FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berkshire County Arc
395 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
BCArc Receives $20k Assistive Technology Grant from Arc of MA
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (May 1, 2018) – Berkshire County Arc (BCArc) is pleased to announce that they received a $20k grant from Becker Family Trust which is administered through The Arc of Massachusetts’ Becker Center for Advocacy. The grant is for Assistive Technology, which will help BCArc pair children and adults with Autism with different assistive technology devices and choose one or two that are best-matched to their skills, capabilities and interests, and which will support communication and social skill enhancement.
Staff and family members will be trained to support the child or adult with Autism to fully utilize the assistive device chosen to the best of their ability in as many settings as possible. BCArc will ensure that the use of the identified assistive device is incorporated into all service planning documentation and that the child or adult with Autism is continually supported to self-identify what is important to them as they communicate their needs, desires, and chosen lifestyle.
Identified devices could include the following: Apple iPads, Stylus, Tobii Dynavox Compass software for iPad, LAMP Words for Life software for iPad, Boardmaker, Tactus Aphasia bundle for iPad, Constant Therapy, Logan ProxTalker, Logan ProxPAD, Tangible Object Cards, and Talk My Way Cards. Berkshire County Arc staff will collaborate with staff at United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County’s Assistive Technology Regional Center which provides free trial of some of the devices.
“We are excited to receive this grant and look forward to expanding our programming with these devices and giving individuals the opportunities to enhance their communication and have new learning tools at their disposal”, said BCArc President and CEO, Kenneth W. Singer.
About Berkshire County Arc
Founded in 1954, Berkshire County Arc is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization providing a broad range of community-based services to 750 individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties in Massachusetts. The agency offers three day programs, 39 residential programs, employment services, citizen- and self-advocacy programs, respite services, an adult family care program and Zip ‘N Sort Mail Services. For more information, media professionals may contact Katrina Cardillo at 413-499-4241, ext. 254 or kcardillo@bcarc.org, or visit https://bcarc.org.
Contact:
Katrina Cardillo
Director of Marketing & Development
413-499-4241 ext. 254
kcardillo@bcarc.org
