Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund
Expanding low-cost loans for assistive technology into Appalachia
We are pleased to announce Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation's new subsidiary, Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund (AATLF).

With the AARP Purpose Prize monies PATF received in 2021, we created AATLF with the goal of working with partner organizations outside of Pennsylvania to give residents in the Appalachian region access to the similar low-cost (no-fee, no-interest) loans for assistive technology as those available to Pennsylvanians through our Mini-Loan program.

And we are well on our way! We have just been awarded a technical assistance grant from the U.S. Treasury Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund to build a business plan for AATLF, and in November we were selected by Taproot Foundation to participate in the upcoming PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Abilities & Allies ScopeAthon for help with building the business plan.

We are excited to embark on this new chapter! Stay tuned for more information in the new year.
Mini Loan Pilot Program to continue into 2022. No Interest No Fees No Kidding. Up to 7000 dollars. Image of an older man gently holding a hand to his ear.
Our Mini-Loan Pilot Program has officially been extended through the end of 2022
We have had such an incredible response to the new Mini-Loan program with 150% growth this year. So far in 2021, 225 Pennsylvanians have accessed Mini-Loans to purchase the assistive technology that makes a difference in their lives. Our Board has approved the continuation of the program through the end of 2022!

Here's what you need to know about PATF's Mini-Loans:
  • For the purchase of assistive technology
  • No Interest
  • No Fees
  • Loan amounts between $100 and $7,000
  • Minimum monthly payments as low as $20
  • Terms based on the useful life of the device up to 4 years
(Larger loans continue to be available through PATF's Low-Interest Loan program.)

Like all of PATF's programs, the Mini-Loan Pilot Program is available to Pennsylvanians of:
  • All ages
  • All income levels
  • All disabilities and health conditions
  • All communities and cultural backgrounds
Examples of assistive technology that may be covered by this program:
An older woman smiles from a stair lift chair.
Stair Lifts
An older man gently holds his hand to his ear.
Hearing Aids
A woman smiles while holding and looking at a smart display screen.
Smart Home Technology
Ahora esta disponible en espanol. Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla
¡Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla ahora está disponible en español!
Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla: Guía para la tecnología de hogar inteligente ahora está disponible en español, ¡tanto en línea como en forma impresa!

Aprenda lo que la tecnología de hogar inteligente puede hacer para usted, desarrolle su equipo de apoyo y cree un plan acerca de cómo obtener y usar esta tecnología fácilmente disponible.

Descargue el PDF o contáctenos para solicitar una copia impresa.
Smart Homes Made Simple now available in Spanish!
Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology is now available in Spanish, both online and in print!

Learn what smart home technology can do for you, build your team for support, and create a plan for how to get and use this readily available technology.

Download the PDF or contact us to request a print copy.
View of a desktop and mobile screen showing the SmartHomesMadeSimple.org homepage.
Learn more online!
SmartHomesMadeSimple.org complements the guide by providing more in-depth information about the specific types of smart home devices that may be able to help you achieve your goals.
Susan holds an award next to the words Susan Tachau 2021 Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance
Recording of Susan Tachau's acceptance speech now available
What an honor it was for our CEO and co-founder, Susan Tachau, to be awarded by Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) the 2021 Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance, the highest individual honor in the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry. The spirit of the award is to celebrate a person of distinction who has produced a body of work that sets him or her apart within the opportunity finance industry. Susan is the 15th CDFI leader to win this award. There are 1,200 CDFIs across the nation.

Susan was presented with this award during the 2021 OFN Conference in October, and introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Dean. "My staff and I have had the pleasure of working closely with Susan to promote resources for Community Development Financial Institutions serving people with disabilities. As a leading national advocate for Alternative Financing, Susan is a trusted source and voice for federal and state policymakers, her colleagues in [nonprofits], and for families across Pennsylvania," said Congresswoman Dean.

This award and recognition of Susan's work marks the first time that an advocate for people with disabilities has been honored on a national level within the CDFI industry. This provides meaningful validation for the work we do at PATF and amplifies our message in the CDFI community that serving people with disabilities is important and urgent.
Susan's Call to Action
Susan concluded her speech with the following statement:

"There are more than 60 million people living with disabilities in the United States. I suspect most of you know someone who has a disability -- someone who has cerebral palsy, or is blind, or is hard-of-hearing, or has MS, ALS, or a spinal cord injury, an intellectual disability, or a brain injury.

"The disability community intersects with all communities – Black, Indigenous, People of Color as well as LGBTQ+.

"And the disability community deserves opportunity and investment.

"People with disabilities must be included in all of our initiatives that address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

"And, people with disabilities must be included across the multiple sectors of the CDFI industry – in consumer lending, small business lending, housing, facility lending, and more.

"I'm here to challenge you to do more. Be truly inclusive and bring people with disabilities into your community....

"All of you know what I know: when we find our purpose and our passion, we stay the course and make the world a better place."
Upcoming Webinars
Two-Part Series on Financial Education for People with Disabilities

January 12th and 26th at 12:00 p.m.
Tune in for two webinars in January where teachers and students alike will share their experiences and best practices: what works and what doesn't when teaching financial education to individuals with disabilities.

These webinars will provide valuable insights for those already doing this work, as well as those interested in getting started.



Hosted by PATF with the PA Department of Treasury and the PA Department of Banking and Securities.
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation PA ABLE and PA Department of Banking and Securities
Recent Webinar
Theraplay and Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation Facebook Live
On November 18th, Theraplay went live on Facebook with PATF CEO Susan Tachau and Outreach Diretor Wendy Davis to discuss funding resources for assistive technology for children with disabilities and financial education for individuals with disabilities.

One educational consultant who tuned in shared, "This Facebook Live is awesome, I will spread it around... I appreciate you sharing about Susan's son and your own children. It's always so nice when I hear stories about supports and services that work."

Watch the recording to learn more about PATF's programs and other valuable resources.
Theraplay and Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
Support Our Work
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998, that provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives.
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