Special Needs Resource Directory

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Assistive Technology

Children and young adults with special health care needs often require various forms of assistive technology and / or durable medical equipment (DME) -- items or services that help those with disabilities improve or keep their ability to function in everyday life.

From wheelchairs to communication aids, the Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center connects patients and families with resources that can assist individuals with a broad range of limitations.

Each organization listed below provides different products or services and has its own eligibility criteria for potential funding.

Find additional information about adapted resources under Recreation.

Equipment

AbilityHub offers products that serve a variety of special needs, including augmentative communication, mouse and keyboard alternatives, and switches.
Assistive Technology of Ohio helps Ohioans with disabilities acquire assistive technology. Refurbished computers are available as well as a lending library to try out any device or software program that they have available.
Cincinnati Bell Customer Support services has equipment and assistance for individuals with speech / hearing impairments, physical impairments and other special needs. You can contact their Special Needs Department at 513-565-4424 (voice only), 513-241-2899 (TDD/TTY) or 513-241-2942 (Fax).
disABILITY Information and Resources provides links to manufacturers in the areas of assistive devices, transfer lifts, adaptive clothing, exercise devices, medical equipment, reading aides and toys.
EnableMart offers a wide range of products for children with special needs, including hearing, mobility and communication devices.
Eyegaze Communication System enables individuals with complex physical disabilities control a computer through the use of the eyes.
Independent LivingTechnologies has a variety of assistive technology items including furniture, household, mobility, computer devices, learning and communication equipment.
Lifeline provides a medical alert emergency response system.

Services

The Aaron W. Perlman Center for Children housed at Cincinnati Children's provides assessments, consultation, advocacy and support to children and adults on a wide array of assistive technology.
Children's Hospital Trauma Services provides a child safety seat guide.
The Home Care Services Division at Cincinnati Children's provides rehabilitative services and assistance with home medical equipment, including adaptive wheelchairs for children and standers.
Abilities First Foundation provides assessments, consultations and training regarding mobility aides and augmentative / alternative communication devices for individuals with physical disabilities in Southwestern Ohio.
Communication Aid Manufacturers Association provides a way to order free product catalogs from participating manufactures and conducts nationwide workshops about use of available products.
Hamilton County Educational Service Center consults with Hamilton County school districts (with the exception of Cincinnati Public Schools) to provide planning for students with assistive devices.
Redwood, located in Northern Kentucky, provides evaluations for computer access, augmentative communication and environmental access. Assistive technology is available for demonstration or rental for trial use.
ReUzit Medical is a consignment store in Covington, Kentucky that has gently used durable medical equipment including beds, lifts, wheelchairs, walkers and scooters. They can also repair your existing medical equipment.
Youreable.com offers information, products and services for disabled people in a community-based web site.

Hearing Impairment

The Division of Audiology at Cincinnati Children's offer a wide range of routine and specialized testing for children of all ages and developmental levels. Expertly trained audiologists conduct:

Behavioral Diagnostic Testing
Auditory Brainstem Response test (ABR)
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Evaluations
Newborn and Infant Hearing Screenings and Follow-up Evaluations
Aural / Audiologic Habilitation Therapy and Counseling
(Central) Auditory Processing Evaluations
Dichotic Listening Training
Cochlear Implant Evaluations and Mappings
Pediatric Vestibular Testing
Hearing Aid Fittings and Checks
Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (Baha") Implantable Hearing Aid Evaluations and Fittings

Hearing Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati provides a variety of assistive listening devices for people who are deaf / hard of hearing. The agency defines deaf based on functional ability, use of sign language and affiliation with the Deaf Community. Devices include hearing aides, FM receivers, adapted alarm clocks and other appliances, and TTYs for telephone use. Assessments, training and technical support are provided on equipment.
Medicaid will pay for some augmentative communication devices that are necessary for basic communication. To be eligible for an augmentative communication device through Medicaid, a person must be unable to express basic needs and wants, transfer information, achieve social closeness or demonstrate social etiquette. Devices must be prescribed by a licensed speech / language pathologist. See Financial Assistance for more information about eligibility for Medicaid services.

Visual Impairment

The Cincinnati Association for the Blind offers a Computer Access Service that provides information, evaluation, training and consultation regarding computer access technology for people who are blind or visually impaired. Computer access technology includes devices that convert print or graphics into Braille, large print or synthetic speech. The Low Vision Service provides evaluation, information, training and consultation regarding devices that enhance usable vision.
Clovernook Center for the Blind provides assessment, consultation, training and follow-up support for a wide variety of adaptive products for persons with visual impairment. These include low vision aides, speech synthesizers and screen reader programs, and Braille displays.

Toys

Children with special health care needs often require specially adapted toys to help them join in interactive play. To help find a toy perfectly suited for your child, including switch-activated toys, check out the web sites listed below.

Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Toy Library, part of the Jack Rubinstein Libraries at Cincinnati Children's, lends toys and educational software to parents and teachers at no cost.
AblePlay provides a toy rating system with comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs.
Assessment Tool Shop offers a variety of toys and technology devices for children of all ages and developmental levels.
Assistive Technology of Ohio helps Ohioans with disabilities acquire assistive technology. They also keep up with current legislative activity that affects persons with disabilities. You can also find adaptive toy libraries in Ohio.
Beyond Play specializes in early intervention products for children birth to age 5 with special needs. They offer a great selection of toys that are all appropriate for Early Intervention, including occupational, physical, speech and developmental therapies.
Dragonfly Toys offers toy and assistive technology products for children with special needs. Parents can sign up and customize the use of this web site to their child's particular diagnosis and / or developmental level. You'll also find articles and play tips.
Enabling Devices, a division of Toys for Special Children, Inc., is a company dedicated to developing affordable learning and assistive devices to help people with disabling conditions. They design electro-mechanical assistive and adaptive devices for people of all ages.
John R. Green, located in Covington, Kentucky, has toys and educational products to help children with special needs.
Special Needs Toys has a variety of toys and devices to support play, daily living, communication and sensory integration.
Toys R Us provides an online Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids. The guide can be searched by categories, including auditory, creativity, fine motor, gross motor, language, self-esteem, social skills, tactile, thinking and visual.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps current information on unsafe toys that have been recalled.
U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) provides information on toy safety and recalls.

Funding

Funding for assistive technology for children can come from your school, Medicaid and private insurance companies or local disability-related organizations and agencies. The Individuals with Disablities Education Act requires public schools to provide a free and appropriate education and related services, including assistive technology, to meet the unique educational needs of children with disabilities. Medicaid and private insurance companies are increasingly recognizing augmentative / alternative communication devices as medically necessary forms of durable medical equipment. Unfortunately, there is often not a clear answer on who should pay, and obtaining funding usually requires patience and creativity.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) offer AAPD members a wide range of easily accessible financial loans for products that assist people with disabilities.
Assistive Technology of Ohio helps Ohioans with disabilities acquire assistive technology. They also keep up with current legislative activity that affects persons with disabilities. You can also find adaptive toy libraries in Ohio.
Assistive Technology Law Center provides information about resources that provide funding assistive technology devices.
Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) may provide funding for certain types of assistive technology deemed medically necessary, including braces, hearing aides and medical supplies. For children ages 0-3 years, BCMH may fund augmentative communication devices.

Funding is only provided after the other funding sources such as private insurance, Medicaid, special education services and Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) have been denied. See Financial Assistance for information about eligibility and additional services.
Family Support Services Program can assist eligible families with specific expenses including respite, adaptive equipment, home modifications and special diets. A sliding fee scale is used to determine the percentage a family will pay for services. The program is administered by The Arc Hamilton County for families who are eligible to receive MRDD services.
First Hand Foundation provides grants for eligible children whose clinical, health care needs are not adequately covered by insurance and state aid. They can assist with expenses associated with assistive technology equipment, care devices and hearing aids. The child must be 18 years of age or younger (a child 18 – 21 can be considered if under the care of a pediatrician and in a child-like state) and the family must meet financial guidelines.
Medicaid will pay for some assistive technology / durable medical equipment devices that are necessary for daily function. See Financial Assistance for more information about eligibility for Medicaid services.
MRDD County Boards of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities fund assistive devices for consumers employed in a workshop setting through one of its adult centers or who are receiving supported employment services.

MRDD focuses on communication devices, but will fund all types of assistive technology. Referrals must be made through an MRDD service coordinator. See MRDD for additional information on eligibility for services.
National Organization Caring for Kids (NOCK) provides grants for communications devices for children with severe communication impairment caused by a chronic illness.
Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) provides funding for assistive technology if it is necessary to achieve a vocational goal. The commission provides vocational, rehabilitation and counseling for individuals with disabilities through two programs: the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) that serves all special-needs individuals, and the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI).

Services must be provided through an individualized plan for employment (IPE) developed by the person, the rehabilitation counselor or other involved individuals.
Social Security (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may help purchase assistive technology through work incentive programs. Work incentive plans set aside income earned at a job toward cost of a device without effecting monthly benefits. See Financial Assistance for additional information about eligibility for Social Security services.

Other Helpful Sites

Here are some other helpful sites related to assistive technology:

Abledata is a comprehensive database of 25,000 assistive devices for individuals with all types of disabilities. The information on the site is free and can be searched by keyword, brand name or manufacturer / distributor.
Adaptivemall.com is an online supplier who is committed to help families find the best equipment to support their children at their highest level of functioning.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association provides helpful information and resources.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Centers provides helpful resources and information for adults and children.
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) can help you find solutions, determine costs and find vendors of AT products for people with disabilities, family members, service providers, educators and employers.
Family Center on Technology and Disability offers a range of information on the subject of assistive technology, including reviews of assistive technology related articles, books, brochures, newsletters, directories, training manuals, software, web sites, and more. The web site also offers a monthly newsletter.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders provides information and resources.
United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication provides information and resources.
USA TechGuide is a comprehensive directory of web sites to help locate wheelchair and assistive technology devices.
Wheels for the World accepts wheelchair donations for restoration and distribution overseas to individuals in need. Local area contact 513-489-9740.
Several sites have information about the Assistive Technology Act, reauthorized in 2004, including: