Image courtesy of Easterseals MORC
Easterseals MORC has secured a $352,692 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to launch the transformative Technology First initiative in Michigan, aiming to integrate cutting-edge technological solutions into the state’s support systems for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This groundbreaking effort promises to empower individuals to lead more independent lives, reduce healthcare costs, and address Michigan’s ongoing caregiver shortage.
Technology First is a “systems change” approach to the care of people with disabilities that has been adopted in some form in 22 states. The grant funding will introduce the program to Michigan, which previously was only one of 13 states without public funding for enabling technology for individuals with disabilities.
In Michigan, there are 45,000 people on Medicaid who have an intellectual or developmental disability. The Technology First strategy emphasizes that technology should be prioritized when discussing support options available to individuals and families, utilizing person-centered methods to enhance meaningful participation, social inclusion, self-determination, and overall quality of life.
Easterseals MORC Chief Executive Officer, Brent Wirth highlights being thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the Technology First concept to Michigan.
“Working closely with individuals served, parent advocates, community and government partners and technology experts, we hope to initiate powerful systems change to better support individuals with intellectual disabilities and help address the direct care worker shortage affecting the State,” Wirth said.
The two-year initiative aims to establish a dedicated task force comprising essential stakeholders from various sectors throughout the State of Michigan. This diverse group will be responsible for collaboratively developing a comprehensive road map designed to effectively implement the Technology First approach in Michigan. The task force will engage in in-depth discussions, gather input from community members, and assess current technological resources to ensure a strategic and inclusive plan that addresses the needs of all residents.
This grant project will complement existing pilot projects around the use of technology for individuals with intellectual disabilities. In one pilot, Rochester Housing Solutions, a parent advocacy group, is partnering with Wayne State University to look at the use of a smartphone app to help individuals with intellectual disabilities learn food preparation skills.
In another, MOKA, a provider of services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in West Michigan, received a grant from the IMPART Alliance at Michigan State University to launch an innovative project to demonstrate how Smart Homes can enhance residential support services to increase autonomy, independence, and satisfaction for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The pilot also addresses the state’s severe direct care worker shortage by integrating readily available technology to expand the workforce and provide a career ladder for Direct Support Professionals.
Tracey Hamlet, MOKA Executive Director emphasized being excited about the opportunity this grant provides for Michigan to join other states in Technology First systems change, which is a key part of sustaining these types of supported living options for people with disabilities.
“For the past several years, we have been learning about similar models of support offered in other states. The Smart Home Pilot and now the Technology First grant gives us the chance to put those lessons into practice here in Michigan,” Hamlet said.
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