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Message from RCPA Member Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF):
We are so excited to announce that Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) has helped a record number of people with our low- and no-interest loan programs, our information and assistance services, and our financial education resources.
Of note, after we increased the lending cap on our Mini-Loan program from $2,000 to $7,000, this program grew by 151%! (see below: 2021 by the Numbers)
And it doesn’t stop there! We published Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology and launched SmartHomesMadeSimple to help the disability community learn about mainstream smart home devices and how they can be financed.
In March of this year, PATF hosted a smart home webinar with more than 500 attendees from around the world!
We are proud to share our organization’s growth over the last year, in which assistive technology (AT) was critical, to support people with disabilities and older adults stay safe, healthy, and connected to our community.
With your unwavering support – our donors, borrowers, partners, families and friends – we were able to expand and create new programs to help people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians live more independently. Thank you!
The agenda for the June 1, 2022, Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting was recently released by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL). The June meeting will continue to be offered via webinar and remote streaming. OLTL is planning to hold the July 6, 2022, MLTSS Subcommittee meeting in person with optional webinar and remote streaming.
On May 23, 2022, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s advisory that highlights the urgent need to address the health worker burnout crisis across the country. The advisory titled “Addressing Health Worker Burnout” warns that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated longstanding system challenges in the health care system. Health workers, including physicians, nurses, community and public health workers, nurse aides, and others have risked their own lives throughout the pandemic.
A series of recommendations are included in the advisory.
Yesterday, RCPA held its 2022 Capitol Day on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg. Members had the opportunity to meet with their legislators and hear from Charlie Barber, RCPA Board Chair, Sherri Landis, Executive Director for the ARC of Pennsylvania, Rep. Jessica Benham, Rep. Dan Miller, and Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso about the importance of funding intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and behavioral health services.
As a follow-up to Capitol Day, RCPA would like those members who attended to give an update about their legislative meetings. This member intel will be beneficial for RCPA staff to effectively lobby the Governor and the General Assembly over the next few weeks.
RCPA is hosting this follow-up to Capitol Day on Wednesday, June 1, at 9:00 am. Members can register for the call here.
Please contact Jack Phillips with questions.