FAASTFlorida Alliance For Assistive Service &

TechnologySouth Florida Regional Demo Center

(SFRDC)RDC Director: Michelle Schladant, Ph.D.

RDC Coordinator: Ana Nevares, M.A. 1601 N.W. 12th Ave.Suite 2018Miami, FL 33136Phone: (305) 243-5706Fax: (305) 243-4467anevares@med.miami.

edu

What is FAAST?

 

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology :

FAAST is a free program dedicated to improving thequality of life for all Floridians with disabilitiesthrough advocacy and awareness activities thatincrease access to and acquisition of assistive servicesand technology. FAASTserves individuals across the lifespan.

What is FAAST? FAAST main office is located in Tallahassee with 6

Regional Demonstration Centers thorough the state. At the

South Florida Regional Demonstration Center we serve 8 Counties:

Monroe Miami-Dade Broward Palm Beach Collier Hendry Lee Charlotte

What is AT?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & the

Technology Act of 2004 defines Assistive Technology (AT) as:

Devices that supplement the existing skills of an individual with a disability.

AT Devices are tools used to increase an individual’s functioning in one or more developmental areas.

An AT Device is any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, which is used to maintain or improve the functioning capabilities of an individual.

 Examples of different types and use for AT video:

http://ataccess.ning.com/video/video/show?id=4500297%3AVideo%3A11

Through the South Florida Regional Demonstration Center, FAAST Provides: • An Assistive Technology Demonstration Lab Located at the University of Miami Mailman

Center for Child Development (Suite 2018)• Information and Referrals • AT Demonstrations and Technical Assistance •  Education and Outreach (AT Trainings)• AT Online Courses: Interdisciplinary

Fundamentals in Adaptive and Assistive Technology

• An Assistive Device Lending Program

All FAAST services are FREE

FAAST also provides:

A list of Resource Guides to assist individuals with disabilities navigate the legal ramifications of different stages of life:

General Resources & Self-Help Guide: IDEAGeneral Resources and Self-Help Guide for

Children with Disabilities & their FamiliesFAAST Employment Resources Self-Help GuideGeneral Housing Resources & Self-Help GuideGeneral Resources and Self-Help Guide for Older

Individuals with Disabilities

FAAST also provides:Resource Guide for Individuals in Nursing HomesFAAST Emergency Preparedness Resource Link

You may access FAAST Resource Guides by visiting the

FAAST website at:http://www.faast.org/resources/library

The list of Resource Guides are not a substitute for legal advice

South Florida Regional Demonstration Center Lab

Outreach Services

• We provide consumers with information and referral according to individual AT needs

• AT related conferences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

• Assistance with the use of AT through individual appointments

Device Loan Program- 30 Day Trail -The South Florida RegionalDemonstration Centerhouses a variety of ATdevices, software, and

productsaimed at supporting individuals(across the lifespan) througheducation, employment anddaily living activities.To schedule a device loanappointment contact Ana

Nevares at (305) 243-5706.

South Florida Regional Demonstration CenterDevice Lending Library List

You have the opportunity to check an online list of all

Devices available for short term loans. To do so, you may

visit the SFRDC’s webpage at:

http://www.faast.org/programs/regional-demo/south

and click on the link: Device Lending Library

Sample of Items for Short-Term Loans at SFRDC

UBI-DUO Price: $1,995.00 With the UbiDuo,

communication isquick: the deaf, hard of

hearing or hearing person can start a

conversation right away instead of writing

on paper & pen, or waiting for an

interpreter to arrive.

Acrobat Visual Tech Price: $2,295.00 The Acrobat system is a unique, easy-to-use video magnifier which is ideal for near, distance and self-viewing.

Sample of Items for Short-Term Loans at SFRDC

Talking Calculator Price: $20.00 www.independentliving.

comClear female voice speaks

theindividual digits or whole

integers.Volume control also turns

the voiceoff. Can be used with

earphones.

Example of Writing & Typing Aids Price: $10.00-$25.00

Sample of Items for Short-Term Loans at SFRDC

Neo Software www.donjohnston.comNeo is the easy-to-use, lightweight,affordable word processor.

I

Solo Literacy Suite 6 www.donjohnston.com SOLO is a literacy suite of the most popular assistive technology accommodations, including a text reader, graphic organizer, talking word processor, and word prediction. SOLO 6 is simple to use, yet powerful for students who struggle to read and write.

Sample of Items for Short-Term Loans at SFRDC

Communication Devices Adapted Toys, Timer, Mouse

Sample of Items for Short-Term Loans at SFRDCItems for Daily

Living

Sample Software Word Q Speak QEnhance your writing with fully-integrated word prediction,

spokenfeedback and speech

recognition.Works on top of the writingapplications you use everyday. www.goqsoftware.com Ginger SoftwareGinger is an intelligent spellchecker. Ginger recognizes

words in context and provides the

most appropriate corrections for

spellingand grammar mistakes

accordingto the intended meaning of

yoursentence. Ginger can tell

when a correctly spelled word ismisused and replaces it with the right word.www.gingersoftware.com Text Help-Read & Write GoldThis customizable easy to use toolbarintegrates with familiar applicationsincluding Microsoft Word, Explorer,and Adobe Reader, allowing students to access the support tools they needfrom within mainstream softwareprograms. It highlights and reads textaloud and also includes

comprehensiveset of support tools for reading,

writing,studying, research, and test taking.www.texthelp.com/page.asp

To find out more about FAASTSouth Florida Regional Demonstration CenterPhone:

 Voice/TTY (305) 243-5706

Email:anevares@med.miami.edu

Websites:www.faast.orgwww.faast.org/programs/

regionaldemo/south

www.mailmancenter.org/ATservices.htm