Friday, March 19, 2010

Welcome to the AT Blog!

Welcome to the AT Network’s new AT Blog! The blog is designed not only to keep you updated on the latest assistive technology news from around California, it is also a forum for you to have your say and connect with others. We’ll detail the many ways you can plug in to the AT Blog, but first a little background and a few introductions.

Last year the Department of Rehabilitation combined California’s AT Network and the California Assistive Technology Exchange (CATE) under one contractor. Previously the two programs were run by two separate contractors. California State University Northridge (CSUN) managed the CATE program and the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) operated the AT Network’s statewide hub from 2006-2009. The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) is proud and humbled to be the organization selected to run both of these programs.

We are very excited to be building on the good work of two fine organizations, and we are actively working to maintain program components that AT Network members have come to rely on. In addition, as we continue to integrate the AT Network and CATE programs, we plan to keep you updated each step of the way through posts to the AT Blog.

And you get to be a part of the process by taking part in the AT Blog, where we will be discussing a variety of AT-related issues that will include AT success stories, new devices, AT policy, device recycling, and AT funding at the state, organizational and individual levels. Feel free to comment on a post or respond to others who have made a comment. You make the conversation dynamic by sharing your perspective. CFILC Staff will contribute posts, and we invite AT Network members and others to submit posts as well. Guest post guidelines will be posted soon.

New posts will be added to the AT Blog at least once a week, and sometimes even more frequently. What assistive technology topics would you like to see covered on the AT Blog? Please share your thoughts by posting a comment below.

Written by Kim Cantrell, CFILC

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