325 John Knox Road, Bldg 400, Suite 402
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 850-487-3278 / Fax: 850-487-2805
Email: jjohnson@faast.org
Website: www.faast.org
FAAST Mission
• … to improve the quality of life for all
Floridians with disabilities through advocacy
and awareness activities that increase access
to and acquisition of assistive services and
technology.
• The core work of FAAST’s mission is
achieved through Regional Demonstration
Centers throughout the state.
Florida’s Dilemma
• How do you deliver services in a
culturally relevant and effective way to:
– Transient population of over 17
million
– Cultural and ethnic diversity
– Challenging geography
– Large elderly and immigrant
populations
– Urban and rural areas
Service Delivery Strategy
• State is divided into six
geographic areas served by six
Regional Demonstration Centers.
• In each area, FAAST negotiated a
partnership with entities deemed
most appropriate to meet the
needs of local residents.
FAAST Regional Centers
• Education & Training
• Information &
Referral
• Presentations,
Exhibits & Forums
• AT Demonstrations
• Resource Library
• Assessments
• Device Recycling
• Device Loans
Regional Demonstration
Centers
Central – Tampa General Hospital
Rehabilitation Center, Tampa
Focus: augmentative communication,
rehab clients, new injuries
Advantages: on location with many of
the clients who need devices; daily
interaction with vendors, therapists,
social workers.
Regional Demonstration
Centers
Atlantic – University of Central Florida,
Orlando.
Focus: Exceptional student education;
teacher training.
Advantages: On site at major university.
Graduate students both learn about
devices and provide training on them
to clients.
Regional Demonstration
Centers
Northwest – FAAST Headquarters,
Tallahassee
Focus: Collaborations with local
disability organizations (Hospice, ALS,
Easter Seals, CIL), schools.
Advantages: Proximity to state
agencies and legislature allow for
tours, program promotion.
Regional Demonstration
Centers
Northeast – Hope Haven Children’s
Clinic, Jacksonville
Focus: Children of all ages, all disability
types, parents
Advantages: Co-location with existing
program that benefits from device loan
& demonstrations, excellent
community reputation
Regional Demonstration
Centers
South – Florida International University
Disability Resource Center, Miami
Focus: College students, local disability
organizations, immigrant populations.
Advantages: University location
provides great exposure, ensures
diverse clientele. Staff multi-lingual.
Regional Demonstration
Centers
Gulf Coast – NW Florida Center for
Independent Living, Pensacola
Focus: ADA issues, community
education, telecom, local events.
Advantages: CIL provides needed
community base in rural area that
clients are familiar with. FAAST’s
contract expands many programs CIL
already had.
Device Loan Inventory
• In an effort to ensure the inventory for
the Device Loan Program was truly
reflective of statewide need, each
regional center was required to conduct
a device needs assessment in their
areas.
• These needs assessments determined
which devices were purchased for the
program.
Local Device Needs
• Recognizing that every center is unique
and might have unique device
demands, FAAST provided a separate
budget for each center and allowed
them to send us a “wish list” of devices
for their on-site device loan programs.
• These devices supplement the
statewide inventory that is maintained
at the FAAST headquarters.
Local Collaborations
• To further promote collaboration and
outreach to other organizations, each
center is required to execute a
Memorandum of Organization with a
local entity for device reutilization.
• This expands FAAST’s network and
increases awareness of our programs
among other disability service
providers.
Basic Principles of
Statewideness
• The most effective statewide strategy is
a LOCAL strategy.
• Each Regional Center should reflect
the needs and culture of the population
it serves.
• Each Regional Center should be
encouraged to work with other
organizations in their community.
Basic Principles of
Statewideness
• Needs, resources, local politics and
consumer involvement vary from one
region to another.
• People’s AT needs do not conform to
“one size fits all” solutions.
• An effective statewide service delivery
strategy should affirm that reality.