Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/872

 112 STAT. 3630 PUBLIC LAW 105-394—NOV. 13, 1998 (14) There are changes in the dehvery of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, including— (A) the impact of the increased prevalence of managed care entities as payors for assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; (B) an increased focus on universal design; (C) the increased importance of assistive technology in employment, as more individuals with disabilities move from public assistance to work through training and onthe-job accommodations; (D) the role and impact that new technologies have on how individuals with disabilities will learn about, access, and participate in programs or services that will affect their Uves; and (E) the increased role that telecommunications play in education, employment, health care, and social activities. (b) PURPOSES.— The purposes of this Act are— (1) to provide financial assistance to States to undertake activities that assist each State in maintaining and strengthening a permanent comprehensive statewide program of technology-related assistance, for individuals with disabilities of all ages, that is designed to— (A) increase the availability of, funding for, access to, and provision of, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; (B) increase the active involvement of individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives, in uie maintenance, improvement, and evaluation of such a program; (C) increase the involvement of individuals with disabilities and, if appropriate, their family members, fuardians, advocates, and authorized representatives, in ecisions related to the provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; (D) increase the provision of outreach to underrepresented populations and rural populations, to enable the two populations to enjoy the benefits of activities carried out under this Act to the same extent as other populations; (E) increase and promote coordination among State agencies, between State and local agencies, among local agencies, and between State and local agencies and private entities (such as managed care providers), that are involved or are eligible to be involved in carrying out activities under this Act; (F)(i) increase the awareness of laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate the availability or provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; and (ii) facilitate the change of laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, to obtain increased availability or provision of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; (G) increase the probability that individuals with disabilities of all ages will, to the extent appropriate, be able to secure and maintain possession of assistive technology devices as such individuals make the transition between services offered by human service agencies or

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