325 John Knox Road, Bldg 400, Suite 402 Tallahassee, FL 32302

Phone: 850-487-3278 / Fax: 850-487-2805Email: jjohnson@faast.org

Website: www.faast.org

FAAST Mission• … to improve the quality of life for all

Floridians with disabilities through advocacy and awareness activities that increase access to and acquisition of assistive services and technology.

• The core work of FAAST’s mission is achieved through Regional Demonstration Centers throughout the state.

Florida’s Dilemma

• How do you deliver services in a culturally relevant and effective way to: – Transient population of over 17

million – Cultural and ethnic diversity– Challenging geography– Large elderly and immigrant

populations– Urban and rural areas

Service Delivery Strategy

• State is divided into six geographic areas served by six Regional Demonstration Centers.

• In each area, FAAST negotiated a partnership with entities deemed most appropriate to meet the needs of local residents.

FAAST Regional Centers

• Education & Training• Information &

Referral • Presentations,

Exhibits & Forums• AT Demonstrations• Resource Library• Assessments• Device Recycling• Device Loans

Regional Demonstration Centers

Central – Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Tampa

Focus: augmentative communication, rehab clients, new injuries

Advantages: on location with many of the clients who need devices; daily interaction with vendors, therapists, social workers.

Regional Demonstration Centers

Atlantic – University of Central Florida, Orlando.

Focus: Exceptional student education; teacher training.

Advantages: On site at major university. Graduate students both learn about devices and provide training on them to clients.

Regional Demonstration Centers

Northwest – FAAST Headquarters, Tallahassee

Focus: Collaborations with local disability organizations (Hospice, ALS, Easter Seals, CIL), schools.

Advantages: Proximity to state agencies and legislature allow for tours, program promotion.

Regional Demonstration Centers

Northeast – Hope Haven Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville

Focus: Children of all ages, all disability types, parents

Advantages: Co-location with existing program that benefits from device loan & demonstrations, excellent community reputation

Regional Demonstration Centers

South – Florida International University Disability Resource Center, Miami

Focus: College students, local disability organizations, immigrant populations.

Advantages: University location provides great exposure, ensures diverse clientele. Staff multi-lingual.

Regional Demonstration Centers

Gulf Coast – NW Florida Center for Independent Living, Pensacola

Focus: ADA issues, community education, telecom, local events.

Advantages: CIL provides needed community base in rural area that clients are familiar with. FAAST’s contract expands many programs CIL already had.

Device Loan Inventory

• In an effort to ensure the inventory for the Device Loan Program was truly reflective of statewide need, each regional center was required to conduct a device needs assessment in their areas.

• These needs assessments determined which devices were purchased for the program.

Local Device Needs

• Recognizing that every center is unique and might have unique device demands, FAAST provided a separate budget for each center and allowed them to send us a “wish list” of devices for their on-site device loan programs.

• These devices supplement the statewide inventory that is maintained at the FAAST headquarters.

Local Collaborations

• To further promote collaboration and outreach to other organizations, each center is required to execute a Memorandum of Organization with a local entity for device reutilization.

• This expands FAAST’s network and increases awareness of our programs among other disability service providers.

Basic Principles of Statewideness

• The most effective statewide strategy is a LOCAL strategy.

• Each Regional Center should reflect the needs and culture of the population it serves.

• Each Regional Center should be encouraged to work with other organizations in their community.

Basic Principles of Statewideness

• Needs, resources, local politics and consumer involvement vary from one region to another.

• People’s AT needs do not conform to “one size fits all” solutions.

• An effective statewide service delivery strategy should affirm that reality.