Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

A major source of financing for assistive technologyis Medicaid, which regularly pays for such items ascustom and power wheelchairs, augmentative andalternative communication devices, specialized beds,bath equipment, high and low-tech lifting devices,and other technology that helps overcome the effectsof disabling conditions.Sources of Medicaid funding vary based on whetherthe person with a disability is under or over age 21,which state he or she lives in, and which program orwaivers he or she qualifies for.Medicare helps pay for durable medical equipment,defined as equipment that:• can withstand repeated use• is primarily and customarily used to serve a medicalpurpose• generally would not be useful to a person who isn’till or injured• is appropriate for use in the homeIt’s any of dozens — maybehundreds — of devicesor systems that increasethe competence andindependence of the user.And there are almost asmany sources of fundsto pay for them. Theperson with a disabilitywho needs assistivetechnology should start byasking for an evaluation(or several), and whenthe need is established,the next step is to find afunding source for it — byasking the school, planningteam and state, federaland private agencies.What Is AssistiveTechnology?Who’ll Pay For It?37