Narrative: c. 2.

The DSU has been collaborating with other reciprocal agencies in the delivery of service to individuals who need supportive services or assistance in activities of daily living. Working with the ADSD’s Independent Living program, and their recipient of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 funds, allows for greater community involvement and co–sharing of responsibilities and costs. As such, the DSU and the Independent Living program continue to utilize their interlocal agreement to collaboratively case manage and cost–share goods and services that meet a particular need for an individual who is a mutual client of both the Independent Living and VR programs. The DSU claims the state dollars received from Independent Living as match in order to draw down federal VR dollars.

In September 2015, the Assistive Technology and Independent Living Acts funds were awarded to Easter Seals of southern Nevada, Care Chest, UNR, and Nevada’s Assistive Technology Center. There are five core required activities in the Assistive Technology Act, which are available statewide and shared amongst the three providers. The DSU has relationships with all three vendors and routinely refers clients to and receives clients from them for assistive technology and independent living/home modification services. ADSD manages the state’s independent living program. This program conducts a yearly consumer satisfaction survey, the results of which are shared with the DSU. The survey focuses on quality service delivery, timeliness and goods received. This tool allows the DSU and the independent living program to provide more effective services through the information obtained in the survey.

In 2015, the DSU was awarded the Fund for a Healthy Nevada grant to provide statewide assistive technology equipment, evaluation and training based on participants’ needs to improve independence and employability. This is an adaptive resource that is grant–funded through DHHS. Should the grant lose funding, the DSU will continue to provide these same services through NRD’s federally–funded section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act grant, client services funds. Two independent assistive technology labs, which contain the newest assistive technology equipment, are housed at the DSU’s Reno and Las Vegas offices. In addition to traditional assistive technology, these labs place significant emphasis on assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired. Staff will continue training to develop internal expertise in the field of assistive technology. The goal is to continue assessing the needs of and providing assistive technology equipment to VR participants.