carolyn p. phillips m.ed, atp georgia department of labor tools for life, assistive technology...

Carolyn P. Phillips M.Ed, ATPGeorgia Department of Labor

Tools for Life,Assistive Technology Project,

phone: 404-638-0384email: carolynpphillips@mindspring.com

www.gatfl.org

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Pass it OnNational Conference on Reuse of Assistive TechnologyMay 8-10, 2006

Guiding Principles We – Collectively – are Brilliant & Can find an

Innovative Path and Create Brighter Futures

We must Think, Live and Act from a place of Abundance – We Have enough time, money, resources…

We Must Focus on Abilities!

YOU have the Power to make the Difference! Change vs. Progress (Bob Phillips)

Georgia’s AT Act Program

If we Nurture our Dreams,they will take

Root in our Souls& Bear Fruit in our Lives

Over 7,300 “ReBooted” and counting…

Are you a Connector?The Tipping Point - Gladwell

If Not – meet one! What makes someone a Connector? The

first--and most obvious--criterion is that Connectors know lots of people.

They are the kinds of people who know everyone.

All of us know someone like this. But I don't think that we spend a lot of time

thinking about the importance of these folks.

Connecting the Dots!

End-UserTraining?

MarketingParticipants?

Donors?

Volunteers SkilledTechs?

Model?

Storage -Space?

System?

LicensedSoftware?

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Explore Models! National Cristina Foundation – 1997 Used What You Learned Here AT Projects –

Learn from others, NEAT!, Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia and the list goes on

Steal/Borrow…and Give Credit!

Identify Your Partners Who should be at the table? (96) Diversify – public, private, non-profit Not all will buy-in immediately – don’t hold it against them

Model?

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Continue to Identify Your Partners TIP: Evaluate and Evolve! Who should be at the table? RESNA, ATAP, ATIA, ATA, Goodwill

I hope your list Grew while you where here.

LATAN – Thank you! TIP: Move toward Sustainability with each

Connection Diversify – public, private, non-profit Not all will buy-in immediately – don’t hold it against

them

Model?

Strong Supporters within the First year! Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC) Vocational Rehabilitation Assistive Work Technology, VR Department of Education – GPAT Statewide Independent Living Council Independent Living Centers Council on Aging HP, IBM & EDS

TIP: Hold a State or Region Stakeholders Meeting Communicate & Share Your Vision! Go where the dream makes sense Avoid “…in 1918 we tried that and it Flopped” Promote Buy-In and Build Champions! “You can accomplish anything if you don’t care who gets the

credit.” Post your Model for all to see

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Model?

Pallets, Pallet Mule, Racks, Gaylord Boxes Donated by Allegiance – (Yellow Pages – 1999) End-Of-Life Recycler Re-Connected after a few years TIP: Never Burn Bridges!

Georgia Tech Senior Project 1 Semester Interviewed Everyone, Buy-In, TIP: Introduce Change Slowly! All Graduated!

Storage -System?

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Donated Space at FODAC Paid for space after 1st year Out grew space and move down the street 2001 TIP: Communicate & Share Your Vision!

King Properties – (Donated a Computer) $3.25 a square foot – wrote off rest as a donation

Alston & Bird (Touch the Future Board) drew up agreement – FREE!

CollectiveGood (Comdex & EPA Meeting) Sub-lease & a percentage

Storage -Space?

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Research! Do site visits Partner with an “EPA friendly” Company Contact - Department of Natural Resources

Allegiance – (Yellow Pages – 1999) End-Of-Life Recycler Re-Connected after a few years TIP: Find a Partner you Trust! Avoid “Eyewitness

News” Story from a different Point of View

Storage -End-Of Life

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Strong Collaboration with: Assistive Technology

Resource Centers (ATRC) Independent Living Centers Assistive Work Technology –

VR/GDOL High School/High Tech

VR/GDOL

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

End-UserTraining?

Planting Seeds for Partnerships Keep it Simple

Who Do You Know? Create a Map Mark Johnson – Connector Private Companies

Who are you talking with? HR Network GDOL Employer Committee

Government Surplus Local, State, Federal

Build your Board/Advisory Council HP, IBM, PriceWaterHouse Coopers

MarketingParticipants?

Donors?

Connecting the Dots with

Strategic Partnership!

Social networking sites like Care2, MySpace, and Tribe can play a key role in helping your organization meet other nonprofits, find donations, share information, and more.

Does your organization use a wiki? Google your organization – what do you

find?

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

MarketingParticipants?

Donors?

Worked with the Computer Equipment Disposal and Recycling Council

Pollution Prevention Assistance DivisionSponsor of HB-2, Rep. Terry Coleman

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

MarketingParticipants?

Donors?

“Microsoft Teams With Tools for Life to Provide PCs To People With Disabilities”

Innovative Program Gives New Life to Old Computers ATLANTA, April 21, 1999 — As part of its continued effort to make

computer technology accessible to all individuals, Microsoft Corp. is teaming with Tools for Life, a program operated by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, to update and distribute 80 PCs for free to people with disabilities.

Microsoft's contribution to the project includes software valued at $23,000 and a long-term commitment to support Tools for Life's mission of enabling Georgians with disabilities through the use of technology.

"Microsoft is working hard both locally and at the corporate level to extend access and training to people with disabilities," said Marty Paradise, general manager, Southeast District, Microsoft. "A major part of this effort involves supporting the important work of organizations like Tools for Life."

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

LicensedSoftware?

The Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) Provides Microsoft Windows Operating

Systems to PC refurbishers To be a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher,

you must: Supply 50 or more computers per year to charities,

schools, or families. Be a commercial, nonprofit, school, college, or

government-based refurbisher. Be located in the United States

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

LicensedSoftware?

TechSoup Stock connects nonprofits with donated and discounted technology products.

Both corporate and nonprofit technology partners including Cisco, Groundspring, Microsoft, and Symantec.

Low administrative fees that include shipping, handling, and customer support.

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

LicensedSoftware?

Partner with Hands On Atlanta!

Partnered with Perimeter College and FODAC to Offer PC Classes on site We offered A+ in exchange for 100 of volunteer

work Become a member of PC User Groups

TIP: Pay for Volunteers to attend training and sharpen their skills

Listen!

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

Volunteers SkilledTechs?

Create Champions and Ownership

Communicate Listen Evaluate and Evolve Continue to Grow and Share

the Vision & Mission Celebrate your Partners,

Volunteers and Participants! Media Spotlight

Connecting the Dots with Strategic Partnership!

If a person does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music

which he hears, however measured or far away.

- Henry David Thoreau

Pass it On!

THANK YOU!“Genius? Nothing!

Sticking to it is the genius! I've failed my way to success.”

--Thomas Edison