About the Coalition

The California Assistive Technology Coalition, launched in June 2008, is a collaborative effort of the Independent Living Partnership (ILP), California State University, Fullerton, and the California Department of Aging. The work of the Coalition is coordinated by ILP.

The mission of the Coalition is to advance the development, testing and use of assistive technology to help those who are aging and the disabled live independently in their homes and to age in place.

The Coalition has met twice annually in the Spring and Fall. The meetings were held in Sacramento and videocast to a satellite location in Southern California. Coalition work is carried on between meetings through an email list.

The impetus for convening the original roundtable discussion on June 5, 2008 came, in part, from the Assistive Technology (AT) movement evidenced at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) in Washington, DC. Resolutions adopted by the California delegation prior to the conference and those discussed at the WHCoA reflected a growing acknowledgement that the future trend of caring for those seniors and adults with disabilities in need will be enhanced and sustained with the application of new technologies.

The first AT Invitational Roundtable in Sacramento brought together leaders from state goverment, the assistive technology industry, reseach institutions, assistive technology associations, and organizations representing older adults and the disability community.
Participants cited the need for information on the availability and use of assistive technology to help meet the needs of California’s rapidly growing aging population as well as its disabled population.

The Coalition is producing four reports for public release.

• The first report, issued in October 2010, is a demographic trend analysis of California’s aging and disabled populations, including the social, health, economic, policy and regulatory challenges for meeting the assistive technology needs of the state’s aging and disabled residents created by the demographic trends. Click here to read the report.
• The second report is a projection of the kinds of assistive technology California’s aging and disabled residents will need in order to maintain their independence and age in place to the extent possible. This report was issued in the Spring of 201. Click here to read the report. 
• The third report addresses how the assistive technology needs of California’s aging and disabled population are currently being met, focusing on identifying gaps, barriers, challenges and unmet needs. The third report was release December of 2011. Click here to read the report.
• The fourth and final report will present recommendations for policymakers and other public and private sector leaders on steps that can be taken to help the state meet the assistive technology needs of its aging and disabled populations, including promoting the AT industry as an economic engine and source of job creation for California’s economy. This report will be issued in the Spring of 2012.

You can stay current on Coalition meetings, events, publications and other activities by joining the Coalition email list.  Click here if you would like to be added. Please provide as much information about yourself as you feel comfortable sharing. We will not sell or provide your email address or contact information to any outside party or organization. 

For further information on the Coalition, contact Cecilia Burch at:

Independent Living Partnership

6235 Rivercrest Drive, Suite C

Riverside, CA 92507-0758

(951) 653-0740  ext. 22

ceciliaburch@ILPcorp.org 

California Assistive Technology Coalition, 6235 Rivercrest Drive, Suite C. Riverside, CA 92507-0758, 951-653-0740 x22