EmpowerTech Calls for Federal Stimulus Funds to be Allocated to California Department of Rehabilitation for Assistive Technology

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 28, 2009

In recent testimony before the California Department of Rehabilitation ("DOR"), EmpowerTech Assistive Technology Specialist Tom Lange called on the state of California to allocate federal funds received as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (the "Stimulus Bill") to the DOR. With potential DOR budget cuts looming, funds are desperately needed to purchase state of the art computer equipment with assistive technology.

Lange's testimony highlighted chronic equipment shortages and long delays in providing computers to DOR clients seeking to reenter the workforce or pursue postsecondary education and other life goals. He cited multiple examples including an entrepreneur whose case languished for nine months without attention by DOR counselors, and an 87 year old foreign policy expert who nearly lost an entire manuscript due to the crash of a substandard DOR-issued computer for which she had waited more than a year.

Lange proposed a three point solution designed to improve response time and equipment quality provided by the DOR:

1. Increase the threshold dollar amount above which bids for new equipment must be sought. By authorizing counselors to obtain computers and assistive technology from a sole source if they opt to do so, the DOR will be able to provide turnkey solution for their clients in a more timely manner.

2. Improve procurement training for counselors. By teaching counselors how to better navigate the procurement process, and giving them the leeway to execute this function on their own, the DOR will avoid unnecessary delays and "red tape."

3. Designate procurement specialists to assist counselors and clients. By designating administrators at each DOR office whose sole responsibility is to obtain viable technology solutions for DOR clients, the Department can ensure that there is both efficiency and accountability in the procurement process.

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