Tartaglione Upholds Assistive Tech Group’s Work During Capitol Rally

HARRISBURG, May 17, 2016 – Promising to “fight tooth and nail” to ensure the state funding of a special group that helps people with disabilities pay for technology that helps improve their quality of life, state Sen. Christine Tartaglione today rallied in support of the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation.

“I know the work the foundation does,” Sen. Tartaglione said during a Capitol press conference. “For me to get a shower? It’s important. For me to get in and out of my house? It’s important. To have independence and freedom and dignity is important to me.

“I know the loans that you make go a long way. I’m going to fight tooth and nail to make sure we can get every bit of funding that we can.”

About 13 years ago, Tartaglione was in a boating accident.

“My life changed in a heartbeat,” she said.

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation issued its 2015-’16 annual report today.

PATF officials said they are able to leverage a small amount of public funding into a large number of loans. The repayment of loans from past borrowers also provides funding for future borrowers.

The foundation is a non-profit organization, based in King of Prussia, whose mission is to provide education and financing opportunities for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians so they can buy assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives.

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Tartaglione Joins Foundation’s Push for More State $$ to Help People with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, June 2, 2015 – The statewide foundation that helps Pennsylvanians with disabilities improve the quality of their lives with assistive technologies won the promise of Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today to work for a greater state investment in the organization.

The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation provides low-interest loans to people with disabilities. Since its founding in 2002, the group has approved more than 2,500 lines of credit totaling more than $33 million. More than 200 people were approved for more than $1.3 million in loans in 2014.

“I know how important the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation is,” said Sen. Tartaglione, who was partially paralyzed in a 2003 boating accident.

“I know what a chair rail is. I know how important that lift is to give me that independence to help me get outside of my home. My freedom is something I could never fathom to lose,” she said.

PATF helps people of all ages, incomes and disabilities buy assistive technologies like adapted vehicles, wheelchairs, and home modifications – and pay back the money through one of two programs:

Assistive devices that cost more than $1,500 can be had with a 3.75 percent loan. If the cost is less, PATF offers a zero-percent mini-loan that carries a $20 monthly payment.

“This is one of my first budget requests because I know how important it is for PATF to continue providing the good services they have been providing for 13 years,” Tartaglione said.

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Advisory: Tartaglione to Participate in Assistive Technologies News Conference

HARRISBURG, March 27, 2012 –State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione will join the Pennsylvania Assistive Technologies Foundation next week for a news conference to discuss the success of investments in Pennsylvanians with disabilities and the challenges they still face.

            The news conference will be held in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, April 2, at 11 a.m.

            Your coverage is invited.

 

Assistive Technologies News Conference

Monday, April 2, 2012

11 a.m.

Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA.