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People with disabilities benefited when President Bush signed the Assistive Technology (AT) Act of 2004 (H.R. 4278) into law this month. The new law eliminates a sunset provision that threatened many AT programs.
The AT Act funds state programs that provide AT devices and services to individuals with disabilities. The U.S. House and Senate worked together in a bipartisan effort to move assistive technology reauthorization along a fast track, without the need for going to a conference committee. The House bill passed on Oct. 8 following approval by the Senate in late September. Although not perfect, the law provides means to increase access to assistive technology for people with disabilities.
The law includes provisions to:
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Make assistive technology legislation a regular authorization. The sunset provision has been waived, which ensures that funding should continuously be made available for AT programs.
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Continue state protection and advocacy programs.
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Include a minimum state grant of $410,000.
ASHA has consistently supported the Assistive Technology Act and the elimination of its sunset provision, which for the last few years left many programs in jeopardy due to the uncertainty of ongoing federal funding.
"We are pleased that critical AT programs will now have the ability to continue offering supports and services to persons with disabilities," said ASHA President Larry Higdon.
"ASHA members across the nation wrote to their members of Congress about the importance of the AT Act to the lives of Americans with disabilities. This advocacy made a difference."
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