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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