) Program. When Thor received this device at his workplace, plans to return him to his position as an auto-mechanic began immediately. Thor is beyond grateful to IATP and the OEL Program for making it possible for him to return to the work he was born to do.
Reclaiming My Life – A Note from a Customer
I’m Jared. I am a 27-year-old paraplegic. I have been paralyzed since May of 2022, due to a motor vehicle accident. Prior to my Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), I was very heavily involved in the agriculture industry. Due to my car accident, I was unable to participate with the majority of tasks on the farm because of my mobility issues and not being able to navigate the terrain safely in my wheelchair. It was crushing to face this reality of not being able to do the things that I loved to do. I was planning to attain a career in the agriculture industry. Since my car accident, I have changed paths and I am going to school for mechanical engineering technology. Thanks to the Firefly [an attachment that transforms a standard manual wheelchair into an all-terrain, motorized three-wheeler], I am now able to navigate all around the farm doing some of the tasks I used to be able to do. The Firefly also allows me to get around my college campus effectively and very efficiently. The Firefly has truly been a life changing device.
Working From Home with the Right Equipment
Paul was experiencing vision loss, blurred vision, and disorientation, which affected his balance and put him at risk for falls. As a result, he could not return to his previous line of work and sought a job he could do from home, using his computer knowledge
to pursue remote employment opportunities.
An IATP Assistive Technology Specialist recommended various computer and vision devices that would help Paul work effectively from home. Through IATP’s partnership with the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), IATP provided
Paul the equipment he needed through their Open-Ended Loan program.
“I will be able to do everything from this one place, and my magnifier will help me see behind me when someone comes into my home office, so this stuff is amazing.”