KARRN and ACAT updates May and June 2024

Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology (ACAT)

1. We held an ACAT advisory committee meeting to discuss funding, adding new members, and moving forward.
2. We had the field representative from Hal Rogers office visit ACAT.
3. We had the team at Complete 3D tour ACAT.
4. We had high school students from different eastern Kentucky high schools, attending a scrub camp, tour ACAT.
5. Incoming Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) students toured ACAT.

Demonstrations/community activities

1. We continued with our monthly activities with the LKLP Adult Daycare and the Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center.
2. We participated in Senior Games 2024 in Perry Co. and had an informational table.
3. We attended and had an exhibitor table at the Kentucky Assistive Technology Service Network Summer Assistive Technology conference.

Local Presentations

1. Keisha presented on ACAT, at a community health worker training that Kentucky Homeplace was hosting.
2. Keisha gave an ACAT presentation at the Aging Council meeting in Perry County, which included people from surrounding counties.
3. Pat met with directors of various departments at King’s Daughters Hospital in Ashland to discuss ACAT. Pat and Keisha have a follow-up meeting with them in mid -July to discuss how we can work with them to more effectively serve the people within their region.
4. We conducted a demonstration with the staff at the Knott County Nursing Home. We demonstrated the types of AT loan locker items we have available at the ACAT.

National Presentations

1. Pat, Fran, and Keisha were accepted to present at the National Rural Health Association conference in New Orleans. Pat presented at this meeting in early May.
2. We were selected to provide a full presentation at the Closing the Gap conference in October 2024. We will be presenting on our CARAT-TOP program.
3. We submitted a poster presentation abstract to the ATIA conference in early 2025.

CARAT-TOP Program

1. We hired a new high school student to work in ACAT.
   1. She was one of our CARAT-TOP students from Hazard High School.

Toys with a Purpose program

1. For the Second year in a row, we participated in the annual 4-H Teen conference. We hosted 20 high school students plus counselors and engaged them in adapting toys and games. The students came up with fantastic ideas that will be implemented over the course of the next 6 months.
   1. Two DPT students (Kegan Settle and Levi Wiggins) helped as part of their assistive technology special elective.
2. We will be hosting 50-60 high school students in early July who will be attending the CHS Summer bridge program. These students will be given the opportunity to work on adapting toys and games as they learn about accessibility and inclusion.
3. We have 2 engineering students working with Mary Jo Cooley-Hidecker in the makerspace. They have been busy creating 3D printed switches and switch-adapting battery powered toys for the lending library. They are also creating HOW TO DO IT handouts and videos.

Grace Jones Memorial Fund

• The Grace Jones Memorial Fund review committee met and decided which applications to approve to receive funding.
• This cycle we were able to fund 4 individuals.
  • We purchased 2 lift chairs.
  • We funded one individual to participate in a therapeutic riding program.
  • The 4th recipient was funded to participate in the LKLP Compassionate Hearts Adult Daycare program. This provides relief for the caregiver as well.
  • A 5th individual chose not to accept the funds.

Ongoing Collaborations

• Continuing our collaboration with Dima Strakovsky and his team in Arts and Visual Arts.
  • Held an initial demonstration of the interactive hallway project with our collaborators in the UK Children’s hospital. A lot of great practical ideas were discussed.
• Continuing our collaboration with Regina Hanneman and her engineering students.
  • We have 4 teams that will finish this fall semester.
  • Generating team ideas for the next cohort of students that will go from fall 2024-spring 2025.
• Met with a newer faculty in the College of Design- Kristie Bartlett. She is looking for project ideas for her beginning design students. We discussed a few ideas.
• Collaboration with College of Agriculture. In addition to working with their 4-H students as part of the 4-H teen summer camp, we are working with them to create 1-2 community-based events this coming school year.
• Growing our collaboration with the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass. We have developed several items for them including a switch operated pitching machine and weighted stuffed animals.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Examination of the use of virtual reality in physical therapy practice.
• Examination of the impact of access to refurbished durable medical equipment on quality of life and participation of individuals with disabilities and caregivers.
• Examination of health department health care services provided to individuals with disabilities.
• Examination of the use of assistive technology in physical therapy practice.