Assistive Technology
 
 
The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has a project with the Consumer
Assistive Technology Transfer Network (CATN) to bring federal R&D of all
kinds and apply it to the technological needs of people with disabilities.
The FLC is working with CATN's Bill Newroe to help develop ways to define the
problems/need, disseminate it throughout the labs, collect the responses and
evaluate the technology and possible find commercial companies willing to
turn the tecnology into a commercial product in the assistive technology
arena. Bill has written the following overview description of the CATN and
its interests.

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Are you a person with a disability, or a family member; friend; co-worker who
is interested in disability needs and technologies? 

The Consumer Assistive Technology Transfer Network (CATN) identifies and
facilitates resources for consumers regarding difficult to solve assistive
technology needs/problems as well as to develop and commercialize prototypes
and applications. The CATN is also for developers, researchers and/or
engineers to try out assistive technology-related research and development of
assistive technology prototypes and applications with consumers for relevance
to commercialization and manufacturing. The CATN Manager provides information
and referrals with specific consumer and resource contacts involved. 

The CATN provides access to assistive technology resources that involve 56
state/territory AT programs and 16 assistive technology specialized
rehabilitation engineering research centers with connections to federal
laboratories for technology transfer and commercialization. 

Assistive technology is any device, item, piece of equipment or product
system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or customized,
used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of an
individual with a disability. 

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of
the U.S. Department of Education supports the CATN as an initiative to expand
consumer involvement in assistive technology transfer and development. 

If you see a relationship between a disability problem/need and an R&D
technology or application solution, contact the CATN Manager for more
information. 

Contact:	Bill Newroe, CATN Manager
E-mail:		catn@rt66.com;
Website:	http://www.rt66.com/catn.org
Snail mail:	2008 Rosina St., Suite 2
		Santa Fe, NM  87505
Phone:		505/989-9408
Fax:		505/989-9409
V/TDD:		800/866-2253