Thursday, April 10, 2025
4/10/2025
AT Ownership through Leasing (AOL) - The Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN) proposed project, AT Ownership through Leasing (AOL) will provide individuals with disabilities and older adults the opportunity to permanently own their AT through a lease-to-own option. A key stakeholder is Resources for Independent Living who will collaborate to provide financial education and referrals. The goal of AOL is to help participants acquire AT for use at home, at work, or at school. AOL’s objectives are: 1) Develop and implement a lease-to-own program that makes purchasing AT affordable; 2) Increase access to additional financial resources to purchase AT among people with disabilities and older adults within underrepresented communities; 3) Strengthen financial education on consumer protections and credit building among individuals with disabilities and older adults living on fixed and/or low-incomes, increased medical expenses, limited or no access to banking, and difficulty obtaining credit; and 4) Increase access to safe utilization of mainstream technologies in banking (i.e. online and mobile apps), and other AT useful to improve quality of life and prepare for global emergencies. Anticipated outcomes: 1) Louisiana residents with disabilities and older adults will have more, affordable financing options and resources available to acquire and own new assistive technology; 2) More Louisiana residents with disabilities and older adults within underrepresented communities will have access to credit building initiatives to improve economic positioning via financial education; and 3) More households with disabilities and older adults will have safer access to mainstream technologies in banking, as well as other AT needed to promote independence and to better prepare for global and state emergencies. The expected products: AOL policies and procedures, financial education modules, and marketing materials.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).