• AT Village
725 Irving Ave., Suite 112, Syracuse, NY 13210 • 315-209-3697
locastrm@upstate.edu • www.atvillage.org
AT Village is a web resource developed as part of a quality improvement initiative focused on improving access to assistive technologies for children with developmental disabilities and their families in the community. Under the “Equipment Solutions” tab, AT provides information about getting durable medical equipment via health insurance reimbursement. There are also resources for therapists to support their efforts in this process, along with tips and checklists for therapists as they write letters of medical necessity. In addition, the “Community Solutions” section has information about resources for accessing equipment that may not be covered by insurance (e.g., loan closets, equipment shares, maker spaces, nonprofits, and sports teams).
• Exceptional Family Resources / ARISE — Advocacy and Accessibility Programs
635 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203 • 315-472-3171
Provides information, education, and referral on adaptive equipment, accessibility, disability awareness, ramps, and home modifications.
Adaptive Design: 315-671-5104
Creates custom, low-cost adaptive equipment including standing frames, mobility devices, and seating supports.
Medical Equipment Loan Closet
Offers free short-term loans of mobility equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and crutches.
Onondaga: 315-671-2927; rwood@contactefr.org
Oswego: 315-602-4930; jcronk@contactefr.org
Madison: 315-363-4672
Cayuga/Seneca: 315-671-4651; jparker@contactefr.org
Ramp Program
Builds and installs free modular wheelchair ramps for eligible individuals to improve home accessibility.
Oswego: 315-602-4938, specoy@contactefr.org
Cayuga: 315-255-3447 ext. 315, jscollan@contactefr.org
• Office for People with Disabilities — Assistive Technology/Environmental Modifications/Vehicle Modifications Program
Central New York, Southern Tier and North Country
(607) 240-4900
7-1-1 to reach New York Relay for people who are hard of hearing or who have a speech disability.
www.opwdd.ny.gov/types-
OPWDD’s Assistive Technology Program, which includes DME (adaptive devices), environmental modifications and vehicle modifications, can provide funding for OPWDD qualified individuals through an application process submitted to OPWDD’s regional office by the individual’s care manager. All AT/EM/VM related applications should be sent to the following email mailbox: opwdd.sm.region2.emods@opwdd.
• Operation Northern Comfort
info@operationnc.org • www.operationnc.org
Operation Northern Comfort is an area nonprofit volunteer group committed to serving the surrounding communities by providing labor, donations, and support in any time of need. Recent projects have included student desks, food pantry shelves and ramps.
• Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disability (TRAID) Center
315-455-7591
info@accesscny.org • www.accesscny.org/services/
The Center is AccessCNY’s assistive technology lending library. The TRAID Center’s primary mission is to increase access to assistive technology and durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers and augmentative communication devices. The center provides short-term equipment loans at no cost; individuals borrow items, use them and then return them for others to utilize. Services are available to individuals with disabilities of all ages, their family members, service providers, employers, and others who are interested in disability issues and/or assistive technology. The TRAID Center also does demonstrations to compare different devices; facilitates trainings on assistive technologies and durable medical equipment; provides information and referrals; and raises public awareness at events, conferences, etc. The Central New York TRAID Center serves a six-county region: Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Tompkins, Cortland, and Oswego counties.