Raising Awareness through Assistive Technology and Celebrating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary

Raising Awareness through Assistive Technology and Celebrating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Anniversary
Recently, members of Disability Rights California’s outreach team and Healthcare/HCBS practice group attended the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Assistive Technology Conference in Orange County. Through attending the conference, both groups were able to connect with members of the disability community and their support systems about DRC’s services.
The conference is an opportunity for researchers, educators, and people with disabilities to share knowledge, best practices, and innovations in the assistive technology space.
Bhumit Shah, an advocate with DRC’s Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) team attended the conference the year before, and recommended DRC join the event as a participant. He said that attending in-person events is important because it dispels misconceptions people might have about DRC.
“Meeting people in-person helps them understand that many of our employees also have disabilities,” Shah said. “And we want to work together to impact their lives, and work alongside people, and empower people to be better self-advocates.”

Robotic Arm Assistive Technology
In addition to the table of DRC information, DRC staff attorneys Nick Levenhagen and Denise Miller from the Healthcare/HCBS practice group presented about improving access to a piece of assistive technology called the Kinova Jaco Assistive Robotic Arm.
The robotic arm attaches to a power wheelchair for people with upper limb disabilities. It’s operated by blowing through a straw or using a joystick and can help with performing daily tasks such as grooming, bathing, cooking, using a phone, or opening doors.
Levenhagen and Miller work to help people access programs to qualify for the arm, which is often not covered on the first try by Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. The arm is often denied for a variety of reasons, including claims that the arm is experimental — despite its prevalent use, peer-reviewed studies, and FDA approval, as well as the device’s approximately $100,000 price tag. Their presentation outlines how to work towards getting the Jaco arm, as well as the steps they have taken to help people appeal and successfully obtain the Jaco arm through Medi-Cal.
“We'll talk about your appeal options through the plans, like requesting a State Fair Hearing or an Independent Medical Review through the Department of Managed Healthcare,” Miller said. “Which is actually where we've been most successful in our client cases.”
Miller said she hopes their presentation, which will be done alongside a Jaco arm representative, will help people learn about the Medi-Cal appeal process, provide context for why they might need to file an appeal, as well as information about the steps they can take to “fight back and get the equipment you need.”


Assistive Technology Benefits
The conference underscores the need for people with disabilities and their support systems to connect with information and tools to live independent lives. For Shah, who uses assistive technology in his personal life, he said that it “affects all of our lives, and for people with disabilities, assistive technology levels the playing field so we can get equal access to many services or products.”
For Levenhagen, presenting about assistive technology roots him in why he does this line of work—to connect people to services amidst a complicated system.

“Too many families forgo needed assistance and help that are medically necessary for their lives and for taking care of their families,” Levenhagen said. “And I’m here to help make sure that gets fixed.”

Celebrating the Legacy and Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Join us this July 2024 as we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark piece of legislation that transformed accessibility and inclusivity in the United States.
Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in key areas of life, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunications.
As we honor this milestone, let’s renew our commitment to fostering a society that embraces inclusiveness and accessibility for everyone. Let’s uphold the ADA’s legacy by continuing to advocate for equal rights and opportunities, challenging barriers and discrimination, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of life.
Together, we can build a world where every individual can flourish!
Join our social media campaign this month & be part of the movement! Get involved:
Tag us in a social media post and use the hashtag #ThanksToTheADA:
Facebook: @DisabilityRightsCalifornia
Twitter: @DisabilityCA
Share a moment in your life when you were thankful for the ADA or what the ADA means to you, and/or how we as a community can continue the conversations on equality and civil rights.

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