Public Act 90-0428 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0428
SB1084 Enrolled LRB9003346WHmg
AN ACT in relation to assistive technology.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training Centers Act.
Section 5. Findings.
(a) There are approximately 2,200,000 persons with
disabilities residing in the State of Illinois, most of whom
need assistive technology for daily living, education,
independence, and employment.
(b) There is a serious lack of resources within the State
of Illinois, especially outside of the Chicago metropolitan
area, for comprehensive evaluations, training, and hands-on
experience with assistive technology to determine the
appropriateness of assistive technology for persons with
disabilities before they purchase assistive technology
devices.
(c) As a result of the serious lack of evaluation and
training resources, a great number of persons with
disabilities in Illinois will do without needed assistive
technology or will purchase inappropriate assistive
technology, thereby diminishing their educational and
employment opportunities and increasing their dependence
upon federal and State support and forcing them to
unnecessarily rely upon community based resources and family
members for financial support and daily living assistance.
(d) It is almost always more cost-effective to purchase
appropriate assistive technology for a person with a
disability to enable that person to reach his or her
potential for independent living, education, and employment
than to provide public assistance and government-funded
personal care assistance for that person.
Section 7. Definition. As used in this Act, "assistive
technology" means a service or device that is used to
increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of
a person with a disability.
Section 10. Department of Human Services; Administrative
Responsibilities.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services shall establish at least one Assistive Technology
Evaluation and Training Center, the first one being in a
strategic downstate location, as determined by the
Department, no later than July 1, 1998.
(b) The Assistive Technology Evaluation and Training
Centers shall be operated by the Department, by
not-for-profit organizations funded through contractual
arrangements with the Department using a request-for-proposal
process, or in collaboration with other entities. The
Department shall, by rule, establish standards and criteria
by which the Centers shall be operated, consistent with this
Act.
Section 15. Functions of Assistive Technology Evaluation
and Training Centers. The Assistive Technology Evaluation
and Training Centers shall offer comprehensive services to
persons with disabilities regarding assistive technology
including, but not limited to:
(a) Comprehensive individual evaluations for a broad
range of assistive technology needs for persons with all
types of disabilities for use in the home, at school, in
employment, and in the community;
(b) Training of consumers and appropriate family members
regarding assistive technology options available to the
consumer and in the proper use of assistive technology; and
(c) Training of professionals, including vocational
rehabilitation counselors, school personnel, and other
individuals who provide professional services to persons with
disabilities and their families to make them aware of
assistive technology as an alternative to more costly
traditional services and to educate them regarding available
assistive technology devices and their uses and costs.
Section 20. Inventory; Trial Usage. The Assistive
Technology Evaluation and Training Centers shall be required
to have on hand a broad array of assistive technology in
order to conduct appropriate comprehensive evaluations, to
facilitate consumer, family, and professional training, and
to offer consumers opportunities for usage at the Centers or
in appropriate community settings.