The National Arc’s

Initiatives:

Tech Toolbox

&

Technology Navigator Fellowships

Technology Navigator Fellows

Presenters:

• Karla Porter

Director of Program Development & Marketing

Arc of Luzerne County

• Jordan Jankus

Technologist

Arc of Westchester

Technology Navigator Fellowships

• With support of Comcast, The Arc created Technology Navigator Fellowships in 2015 to promote digital literacy among 700 chapters nationwide.

• An initial group of sixteen individuals from Arc chapters were selected as Technology Navigator Fellows.

• Technology Navigator Fellows have also been involved in the creation of the Tech Toolbox

New online resource that provides a database of technology solutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Google is now working with the Arc to further refine this into an online virtual coaching resource.

Tech Toolbox

https://toolbox.thearc.org/

Arc of Westchester

Digital Literacy Efforts

• Agency serves over 2,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in

Westchester County, from preschool to adults.

• Services include residential, vocational, day habilitation, self-direction,

services, recreation and guardianship.

• Contracted consulting & tutoring on digital technology

• Technology instruction for groups outside of agency on fee-basis

Arc of Westchester Has Also…

• Cultivated an alliance with Mercy College

• Mercy College has multiple internship opportunities for it graduate

students from its School of Health & Natural Sciences

• We have access to the collective expert knowledge contained in the

various departments and disciplines of Mercy College

Mercy College Alliance

• Collaborated on events promoting technology as an empowerment tool

for people with I/DD

•Tech Tools, November 2014

•Transitioning with Technology, November 2015

•Tech Supports for Cognition & Learning Conference, March

2016

Mercy College Alliance

•Collaboration with Mercy’s Computer Science

experts on modifying equipment interfaces at E-

Doc, expanding use by employees with I/DD

•Development of a new initiative for 2016 and

beyond – financially supported internships for

select Mercy College graduate students

Benefits

•Community perception of Arc of Westchester as innovative

•Mercy students who will become rehabilitation professionals

get exposure to the population they’ll be serving.

•Additional exposure to community for the people with

I/DD served by Arc of Westchester

Mercy College Alliance

• Finding long-term funding to formalize and expand relationship

• Developing long-term staff supports of initiatives started by Mercy graduate students

• Encouraging adoption of technology as tool for more functional independence is a message

that sometimes gets lost in the daily challenges of staff activities.

• Limited funding of technology under existing state and federal government programs

• Access to technology and information for people with disabilities is still a missionary effort

Challenges…

The Rights of People with

Cognitive Disabilities

to Technology and Information Access

http://www.colemaninstitute.org/declaration

Let’s Support…