Find Assistive Technology Demonstrations, Device Loans, Reuse, and Financing Through State Programs
The Assistive Technology Act supports state and territory programs that help people find, try, borrow, reuse, and afford technology for communication, mobility, hearing, vision, learning, work, and daily living.
The Assistive Technology Act (AT Act) is easy to misunderstand because it is described as a “program,” but it is not a single nationwide application that sends a device or a check to every person who asks. The Administration for Community Living (ACL), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, oversees the State Grant for Assistive Technology Program and related national activities. The state and territory programs are the practical front door for people who need to explore or obtain assistive technology.
This is an ongoing service network, not a closed annual contest. ACL says the State Grant for Assistive Technology Program is a formula grant: each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas receives a grant, and there are no grant competitions for those state awards. For an individual, the useful next step is therefore to contact the state or territory AT program rather than wait for a national deadline. The AT3 Center directory linked below is the most direct way to find the right local contact.
At a glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Program owner | Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| What this is | A network of state and territory AT programs supported under the Assistive Technology Act |
| Consumer deadline | Rolling; state programs provide ongoing services rather than a single national application window |
| Direct cash award | No. The federal state grant is awarded to state and territory programs, not directly to consumers |
| Main services | Device demonstrations, short-term device loans, reuse or exchange, financing activities, training, technical assistance, information, and referrals |
| People served | People with disabilities across the lifespan, older adults, families, caregivers, service providers, employers, and other entities supporting AT users |
| Coverage | Every state, DC, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Best first move | Use the AT3 state-program directory and ask for a demonstration, lending, reuse, financing, or information appointment |
What the program actually provides
Assistive technology means equipment or services that maintain or improve a person’s independence and functional abilities. It can be low-tech, such as a built-up utensil handle, or high-tech, such as a computer access system controlled by eye movement. It can support communication, hearing, vision, mobility, learning, employment, recreation, or ordinary daily activities. The right device depends on the person, the task, and the place where the device will be used.
The AT Act authorizes four core state-level activities. The exact service names and local procedures can differ, but the categories are consistent.
Device demonstrations
A demonstration lets a person compare devices or categories of devices with guidance from someone familiar with their features and uses. The goal is an informed choice. For example, someone exploring communication support might compare different access methods, mounting arrangements, or speech-generating options. A worker considering computer access might test alternate keyboards, switches, speech recognition, or screen magnification in the context of the software they must use.
A demonstration is not a promise that the program will buy the chosen item. It is an evaluation service that helps reduce the chance of selecting equipment that is uncomfortable, incompatible, too complicated, or poorly suited to the user’s environment.
Short-term device loans
State AT programs may lend devices to individuals, employers, public agencies, educators, and other entities seeking to meet the needs of targeted people or comply with disability-access obligations. A loan can serve several purposes: trying a device before purchase, using a temporary replacement while a personal device is repaired, providing a short-term accommodation, or supporting professional development.
The public AT3 guidance says a lending library can let someone try equipment at home. That matters because a short office demonstration cannot reveal whether a device fits through a doorway, survives a commute, works with a home computer, remains comfortable after several hours, or can be set up by the person who will actually use it. Loan periods, deposits, shipping arrangements, and any small fees are local questions, so ask the state program before assuming the terms.
Reuse, exchange, and refurbishment
Reuse programs help equipment move to a new owner when the original owner no longer needs it. Depending on the state, a program may accept donated equipment, clean or repair it, redistribute it at little or no cost, operate an exchange, or connect a buyer and seller. Reuse can be especially useful for a backup device, an item that public funding will not cover, a discontinued model, or an urgent need while another funding decision is pending.
Availability is inventory-driven. A state AT program cannot guarantee a particular brand, size, or model. Describe the task and constraints first, then ask whether a comparable item is available. For equipment involving mobility, seating, transfers, or safety, confirm that the local program can address fit and safe use before accepting a donated item.
State financing and funding information
State financing activities can include financial loan programs, last-resort funds, device-distribution projects, customized low-cost devices, cooperative purchasing, and other ways to reduce the cost of AT. The federal formula grant itself is not a direct consumer payment. ACL’s description of state financing also makes clear that state programs can help people identify ways to pay for or acquire technology without promising that every request will be funded.
A state program may also help you map other funding routes, such as Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation, a school or college, an employer accommodation process, a private insurer, a nonprofit, or a local financing program. Ask for this conversation early. It is much easier to plan after a useful device has been identified than after an expensive purchase has already been made.
Who can use these programs
The intended audience is broad. ACL describes state programs as improving access to AT for individuals with disabilities of all ages and their families. The public AT3 guidance also tells people not to worry about age or a specific condition before asking for help. Older adults may use the same services for hearing, vision, balance, arthritis, communication, medication routines, home access, or computer use that younger people use for school, work, or community life.
Family members and caregivers can contact a program on behalf of a child, adult, or older relative. Teachers, occupational or physical therapy professionals, speech-language professionals, case managers, employers, and public agencies can also use demonstrations, loans, training, and information services when they are trying to support an AT user.
There is no single national consumer eligibility form or income cutoff for every AT Act service. The state program decides how a particular service is delivered. A demonstration may need only a description of the task and the device category under consideration. A reuse item, loan, financing product, or specialized assessment may have different conditions, availability limits, or fees. Do not assume that missing paperwork makes you ineligible; ask the local program what it needs for the specific request.
How to contact the right program
- Open the official ACL overview to understand the federal program, then use the AT3 Center’s AT Act Programs directory to select your state or territory.
- Choose the service that matches your immediate need: device demonstration, short-term device loan, device reuse or exchange, state financing, training, or information and referral.
- Contact the listed program by phone or email. Explain the task you want to accomplish, where the technology will be used, and whether you need to compare options, borrow something temporarily, locate reused equipment, or plan a purchase.
- Ask what the local process requires. Confirm whether an appointment, referral, application, income information, professional documentation, deposit, shipping payment, or other paperwork applies to that service.
- If you need a device for school, work, a repair gap, or an upcoming transition, state the date and the consequence of not having a solution. The program can then tell you what is realistic based on its inventory and schedule.
- After a demonstration or loan, ask about the next acquisition step. A useful question is: “If this device works, which funding or reuse options are normally available in this state?”
The ACL page also points readers to AT3 for the state-program directory and to CATADA for state plans, activity information, and annual data. Those resources are useful when you need more than a single contact name, but start with the local program because it knows its current inventory and service rules.
What to prepare before the first call
You do not need a perfect technical specification. A short, concrete description is more helpful than a brand name. Write down the task that is difficult, the setting, the person’s preferences or limitations, and what success would look like. “I need to read medication labels in a dim kitchen” is more useful than “I need the best vision device.”
For a mobility or home-access request, gather practical measurements such as doorway width, turning space, bed or chair height, desk height, vehicle details, and the location of steps or thresholds. For a computer or communication request, note the operating system, required applications, internet conditions, access method, and whether the equipment must travel between sites. If a child will use the device at school, include the classroom context and the tasks that are hardest during the day.
Bring relevant reports if you already have them, such as an occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language, audiology, or vision assessment, an individualized education program section, or an employer accommodation description. Do not delay a basic information call solely because you do not have a report; the state program can tell you whether documentation is necessary for the service you want.
During a loan, keep notes about comfort, setup time, battery life, portability, maintenance, accessories, compatibility, and performance during the hardest part of the day. That record can make the later funding conversation clearer, especially when the chosen device needs to be distinguished from a cheaper but unsuitable option.
Timeline and deadline
The deadline is rolling because this is a continuing network of state and territory services, not a single national competition. The state grant is administered through state plans and ongoing activities. That does not mean every device or appointment is immediately available. Programs may have waiting lists, limited loan inventory, regional service areas, shipping times, or separate schedules for reuse and financing.
Contact the program as soon as you know there is a need. If a school term, job start, hospital discharge, or device repair creates a hard date, mention it at intake. A demonstration may happen before a loan; a loan may be limited by inventory; and a permanent purchase may require a separate payer’s approval. Starting early gives you time to compare options and pursue a funding route without turning a temporary gap into a crisis.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating this as a grant application for a guaranteed device or cash award. The federal state grant supports the service network; the local program will explain what it can provide.
- Waiting for a national deadline. There is no single annual consumer deadline on the ACL overview. Use the state directory and contact the local program.
- Naming only a preferred brand. Explain the task, environment, access method, and constraints so staff can identify comparable options.
- Assuming a short demonstration proves long-term fit. Ask whether a loan is available for home, school, or work testing.
- Forgetting accessories and setup. Mounts, switches, chargers, cases, seating supports, software, and training can determine whether the main device is usable.
- Assuming every state offers identical inventory, fees, loan lengths, or eligibility rules. The AT Act establishes the core activities, but delivery is local.
- Treating reused equipment as ready without checking fit and safety. Confirm condition, adjustment, sanitation, repair, and safe-use support before accepting it.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a cash grant for individuals?
No. ACL’s State Grant for Assistive Technology Program is a formula grant to state and territory programs. Individuals generally access services through those programs, including demonstrations, short-term loans, reuse, financing information, training, and referrals.
Do I have to wait for a new cycle?
No national consumer cycle is announced on the current ACL overview. The services are ongoing, although local appointments and inventory can be limited.
Are the services free?
Many services are free, but AT3 notes that a small fee may apply to some loans, and local reuse or financing terms vary. Ask about cost before accepting a device or scheduling shipment.
Can I contact the program without a diagnosis?
The public AT3 guidance says not to worry about a specific condition before asking for help. Local requirements still depend on the service, so describe the need and confirm what documentation the program requests.
Can an employer, teacher, or public agency use the program?
Yes. The AT Act includes short-term loans for employers, public agencies, and others seeking to meet the needs of targeted individuals or comply with disability-access requirements. Professionals can also request demonstrations, training, and technical assistance.
Where do I start?
Read the official ACL Assistive Technology overview, then select your state or territory in the AT3 Center directory. Ask for the local service that matches your need and confirm its current process.
The AT Act programs remain a practical starting point for making an informed AT choice. Their value is not a promise of one particular device; it is the combination of knowledgeable comparison, temporary access, reuse, financing guidance, and local connections that can turn an uncertain purchase into a workable solution.