Carly Dauch, Wood County Board of DD Health Supports Coordinator: “We want to share our knowledge and expertise of tech solutions in Region 1 and the state. The work we’ve been doing on opening the Hub includes publishing a regional tech newsletter monthly and facilitating virtual brainstorming sessions and monthly in-person learning labs throughout the region.” If you are interested in learning more, please contact cdauch@woodcountydd.org.     

Jarrod Hunt, Wynn-Reeth CEO, Wynn-Reeth Tech Hub/Monitoring Center (Regions 1 and 2): “Located above our state-of-the-art monitoring center, our Hub is designed to be a dynamic space where visitors can explore and learn about remote support, assistive technologies, and more. The Hub features interactive displays that allow visitors to get hands-on experience with various assistive devices and workshops and demos led by experts in the field.” For more information about visiting, click here.

Melissa Rittenhouse, Shelby County Board of DD Technology Support Manager (Region 2): “The purpose of the tech hubs in both the Shelby and Champaign County Board locations is to promote accessible tech, provide training and skill development, and enhance community engagement. The grant funds are being used to purchase assistive technology for demonstrations during tech hub tours and built into our lending library.” If you are interested in learning more, please contact mrittenhouse@shelbydd.org.                 

Scout Kelsey, Lumicare Project Manager and Abby Harris, I Am Boundless Speech and Language Pathologist (Region 2): “LumiCare is creating a Technology Hub on the I Am Boundless campus with the goal of raising awareness, education, training, and utilization of technology to increase quality of life for people in the Transition Age Youth program as well as adults in the community with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Our TechHub will be opening on July 1, with a Stakeholder event taking place on September 19, 2024, from 4-8 PM, open to the public.”  If you are interested in learning more, please contact scout.kegley@lumicaretech.com. 

Ross Burdge, REM Assistive Tech Director: “Our hubs exist in our day programs throughout Regions 2, 3, and 6. We currently have a wide variety of assistive technology to try, and people attending the day programs are accessing those opportunities now. REM staff are starting to talk with counties in the regions to support connections with people outside the day programs.” If you are interested in learning more, please contact ross.burdge@sevitahealth.com 

Betsy Eiserman, Easterseals Redwood Assistive Tech and Accessibility Manager, Easterseals Redwood Assistive Technology and Accessibility Center (ATAC) (Region 3): “Easterseals Redwood plans to incorporate a smart home demonstration area and a work accommodations area in the Ohio Assistive Technology and Accessibility Center (ATAC) at our Gilbert Avenue area (in the Walnut Hills area of Cincinnati). It’s being built from the ground up. We have been connecting with many of the 21 counties we serve through this grant.” For more information, please contact beiserman@eastersealsredwood.org. 

David Mitchell, Mideast Ohio Regional Council (MEORC), and Lori Ferbrache, Fairfield County Board of DD Assistive Tech Coordinator: “We are currently assessing the needs of all 19 counties in our region, and sending out a survey about training needs.  We are also trying to figure out if our regional ‘hub’ is going to be multiple locations, or one location.  We want to lean into the regionality of it.  It may be mobile…  Something that can travel.” If you are interested in learning more, please contact dmitchell@meorc.com.  

Kelsi Garwood, Executive Director, NEON Tech Hub (Region 6): “We’re building a diverse collection of technology, establishing a secure and efficient lending system, developing educational materials, and organizing outreach events to raise awareness about the Tech Go Bags. We are focused on 3 main counties in Region 6. Ashtabula County is up and using it, and the other 2 counties we are supporting, Trumbull and Richland, will be onboarded by early fall.” If you are interested in learning more, please contact kgarwood@neoncog.org.  

As of Friday, May 31, 2024, the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program officially lapsed. The White House announced that 14 ISPs have committed to offering at least one internet plan that is $30 or less, open to ACP-eligible households, and has no fees or data caps through the end of 2024. Altafiber, Astound Broadband, AT&T, Spectrum, and Verizon are among included ISPs. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has lots of resources, including wind-down resources, a low-cost plans page, a record of press coverage in support of the ACP, and more. 

LetMeDoIt was founded by Angad Sahgal, an Atlanta-based entrepreneur, and his father Amit Sahgal. After seeing the need for accessible tools that people with disabilities could use to take ownership of their decisions through the Supported Decision Making System, they embarked on the journey of launching the first disability-focused decision making app. The app is free for all Ohio users till October 31, 2024.

The Tech Summit is set for August 16, 2024, at the Marriott Columbus OSU.  For more information, and to register, click here.   

DODD launched the Remote Support and Assistive Technology four-part Spring Training Webinar Series on April 15. The last training focused on “How to Have a Beneficial Conversation between the Support Team and Tech Vendor.” To access the recordings of these trainings, click here. Additionally, DODD has Statewide Support Teams available to provide technical assistance. Please reach out to the Medicaid Administration and Development Specialist and/or Community Life Engagement Project Manager connected to your region if you have questions. You can find a map of contacts here. 

Ohio's Technology First Community of Practice is for people with lived experience, families, intermediate care facilities, providers, county board employees, educators, and anyone else in Ohio interested in taking a deeper dive into supportive technology. The meetings occur on the second Friday of every other month and feature updates and opportunities to network. Join us July 12, 2024, at 2 PM. Click here for more information and to register. Please check out the Ohio Technology First Community of Practice Padlet here.