Unfortunately, this is available in Illinois.  Some other states do have
similar programs.  The telephone number of the Illinois Assistive
technology Project is 800.852.5110.

Kelly

[Springfield, Illinois] State Journal Register
April 19, 2002

Low-interest loans available to people with disabilities

By JOHN REYNOLDS
STAFF WRITER

A new low-interest loan program was unveiled Thursday that should make it
easier for people on fixed incomes to buy wheelchairs, hearing aids or
other technology items that can help them live independently.

The TechConnect Low Interest Loan Program is a joint project of the
Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Assistive Technology
Program, Security Bank in Springfield and other disability advocacy
organizations.

Willie Gunther, executive director of the Illinois Assistive Technology
Project, said the new program is made possible by a $2.25 million federal
grant. The grant money will be deposited in Security Bank and will serve
as a guarantee on low-interest loans for people with disabilities or
people who have family members with disabilities.

The loans will be at 3.5 percent and will range from $500 to $40,000.

"This program will reach a target population that would not qualify for a
typical bank loans," Gunther said. "Individuals with disabilities often
have very fixed incomes. Family members of individuals with disabilities
often have many medical expenses, so having extra income or funds
available to go out and purchase a computer and the alternate input
devices their child may need isn't going to be possible without a
low-interest loan."

The TechConnect program covers items such as hearing aids, computers and
disability software, Braille equipment, motorized wheelchairs and vehicle
or home modifications.

Gunther said some of these items can be costly. Hearing aids can cost
$5,000, and customized wheelchairs, a medical necessity in some cases,
can cost around $20,000. A handicapped-accessible van, Gunther added, can
cost around $40,000.

The TechConnect program is available throughout Illinois. People may be
eligible for the program if they or a family member has a disability and
could improve their lives by having assistive technology.

For more information, call (800) 852-5110.

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524 or [log in to unmask]


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html