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| PATF Reaches a Record Number of Applications this Summer |
And with this kind of growth, we've made some key additions to our team!
In years past, we've come to expect a lull at PATF during the summer months. Perhaps people are on vacation, and most don't seem to be thinking about assistive technology or funding. But - not this year! We've had a 66% increase in the number of applications this summer as compared to last year. The increase has been remarkable, and with the uptick in interest in our programs, we're happy to announce we've expanded.
Please join us in welcoming two new members to our team:
Sarah Love, our new Program Associate, and
Alina Stash, our new Program Assistant. Sarah will be one of our full-time underwriters, helping us process loans and make referrals to help beneficiaries get connected with the services they need. Alina is helping with everything from answering phones (quickly becoming a full-time job!) to sending out and processing surveys so we can be sure our services are helping people the way we intend. Learn more about these two valuable additions to our staff, as well as the rest of the PATF team on the
staff page of our website.
Thank you to everyone in our PATF community for spreading the word about our programs, and please keep it going. We continue to have borrowers remark, "I wish I had known about you sooner!" Our outreach efforts are expanding, but good, old word-of-mouth is integral in making sure Pennsylvanians know they can reach out to us for help with any of their assistive technology funding questions.
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| Grants for Tablets and Apps |
For a limited time, we're offering a one-time-only grant in conjunction with a Mini-Loan for tablet technology!
These days there seem to be an endless (and yet, still growing) number of possibilities when utilizing tablet computers as assistive technology. From setting up a tablet as a communication device, to using apps to help with note-taking or reading, to controlling smart home devices from your TV to your window blinds, to speaking sign language with a friend over FaceTime... the list goes on, and we're just scratching the surface.
This is why we're excited to offer a one-time-only grant in conjunction with a 0% interest Mini-Loan for tablet technology. This includes, but is not limited to, iPads and other tablets as well as apps. Our Mini-Loans are a great way to build credit and all of our loans are available to Pennsylvanians with disabilities of any income level.
Not sure how a tablet or an app can help you? While our expertise at PATF is around
funding for assistive technology, we can also help you find the right person to talk to if you're not yet sure what technology you want. Give us a call and we'll discuss what your needs and desires are, and refer you to someone who can work with you to find the best assistive technology for your particular situation.
Contact us!
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Planning an Accessible and Inclusive Event
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So you want to host an accessible and inclusive event, but you don't know where to begin? Or maybe you think you've got everything covered...
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2018 Press Conference
In case you missed it, our annual press conference was held on June 12 at the Capitol Upper Rotunda in Harrisburg, where we released this year's annual report and celebrated 20 years of helping Pennsylvanians fund the assistive technology that improves the quality of their lives.
Read more about the press conference and view a photo gallery from our day at the Capitol.
PATF Receives $25,000 Grant from The Philadelphia Foundation
We are so grateful to receive this grant from the House of Rest Endowment Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation, and look forward to helping even more Pennsylvanians get the assistive technology they want and need.
Read more about this grant and how we plan to use it. |
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Will Alexa Understand Him?
It's the first thing in the morning and
Kyle just woke up. He enters the kitchen and walks towards the Echo Show. He selects a pre-programmed question from his phone. "Echo, did the Phillies win last night?" Echo replies, and Kyle is pleased.
If you thought Alexa or Google Home devices couldn't work with alternative communicators, you are mistaken! This was me. As a mom always looking for ways to help her son maximize his independence, I thought anything that requires voice activation would only cause him frustration. I was dismissing intelligent personal assistant devices because of my son's limited verbal communication skills. What I am discovering is with a little creativity, it's not only possible, but also empowering.
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Understanding Loans, a 3-Part Series
Loan Terms Matter, the final post in our three-part series,
Understanding Loans
, looks at a few examples of loan terms, and how doing some simple calculations can sometimes save you thousands of dollars in the long run!
Check out the series using the links below:
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Upcoming Events
Staff members from AgrAbility PA will be present to share information and resources with farmers and agricultural workers on how to remain in farming despite a disability or long-term health condition. Visitors to the AgrAbility PA booth located inside the Rural Health and Safety tent will also be able to see examples of adaptive equipment, assistive technologies, and other modifications that make working around the farm more accessible.
Senator Tartaglione's Community Day Events
This free public event will feature DJ entertainment, refreshments, Back-to-School giveaways and child fingerprinting by the Philadelphia Police!
Refrescos gratuitos servidos. Huellas Digitales para Ninos (Departamente de Policia de Filadelfia). Musica. Obsequios/Premios para regressar a la escuela.
Senator Vogel's Senior Expo
Exhibitors will range from state and federal agencies to local non-profits that provide services affecting the health, safety, and welfare of senior citizens.
Fishing and Fun in the Park
Join LVCIL and partners for a fun fishing event on the Little Lehigh River in the beautiful Little Lehigh Parkway, Allentown. The event will include several environmental educational stations on casting, baiting, bird watching, invertebrate study, as well as a live animal demonstration. Local anglers will be on hand to assist in baiting, casting, and retrieving the fish you catch. Open to the public. People with and without disabilities are welcome. No license required, they will supply bait and equipment!
Sen. Vulakovich and Rep. English's Senior Fair
Join us!
The expo is a great opportunity for senior citizens and their loved ones, as well as members of our community living with disabilities, to check out all that is available to them.
7th Annual Lackawanna & Wayne County Senior EXPO
Calling all of Lackawanna & Wayne County's 50+ Crowd, to this one-day Senior EXPO designed with you in mind. Learn about products and services available in the area.
Community Charity Chat - Learn about ABLE
Join us in learning how to enroll in ABLE, what you can use your ABLE account for, and you can begin to dream of saving for your future, without jeopardizing your benefits. A Special Needs Trust lawyer will also be on hand to answer questions. Workshop is free - attendance is limited. Register by emailing patf@patf.us.
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There are Lots of Ways to Make a Difference
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You Shop, AmazonSmile Gives
United Way
Give to the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and designate PATF by writing in donor choice #13064 in the comment section on the form.
Donate
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