CSAVR Letters Supporting Passage of 2004 AT Act
August 25, 2004
The Honorable John A. Boehner, Chairman
House Education and the Workforce Committee
United States House of Representatives
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2181
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Boehner,
I am writing on behalf of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) to strongly encourage you to work with your colleagues in the Senate to pass a final assistive technology bill prior to the end of this legislative session. CSAVR is thrilled with the progress that has be made to date on completing this critically important piece of legislation that can so significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities across the country. We commend the House for its unanimous passage of bi-partisan legislation (H.R. 4278) to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act. We have been working with the Senate and are pleased that they have introduced their bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act (S. 2592).
While the programs authorized under the Assistive Technology Act are relatively small in terms of federal dollars (last year’s appropriation was $25.9 million), they have had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is a fundamental tool to overcome functional limitations and other barriers to independence experienced by many individuals with disabilities. In the last 15 years, the use of assistive technology has increased dramatically. There are many reasons for the increase in demand for assistive technology. First, students in special education often rely on assistive technology to participate in educational programming. As these youth transition to adult services, they will need similar technology to assist them in their pursuit of higher education and employment. Second, America’s reliance on an information-based economy has made the use of computers ubiquitous in the workplace. Individuals with disabilities often require additional software or customized assistive technology that enables them to make use of the computer systems that are widely needed to perform in the workplace.
Assistive technology advances have presented new opportunities for individuals with disabilities, opportunities that would not be possible without that technology. While the cost of technology that can be universally used by large segments of the populations has fallen, specialized products that are used by relatively small
The Honorable John A. Boehner, Chairman Page 2
segments of the population, such as individuals with disabilities, remain costly. For example, portable speech synthesizers cost thousands of dollars and have a limited market, yet are vital for individuals with such disabilities as cerebral palsy. At the same time that advances in technology have reduced costs, today’s products become obsolete quickly. Many products need to be updated regularly to make them faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful.
In many instances, the Public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is viewed as the primary source of funding for assistive technology for adults who are seeking to enter, re-enter, maintain or advance in employment. Using assistive technology, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, are able to participate in evaluations and assessments, explore vocational options, and use the resultant information to make informed choices about employment goals. Some State VR agencies report that the number of individuals receiving assistive technology devices and services through VR has doubled in recent years. While the demand for assistive technology products and services has been increasing, funding for the Public VR program has seen no significant increases.
With the House and Senate bill being so similar and with so little time left on the legislative calendar, CSAVR is eager to see a compromise reached so that a final bill can be endorsed by each body without the need for a Conference Committee. CSAVR is particularly pleased that neither the House nor the Senate bill includes the sunset provision in current law and strongly recommends that the final bill not include a sunset provision. CSAVR also strongly recommends that the authorization levels in the final bill be sufficient to ensure a $500,000 minimum allotment for each State Assistive Technology Project and a $150,000 minimum for each territory.
If a bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act is not passed this year, the programs authorized under the Act will remain vulnerable to the elimination of funding in years to come. If a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization bills is not reached, an extremely valuable resource for individuals with disabilities will be lost.
CSAVR looks forward to working with you as this bill moves forward. CSAVR thanks you for your consideration of our views on this bill. If you have any questions about CSAVR’s views on this bill, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Carl Suter
Executive Director
August 25, 2004
The Honorable George Miller, Ranking Member
House Education and the Workforce Committee
United States House of Representatives
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2101
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Ranking Member Miller,
I am writing on behalf of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) to strongly encourage you to work with your colleagues in the Senate to pass a final assistive technology bill prior to the end of this legislative session. CSAVR is thrilled with the progress that has be made to date on completing this critically important piece of legislation that can so significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities across the country. We commend the House for its unanimous passage of bi-partisan legislation (H.R. 4278) to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act. We have been working with the Senate and are pleased that they have introduced their bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act (S. 2592).
While the programs authorized under the Assistive Technology Act are relatively small in terms of federal dollars (last year’s appropriation was $25.9 million), they have had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is a fundamental tool to overcome functional limitations and other barriers to independence experienced by many individuals with disabilities. In the last 15 years, the use of assistive technology has increased dramatically. There are many reasons for the increase in demand for assistive technology. First, students in special education often rely on assistive technology to participate in educational programming. As these youth transition to adult services, they will need similar technology to assist them in their pursuit of higher education and employment. Second, America’s reliance on an information-based economy has made the use of computers ubiquitous in the workplace. Individuals with disabilities often require additional software or customized assistive technology that enables them to make use of the computer systems that are widely needed to perform in the workplace.
Assistive technology advances have presented new opportunities for individuals with disabilities, opportunities that would not be possible without that technology. While the cost of technology that can be universally used by large segments of the populations has fallen, specialized products that are used by relatively small segments of the population, such as individuals with disabilities, remain costly.
The Honorable George Miller, Ranking Member Page 2
August 25, 2004
For example, portable speech synthesizers cost thousands of dollars and have a limited market, yet are vital for individuals with such disabilities as cerebral palsy. At the same time that advances in technology have reduced costs, today’s products become obsolete quickly. Many products need to be updated regularly to make them faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful.
In many instances, the Public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is viewed as the primary source of funding for assistive technology for adults who are seeking to enter, re-enter, maintain or advance in employment. Using assistive technology, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, are able to participate in evaluations and assessments, explore vocational options, and use the resultant information to make informed choices about employment goals. Some State VR agencies report that the number of individuals receiving assistive technology devices and services through VR has doubled in recent years. While the demand for assistive technology products and services has been increasing, funding for the Public VR program has seen no significant increases.
With the House and Senate bill being so similar and with so little time left on the legislative calendar, CSAVR is eager to see a compromise reached so that a final bill can be endorsed by each body without the need for a Conference Committee. CSAVR is particularly pleased that neither the House nor the Senate bill includes the sunset provision in current law and strongly recommends that the final bill not include a sunset provision. CSAVR also strongly recommends that the authorization levels in the final bill be sufficient to ensure a $500,000 minimum allotment for each State Assistive Technology Project and a $150,000 minimum for each territory.
If a bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act is not passed this year, the programs authorized under the Act will remain vulnerable to the elimination of funding in years to come. If a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization bills is not reached, an extremely valuable resource for individuals with disabilities will be lost.
CSAVR looks forward to working with you as this bill moves forward. CSAVR thanks you for your consideration of our views on this bill. If you have any questions about CSAVR’s views on this bill, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Carl Suter
Executive Director
August 25, 2004
The Honorable Judd Gregg, Chairman
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 835
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Gregg,
I am writing on behalf of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) to strongly encourage you to work with your colleagues in the House to pass a final assistive technology bill prior to the end of this legislative session. CSAVR is thrilled with the progress that has be made to date on completing this critically important piece of legislation that can so significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities across the country. We commend the House for its unanimous passage of bi-partisan legislation (H.R. 4278) to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act and we are excited about the bi-partisan bill introduced in the Senate (S. 2592). We really appreciated the opportunity to work with Senate staff as the Senate bill was being developed.
While the programs authorized under the Assistive Technology Act are relatively small in terms of federal dollars (last year’s appropriation was $25.9 million), they have had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is a fundamental tool to overcome functional limitations and other barriers to independence experienced by many individuals with disabilities. In the last 15 years, the use of assistive technology has increased dramatically. There are many reasons for the increase in demand for assistive technology. First, students in special education often rely on assistive technology to participate in educational programming. As these youth transition to adult services, they will need similar technology to assist them in their pursuit of higher education and employment. Second, America’s reliance on an information-based economy has made the use of computers ubiquitous in the workplace. Individuals with disabilities often require additional software or customized assistive technology that enables them to make use of the computer systems that are widely needed to perform in the workplace.
Assistive technology advances have presented new opportunities for individuals with disabilities, opportunities that would not be possible without that technology. While the cost of technology that can be universally used by large segments of the populations has fallen, specialized products that are used by relatively small segments of the population, such as individuals with disabilities, remain costly. For example, portable speech synthesizers cost thousands of dollars and have a
The Honorable Judd Gregg, Chairman Page 2
August 25, 2004
limited market, yet are vital for individuals with such disabilities as cerebral palsy. At the same time that advances in technology have reduced costs, today’s products become obsolete quickly. Many products need to be updated regularly to make them faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful.
In many instances, the Public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is viewed as the primary source of funding for assistive technology for adults who are seeking to enter, re-enter, maintain or advance in employment. Using assistive technology, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, are able to participate in evaluations and assessments, explore vocational options, and use the resultant information to make informed choices about employment goals. Some State VR agencies report that the number of individuals receiving assistive technology devices and services through VR has doubled in recent years. While the demand for assistive technology products and services has been increasing, funding for the Public VR program has seen no significant increases.
With the House and Senate bill to reauthorize the AT Act being so similar, and with so little time left on the legislative calendar, CSAVR is eager to see a compromise reached so that a final bill can be endorsed by each body without the need for a Conference Committee. CSAVR is particularly pleased that neither the House nor the Senate bill includes the sunset provision in current law and strongly recommends that the final bill not include a sunset provision. CSAVR also strongly recommends that the authorization levels in the final bill be sufficient to ensure a $500,000 minimum allotment for each State Assistive Technology Project and a $150,000 minimum for each territory.
If a bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act is not passed this year, the programs authorized under the Act will remain vulnerable to the elimination of funding in years to come. If a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization bills is not reached, an extremely valuable resource for individuals with disabilities will be lost.
CSAVR looks forward to working with you as this bill moves forward. CSAVR thanks you for your consideration of our views on this bill. If you have any questions about CSAVR’s views on this bill, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Carl Suter
Executive Director
August 25, 2004
The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Ranking Member
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
United States Senate
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 644
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Ranking Member Kennedy,
I am writing on behalf of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) to strongly encourage you to work with your colleagues in the House to pass a final assistive technology bill prior to the end of this legislative session. CSAVR is thrilled with the progress that has be made to date on completing this critically important piece of legislation that can so significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities across the country. We commend the House for its unanimous passage of bi-partisan legislation (H.R. 4278) to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act and we are excited about the bi-partisan bill introduced in the Senate (S. 2592). We really appreciated the opportunity to work with Senate staff as the Senate bill was being developed.
While the programs authorized under the Assistive Technology Act are relatively small in terms of federal dollars (last year’s appropriation was $25.9 million), they have had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is a fundamental tool to overcome functional limitations and other barriers to independence experienced by many individuals with disabilities. In the last 15 years, the use of assistive technology has increased dramatically. There are many reasons for the increase in demand for assistive technology. First, students in special education often rely on assistive technology to participate in educational programming. As these youth transition to adult services, they will need similar technology to assist them in their pursuit of higher education and employment. Second, America’s reliance on an information-based economy has made the use of computers ubiquitous in the workplace. Individuals with disabilities often require additional software or customized assistive technology that enables them to make use of the computer systems that are widely needed to perform in the workplace.
Assistive technology advances have presented new opportunities for individuals with disabilities, opportunities that would not be possible without that technology. While the cost of technology that can be universally used by large segments of the populations has fallen, specialized products that are used by relatively small segments of the population, such as individuals with disabilities, remain costly.
The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Ranking Member Page 2
August 25, 2004
For example, portable speech synthesizers cost thousands of dollars and have a limited market, yet are vital for individuals with such disabilities as cerebral palsy. At the same time that advances in technology have reduced costs, today’s products become obsolete quickly. Many products need to be updated regularly to make them faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful.
In many instances, the Public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is viewed as the primary source of funding for assistive technology for adults who are seeking to enter, re-enter, maintain or advance in employment. Using assistive technology, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, are able to participate in evaluations and assessments, explore vocational options, and use the resultant information to make informed choices about employment goals. Some State VR agencies report that the number of individuals receiving assistive technology devices and services through VR has doubled in recent years. While the demand for assistive technology products and services has been increasing, funding for the Public VR program has seen no significant increases.
With the House and Senate bill to reauthorize the AT Act being so similar, and with so little time left on the legislative calendar, CSAVR is eager to see a compromise reached so that a final bill can be endorsed by each body without the need for a Conference Committee. CSAVR is particularly pleased that neither the House nor the Senate bill includes the sunset provision in current law and strongly recommends that the final bill not include a sunset provision. CSAVR also strongly recommends that the authorization levels in the final bill be sufficient to ensure a $500,000 minimum allotment for each State Assistive Technology Project and a $150,000 minimum for each territory.
If a bill to reauthorize the Assistive Technology Act is not passed this year, the programs authorized under the Act will remain vulnerable to the elimination of funding in years to come. If a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization bills is not reached, an extremely valuable resource for individuals with disabilities will be lost.
CSAVR looks forward to working with you as this bill moves forward. CSAVR thanks you for your consideration of our views on this bill. If you have any questions about CSAVR’s views on this bill, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Carl Suter
Executive Director
