RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Mark R. Warner announced Thursday that the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) received two grant awards totaling $7,527,797 from the U.S. Department of Education. The ATLFA was awarded over $4.9 million in federal funds from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research for loans to Virginians with disabilities for the purchase of assistive technology devices and services. Additionally, the Rehabilitative Services Administration awarded over $2.5 million to the ATLFA for Telework/Telecommuting loans. Virginia provided the required 20 percent match of $1,934,551 in state and private sources.
"Many Virginians have overcome the challenges of disabilities and contributed greatly to the prosperity of our commonwealth with assistance from agencies such as the ATLFA," said Warner. "This money will provide additional funding for low interest loans and loan guarantees to Virginians with disabilities for equipment and technology that increase independence, quality of life and employment opportunities."
The grants were made possible by the unprecedented collaborative efforts and sharing of public dollars for a cash match by the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), the ATLFA, the Commonwealth Neuro-Trauma Initiative (CNI), the Virginia Housing Development Authority as well as an investment from Children's Hospital of Richmond." Each grants represents some of the largest competitive grant awards ever received by one of the disability agencies.
"Credit financing is an avenue not frequently available to persons with disabilities due to high unemployment rates and low household income levels," according to Virginia Commonwealth University Associate Professor Joseph Wallace. "Before specialized programs such as the ATLFA, people with disabilities and their families used their limited savings to purchase adaptive equipment, or did without when insurance or government programs did not fund critically needed technology."
"Without the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority, it was very difficult for most middle- and low-income Virginians to access credit financing for assistive technology," said ATLFA Executive Director Michael Scione. "Now, our affordable loans enable many Virginians to purchase special communication devices, home and vehicle modifications, wheelchairs, environmental control devices, hearing aids, modified computers, and low vision aids."
"I am pleased that DRS could play an important role in bringing new resources to the disability community," said Jim Rothrock, DRS Commissioner. "This funding will, for the first time, enable small businesses and nonprofit organizations to use the loans for ADA accessibility modifications and for purchasing technology to employ persons with disabilities. I am particularly excited about the funding available which will enable individuals with disabilities to telecommute or become employed from their own home."
The ATLFA operates a revolving loan fund in a unique private sector-public sector partnership with SunTrust Bank. Loans are made to individuals on a fixed income and to people with credit problems related to their disability. This year's award more than doubles the size of the ATLFA, Virginia's loan fund program, which is now the largest program of its type in the country.
"I am proud of the work of Virginia's Disability Commission that established the ATLFA and with the efforts of Virginia's disability agencies to pursue federal grant monies to help people with disabilities," said Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, chairman of the Disability Commission. "These funds will allow hundreds of people with disabilities to become employed and live more independently."
For additional information about the Assistive Technology Fund Loan Authority, or for a loan application, call Mike Scione, executive director of the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority, at 804/662-9000 or visit the Web site.
