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Jobs and Homes Aren't Enough: The Missing Link in Promoting Independence for People with Disabilities
With the recent completion of our  Money Club West, we're reflecting on the importance of financial education for everyone, but particularly for people with disabilities. Our friends at ACHIEVA, who hosted this financial education course, sent us a few videos from the final class. Students were challenged to apply what they had learned about saving, budgeting, wants and needs by using the money they saved in their IDAs to purchase the assistive technology of their choosing. 

One young woman's story stood out. After speaking further with the instructor, we learned about some incredible changes this young woman, Elysia, made in her life over the 10 short months she spent in Money Club. 

Save the Date
#MyLifeWithAT2018 Photo Contest is Coming...
And we've got bigger prizes than ever this year!

Keep your eyes on our social media channels as we prepare to roll out our biggest online photo contest yet. This is our fourth year hosting this competition, and as always, we want to see how you're using your assistive technology! The contest will run through the month of November which is Assistive Technology Awareness Month. Entries open on November 1st and close at midnight on November 30th. 

Winners will be chosen from entries with the most votes. Prizes will include the Amazon Echo Show, the Amazon Echo, and the Amazon Echo Dot. 

Share the news with your friends and be sure you're following us so you don't miss it!
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This Month Marks the 20th Anniversary of Our Very First Loan
20 years ago in October of 1998, Harold Fry of Lancaster, PA received the first Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation loan - ever! Mr. Fry wanted some home modifications and we were eager to help him finance them. What started as a dream for us as we incorporated earlier that year, finally became a reality. 
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PATF Recent Blog Posts
Not All Disabilities are Permanent - Simple Solutions to Make Surgery Easier
Guest post written by a previous PATF borrower
When you have an adult son with an intellectual disability, every day is full of surprises, especially when you factor in changes to the routine like when he needed knee surgery. Here are some lessons we learned along the way. Most importantly we learned how much easier (and safer) recovery can be with a little   assistive technology (AT).

 Read Not All Disabilities are Permanent - Simple Solutions to Make Surgery Easier.


25 Home Modification Tips and Tricks
Making home modifications can feel like a daunting process. Sometimes you need to make them quickly and without a lot of time to plan, other times the process seems to go on forever with many hiccups along the way. There's nothing like talking to an insider, someone who has seen nearly every mistake made, and helped countless people find solutions that fit them better. This is where PATF Funding Assistance Coordinator and  Self-Determination Housing Project (SDHP) Regional Housing Coordinator, Kevin Huwe, comes in.

 Read 25 Home Modification Tips and Tricks.
Elderly couple sitting comfortably on a sofa with their backs holding remote home control system on a digital tablet
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The Latest on Smart Home Technology from Smart Homes Made Simple
How Smart Home Technology Fits with Aging in Place

Written by Brooke Schipporeit, former PATF Funding Assistance Coordinator and Regional Housing Coordinator at Self-Determination Housing Project

Smart home technology-devices that let you communicate with others, provide information and entertainment, and let you control your lighting, thermostat, or even your Crock-Pot using your voice or smartphone-is a rapidly growing industry seeing increasing introduction to homes. Generic smart home technology can increase independence for people of all ages, specifically those aging in place.

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Financial Tips with Penny Pincher
The FAFSA is Now Open-Here's Why Every Student Should Fill It Out
From CNBC.com, article by Abigail Hess

Every year, the  U.S. Department of Education gives over $120 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds to more than 13 million college students, making it the largest provider of  student financial aid in the country.

October 1st is the first day that students can fill out the  Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA, in order to receive their share of these funds for the 2019-2020 school year.

What students may not know is that a large portion of financial aid in the United States is distributed on a rolling basis, meaning the sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving generous aid.

Upcoming Events

17th Annual U.S. Conference on disAbility
Scranton, PA - October 11 from 7:45am-6:30pm
This year's theme is Everyday Tools: Technology for Accessing Education, Employment, and Life. Join us! Our CEO Susan will be speaking about funding solutions for assistive technology. Registration is free and open to the public.

7th Annual Lackawanna & Wayne County Senior EXPO
Waymart, PA - October 25 from 9:30am-12:30pm
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.

Homes Within Reach Conference
Harrisburg, PA - October 29-31
This year's theme is A Season for Change: Cultivating Housing Opportunities. On October 29th, we'll be presenting with colleagues from the Smart Homes Made Simple project on Smart Home Technology: New Opportunities for Independent Living and Aging in Place. 

Indiana Co. Caregiver Resource Fair
Indiana, PA - November 7 from 9am-12pm
A free community resource fair to help caregivers receive the support they need. This fair will serve caregivers of children, adults, and seniors with disabilities or chronic illness. Information on a variety of topics and free flu shots, blood pressure checks, and massages.

Penn State DuBois Assistive Technology Awareness Day
DuBois, PA - November 8 from 12-2pm
Live assistive technology demonstrations, learn how to evaluate AT needs, identify the latest trends in AT, and speak with local providers and OVR representatives. No RSVP required!

Community Charity Chat - Learn about ABLE
Bala Cynwyd, PA - November 11, two sessions: 10-11am and 12-1pm
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.

PA WAgN Annual Symposium
Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, Gibsonia, PA - December 12 from 9am-5pm
Pennsylvania Women's Agricultural Network's symposium theme for this year is Women Growing Justice. Our Funding Assistance Coordinator, Abbie Spackman of AgrAbility PA will be there representing us - go say hi! Registration required.
There are Lots of Ways to Make a Difference
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You Shop, AmazonSmile Gives
Support us when you shop using smile.amazon.com_ch_23-2953796 and Amazon donates to Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation. 

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
Learn more about how you can help Pennsylvanians access the assistive technology they need.
STAY CONNECTED:
1004 West 9th Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406 | 888.744.1938 | patf@patf.us | www.patf.us