NATRC - Nevada Assistive Technology Resource Center

The NATRC is a statewide project of the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), at the University of Nevada, Reno. As part of the Nevada Assistive Technology Collaborative the NATRC offers a variety of services and support to anyone interested in exploring the world of assistive technology.

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, equipment, software program, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. It might help with speaking, writing, hearing, remembering, learning, walking and mobility, driving, and many other activities of daily living. AT can be much more. For more information, please visit Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA).

Services

• Information and Assistance 
• • Resources, and basic information to people with disabilities, agencies, service providers, and the public.
  • Conversations about assistive technology exploration begin with this.

• Device Demonstration
  • Offers a comparison of options to make informed decisions.

• Device Loan
  • Assists with decision making, or to serve as a loaner while the consumer is waiting for device repair or funding.
  • To provide accommodation on a short-term basis for a time-limited event.
  • For training self-education or other personnel development activities.
  • This is a short-term arrangement, generally up to 14 days (about 2 weeks) or longer if necessary.

• Training
  • Classes, workshops, and presentations that have a goal of increasing skills, knowledge, and competency, as opposed to training intended only to increase general awareness of AT.

• Technical Assistance (to programs and agencies)
  • Needs assessment, program planning or development, curriculum or materials development, administrative or management consultation, program evaluation and site reviews of external organizations, and policy development.

• Public Awareness
  • Activities are designed to reach many people, including public service announcements, radio talk shows and news reports, newspaper stories and columns, newsletters, brochures, public forums and social media.
• Transition services (specific to training and technical assistance)
  • Support and options of how assistive technology may help with education, community living, housing, aging, and other independent living transitions that occur throughout the lifespan.

What to Expect

The Nevada Assistive Technology Resource Center (NATRC) and the rest of our Nevada Assistive Technology Collaborative (NATC) is here to help. We believe that meaningful interactions begin with an engagement process whereby you as the person with a disability are the consumer and are the most important person in the discussion, and we are here to guide you along the path.

Many folks who contact us might be looking for a specific solution and that’s fine.  Ideally and before we can get to that point, it's often best to have a conversation about your needs and what you are trying to accomplish. What is your Goal?  You are the expert and in control of the process, so we rely on you to explain your situation, and from there we begin to understand how we can help and how AT can help you reach those goals. Without this type of process, we have seen many examples of inappropriate referrals and device recommendations, as well as the potential of device abandonment because it doesn’t work for the individual. We want to avoid these pitfalls.

Navigating the system sometimes can be frustrating. But please, start with us. You will find that there are knowledgeable people working within our collaborative, and many are people with disabilities themselves who are users of assistive technology. And it is always nice, as you know, to talk to someone who also shares similar barriers and can discuss things from a functional standpoint. Regardless, we will always try to connect you to knowledgeable individuals best positioned to communicate your options.

If you would like more information about our project or would like to discuss how we could work together to support your AT interests and needs, please contact us.

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