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90_SB1084eng
New Act
Creates the Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training
Centers Act. Contains a short title only.
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1 AN ACT in relation to assistive technology.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training Centers Act.
6 Section 5. Findings.
7 (a) There are approximately 2,200,000 persons with
8 disabilities residing in the State of Illinois, most of whom
9 need assistive technology for daily living, education,
10 independence, and employment.
11 (b) There is a serious lack of resources within the State
12 of Illinois, especially outside of the Chicago metropolitan
13 area, for comprehensive evaluations, training, and hands-on
14 experience with assistive technology to determine the
15 appropriateness of assistive technology for persons with
16 disabilities before they purchase assistive technology
17 devices.
18 (c) As a result of the serious lack of evaluation and
19 training resources, a great number of persons with
20 disabilities in Illinois will do without needed assistive
21 technology or will purchase inappropriate assistive
22 technology, thereby diminishing their educational and
23 employment opportunities and increasing their dependence
24 upon federal and State support and forcing them to
25 unnecessarily rely upon community based resources and family
26 members for financial support and daily living assistance.
27 (d) It is almost always more cost-effective to purchase
28 appropriate assistive technology for a person with a
29 disability to enable that person to reach his or her
30 potential for independent living, education, and employment
31 than to provide public assistance and government-funded
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1 personal care assistance for that person.
2 Section 7. Definition. As used in this Act, "assistive
3 technology" means a service or device that is used to
4 increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of
5 a person with a disability.
6 Section 10. Department of Human Services; Administrative
7 Responsibilities.
8 (a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
9 Services shall establish at least one Assistive Technology
10 Evaluation and Training Center, the first one being in a
11 strategic downstate location, as determined by the
12 Department, no later than July 1, 1998.
13 (b) The Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training
14 Centers shall be operated by the Department or by
15 not-for-profit organizations funded through contractual
16 arrangements with the Department using a request-for-proposal
17 process. The Department shall, by rule, establish standards
18 and criteria by which the Centers shall be operated,
19 consistent with this Act.
20 Section 15. Functions of Assistive Technology Evaluation
21 and Training Centers. The Assistive Technology Evaluation
22 and Training Centers shall offer comprehensive services to
23 persons with disabilities regarding assistive technology
24 including, but not limited to:
25 (a) Comprehensive individual evaluations for a broad
26 range of assistive technology needs for persons with all
27 types of disabilities for use in the home, at school, in
28 employment, and in the community;
29 (b) Training of consumers and appropriate family members
30 regarding assistive technology options available to the
31 consumer and in the proper use of assistive technology; and
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1 (c) Training of professionals, including vocational
2 rehabilitation counselors, school personnel, and other
3 individuals who provide professional services to persons with
4 disabilities and their families to make them aware of
5 assistive technology as an alternative to more costly
6 traditional services and to educate them regarding available
7 assistive technology devices and their uses and costs.
8 Section 20. Inventory; Trial Usage. The Assistive
9 Technology Evaluation and Training Centers shall be required
10 to have on hand a broad array of assistive technology in
11 order to conduct appropriate comprehensive evaluations, to
12 facilitate consumer, family, and professional training, and
13 to offer consumers opportunities for usage at the Centers or
14 in appropriate community settings.