AAC Funding – Alternate Funding Sources

Alternate Funding Sources

AAC Funding works with clients who are eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and/or Private Insurance – and those who have been denied or who are not eligible for those sources.

When this happens, we encourage families to investigate other avenues for assistance. Historically, our clients have found many creative ways to obtain the needed funding.

Some ideas other clients have used:

Other additional sources of funding:

Additional Funding Sources: State & National

Below are funding sources available through national organizations and state agencies.

Know of a funding source we're missing? If you would like to share information on funding sources in your area, please send an email to info@prc-saltillo.com. Please provide the name of the organization, a method of contacting them, and a brief description.

  

ALS

The ALS Care Grant Program offers up to 50 grants per quarter for up to $500 per grant. Clients must reapply every quarter to be reconsidered. Grants must be utilized for services related to patient care, including durable medical equipment purchase/copays, transportation assistance, speech generating device purchases/copays, home modification and much more. More information is available via the local chapters; search by state to find one closest to you.

AT3 Center - State Financing

Your one-stop connection to resources about the Assistive Technology Act, State Assistive Technology Programs, and general assistive technology information.

Chive Charities

Chive Charities Chive Charities helps people in need throughout the country, targeting three specific causes: rare medical diagnoses, first responders and veterans. Grants are drawn from the Chive Fund, a pool of donations given by donors.

DonorsChoose.org

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Easter Seals

Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs and their families live better lives for nearly 100 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

Dream Factory

The Dream Factory is the largest volunteer-driven wish-granting organization that grants dreams to children 3 through 18 who are either critically or chronically ill. They strive to provide hope and happiness for children with serious illness by making dreams come true.

First Hand Foundation

First Hand is dedicated to impacting the health of children, their families and communities through reactive and preventative initiatives. They provide funding for individual children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted.

Lori’s Voice

Lori's Voice is a non-profit organization founded and established to help young people with disabilities. The organization helps provide equipment, educational resources and medical assistance to children with neuromuscular and other degenerative diseases under the age of 18.

The Les Turner ALS Foundation

The Les Turner ALS Foundati, including variety of financial assistance to ALS patients and their families, including the Walter Boughton Foundation Patient and Family Services Grant Program, the Dan Nelson Respite Care Grant Program, loan banks for augmentative communication devices and durable medical equipment and the Stuart Rosen ALS Transportation Fund.

Orange Effect

Founded by a father of a boy with Autism, OEF strives to make sure that every single person has the ability to communicate. That can be using their voice, or by using some of the amazing technology that exists. Grants are available for all 50 states and for individuals under the age of 21.

The Romich Foundation

The Romich Foundation supports multiple causes, including initiatives working with people with disabilities – especially those who use AAC and other forms of assistive technology.

Small Steps in Speech

Small Steps in Speech is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which provides financial support to families seeking speech and language services for their children, either not covered or not fully covered by their health care plan.

Sunshine Foundation

Sunshine Foundation’s sole purpose is to answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child’s illness may cause.

United Healthcare Children's Foundation

The United Healthcare Children's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to facilitating access to medical- related services that have the potential to significantly enhance either the clinical condition or the quality of life of the child and that are not fully covered by the available commercial health benefit plan. This "support" is in the form of a medical grant to be used for medical services not covered or not completely covered by commercial health benefit plans.
Phone: 800.328.5979 ext. 24459 or 952.992.4459

Variety – The Children's Charity

Variety, The Children’s Charity’s Future Program delivers crucial life-enriching communication equipment and services, education and self-esteem to individual children and children’s organizations. Together through the Future program we enrich children’s lives by granting items and services that provide communication, education and self-esteem. Grants under the Future program are made to individual children and children’s organizations.

Team Gleason

Team Gleason’s mission is to improve life for people living with ALS by delivering innovative technology and equipment, as well as providing and empowering an improved life experience. Team Gleason provides AAC device copays and equipment loans for individuals with ALS.

  

Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)

AzLAT is an alternative financing program designed to assist individuals with disabilities (or others on their behalf) to borrow money at affordable rates for the purchase of assistive technology. Qualified applicants (persons who can demonstrate ability to repay the loan) may be approved to borrow money in amounts ranging from $500 to $20,000. Pre-loan support services, flexible repayment terms, below market interest rates, and no prepayment penalties are unique features of this consumer responsive program which are not often found through more traditional lenders.

  

Georgia Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program

The Georgia Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (GATEDP) is a program enacted by the Georgia Legislature that provides specialized telecommunication equipment to Georgia residents with hearing and/or speech impairments that prevent them from using ordinary telecommunication equipment.

Georgia Department of Community Health

Established in 1982, the Katie Beckett Medicaid Program (KB) permits the state to ignore family income for certain children who are disabled. It provides benefits to certain children 18 years of age or less who qualify as disabled individuals under §1614 of the Social Security Act and who live at home rather than in an institution.

Tools for Life

Locating funding often creates a barrier to acquiring needed assistive technology devices and services. While Tools for Life does not directly fund the purchase of devices, it is a resource for individuals with disabilities and their family members, staff, service providers, counselors, employers, and others to:

  • Obtain information about assistive technology in appropriate funding sources
  • Borrow equipment on a trial basis
  • Purchase selected equipment or software at discount prices
  • Consult with specialists regarding accessibility issues
  • Receive training
  • Receive on-site support at home, in schools and on the job

The Tools for Life team also works closely with school personnel, family and related service providers and offers helpful information on related laws, policies, funding tips, and possible funding sources.

  

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program

IATP’s mission is to increase access to and the acquisition of Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services for individuals of all ages with disabilities.

Illinois Elks Association/Children's Care Corp

The Illinois Elks Children’s Care Program steadfastly dedicates itself to helping children and parents cope with medical problems today, including providing services, treatments, and equipment needed to ease a child’s daily burden in coping with a physical problem.

  

AT Access

ATK staff will work with you to review public and private funding resources, identify the ones most likely to fit your situation, and assist you in completing applications and submitting required funding documentation.

  

University of Montana – The Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities

Montana Assistive Technology Loans (MATL) offers Montanans with disabilities, or their family members, the ability to purchase assistive technology (AT), for a variety of needs.

  

Nebraska Alternative Financing Program – Easterseals Nebraska

Alternative Financing Solutions is a service of Easterseals Nebraska that provides low-interest loans for the purchase of assistive technology devices and services.

Nebraska Public Service Commission

The Nebraska Specialized Telecommunications Equipment Program (NSTEP) allows eligible applicants to receive assistance in acquiring specialized equipment including amplified telephones, TTYs, signaling devices, speech generating devices (SGDs) and wireless devices. The program utilizes a voucher system and participating vendors. The application package is available for downloading along with additional information.

  

CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada

CARE Chest's programs are provided free of cost to low-income Nevadans.

  

New Mexico Technology Assistance Program

NMTAP offers free services to New Mexicans with disabilities to help them get the assistive technology (AT) services they need. It is a statewide program designed to increase knowledge of, access to, and acquisition of assistive or adaptive technology for anyone with any disability, anywhere in the state, of any age.

Self-Help Credit Union

Thanks to a federal grant, Self-Help offers loans for assistive technology that can cover almost any equipment to boost quality of life for a person with disabilities—like hearing aids, vehicle upfits and more.

  

North Dakota Assistive Technology

North Dakota's Assistive Technology Financial Loan (ATFL) program offers the people of North Dakota a financing option to help bridge the gap between resources and the need for assistive technology device and service purchases.

  

The MJB Foundation

The MJB Foundation supports children with mental and physical challenges, sponsoring recreational and educational activities, donating physical goods and making monetary contributions to help children with mental and physical challenges.

Zane's Foundation

Zane's foundation helps children and adults with special needs by educating families about beneficial resources as well as assisting with financial support for things such as: camps, therapies, respite, assistive or adaptive equipment, communicative devices, etc. that help to meet daily challenges.

  

Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation

The Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation assists Oklahomans with disabilities in getting the assistive technology or durable medical equipment they need.

  

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is a statewide, non-profit organization that helps individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians acquire the assistive technology devices and services they want.

South Carolina Assistive Technology Program

The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) uses technology devices and services to help people with disabilities live, work and learn more independently.

  

ARC of Davidson County

ARC's Family Support is a state-funded grant that provides financial assistance for families who have a family member with a disability. The money may be used for anything the family needs to improve their quality of life, such as specialized equipment, medical supplies, respite care or transportation.
Phone: 615.321.5699

ARC of Williamson County

ARC of Williamson County is designed to assist individuals with severe disabilities and their families to remain together in their homes and communities. Services provided include but are not limited to reimbursement for day care, respite care, specialized supplies, home and vehicle modifications, and equipment.
Phone: 615.790.5815

East Tennessee Technology Access Center

The East Tennessee Technology Access Center (ETTAC) is a regional nonprofit agency that helps people with disabilities gain knowledge about and access to assistive technology devices. Their mission: To connect people with disabilities in East Tennessee to the adaptive technology tools and services they need to live with maximum independence and dignity.

Technology Access Center

The Technology Access Center has offered services for middle Tennesseans with disabilities and functional limitations since 1989. The Center is operated by the nonprofit corporation, Access Services of Middle Tennessee. The mission of the corporation’s board and staff members is to promote the independence and participation of individuals of all ages with disabilities in school, work, play and everyday activities through their use of assistive technology.

TDAP (Telecommunications Devices Access Program)

The Telecommunications Devices Access Program ("TDAP") program is designed to distribute appropriate telecommunications devices so that persons who have a disability may effectively use basic telephone service.
Phone: 615.741.3939 or 800.342.8359 ext. 179 or 206

TTAP (Tennessee Technology Access Program)

The Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP) is a statewide program designed to increase access to, and acquisition of, assistive technology devices and services. Through its four core programs: Funding Assistance, Device Demonstration, Device Loan and Device Reutilization, TTAP and a network of five assistive technology centers help people with disabilities and their families find and get the tools that they need to live independent, productive lives where and how they choose.
Phone: 800.732.5059 or 615.313.5183

  

Public Utility Commission of Texas – Relay Texas and STAP

Since 1997, this program has provided financial assistance allowing individuals to purchase specialized telecommunications devices. Persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard-of-hearing and speech-disabled who need special telecommunications devices in order to access the telephone network are qualified.

  

Utah Assistive Technology Program from the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation

The Utah Assistive Technology Foundation (UATF) is a private, non-profit organization. Over the years, UATF has been able to help hundreds of Utahns with disabilities of all ages obtain loans and grants to purchase the assistive technology that allows them to be independent, productive and successful at home, at school, at work and in the community. Our goal is to assist Utahns with disabilities by enhancing their quality of life through assistive technology.

  

The Independence Fund from Opportunities Credit Union

Opportunities Credit Union provides innovative and affordable loan and deposit programs for credit building and repair, business and home ownership, consumer needs, modified vehicles, adaptive equipment and energy improvements along with financial education and counseling solutions.

  

Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority

The Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA) is a Commonwealth of Virginia State Authority created to help Virginians with disabilities obtain assistive technology. The ATLFA provides affordable financing alternatives to help make adaptive equipment a possibility for individuals who might not otherwise be eligible for borrowing.

  

Ben’s Fund Autism Grant

The Ben's Fund Mission is to provide grant opportunities to families across Washington state who need financial assistance, specifically related to their child's autism spectrum disorder treatments. From therapies to equipment, they support local families by easing some of the financial strain associated with autism. Ben's Fund grants are available for up to $1,000.00 per qualifying child, per award year.

The Eric Fund

The goal of the Eric Fund is to help children and adults with disabilities in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area lead more independent, productive lives by purchasing assistive technology not covered by insurance or other funding streams. Each year The Eric Fund awards grants to deserving individuals based on financial need.

  

Independence First

IndependenceFirst is Metro Milwaukee's FIRST resource when people have questions regarding access and disability. We offer over 20 Programs & Services to people with disabilities of all kinds, in all age groups and provide programs on disability awareness and access to the general community.

  

Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources from the University of Wyoming

Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR) and Wyoming Independent Living (WIL) in partnership with First Interstate Bank of Laramie, have developed a program that will offer people with disabilities an opportunity to finance assistive technology (AT) devices and services.

Assistive Technology Loan Program – New York/New Jersey

NDI’s Assistive Technology (AT) Loan Program provides affordable loans of $500 to $10,000 to residents of New York City, Brooklyn, Nassau, Staten Island, Suffolk, Queens and Westchester Counties. Assistive Technology loans from $500 to $30,000 are available for residents of New Jersey.

Northwest Access Fund – Washington/Oregon

The Northwest Access Fund provides funding to people with disabilities in Washington and Oregon to purchase assistive technology and achieve greater independence.

Trankilu Loan Program

A program from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. No website; email for information.

U.S. Virgin Island Loan Program

A program from the University of the Virgin Islands. No website; email for information.