Empowering Technology Grants Helping Penn-Mar Provide a Basic Human Right to People with Disabilities

The funds will go to standardizing 40 homes with Assistive Technology.

The Covid pandemic was the catalyst for Penn-Mar to reevaluate the way it was delivering its services to the people we support with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

During a time of unprecedented challenges, the increasing role of technology-driven services allowed us to continue our mission and elevate our capabilities. Enhancing Assistive Technology (AT) at Penn-Mar is now a critical component of our strategic plan going forward.

My job as the organization’s Enabling Technology Manager is to ensure that we approach every AT solution intentionally.

Who will be using it?

How will they use it? 

Are team members fully trained in the use of these devices?

It is so important to bring the people we support into this new world. To me it is nothing short of a human right.

Any app, tool, or technology idea you can think of is probably already out there. It’s just a matter of connecting it to the right people to make sense of how they can use it.

We have been deliberately implementing strategic AT solutions at Penn-Mar for the last three years, initially putting smart home devices in three homes, which quickly expanded to a total of 13 residences.

We wanted to dip our toes into how this would work so we could figure out what AT solutions make sense throughout the organization’s 60 homes. It was quite a learning experience!

These tech solutions ranged from customized assistive devices to smart security systems. They included Ring doorbells that allow residents to see who is at the door and control access to their homes. And voice-controlled assistant devices like Amazon Pop and Amazon Show that let residents control lights, thermostats, and other appliances using simple voice commands.

These initial installations gave team members and the people we support in these homes the experience of using the latest and greatest tech for virtual assistance.

Once they immersed themselves in the different features of the technology it became clear what a game changer it was. It successfully helped to promote greater autonomy in daily routines and enhanced the overall living experience for the people we support.

Allis Kensing receiving the SpArc Grant check from The Arc Maryland.

With that learning experience behind us, I collaborated with Matthew Muench, Penn-Mar’s Associate Director of Development, to apply for grants that would help us fund the next phase of our AT expansion.

We are extremely fortunate to have received grant funding from three organizations, which is allowing us to standardize our homes with AT solutions as part of our Empowering Technology expansion program:

• The Aegon Transamerica Foundation awarded us $25,000 to help us empower lives with innovative Smart Home Technology in an additional 30 residences over the next 12 months.
• The Arc Maryland’s SpArc Tank Initiative provided $6,500 to fund Smart Home technology for 10 additional houses.
• And for the second year, Northrop Grumman contributed to continue expanding our SHIFT Training to include additional Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Community Job Developers, and additional team members within our organization to attain a credential that encompasses knowledge of technology integration, best practices, and person-centered assessment.

As each of our team members prepare for their annual person-centered planning — working on their vision and the goals and dreams they hope to accomplish — our nine-person team will be supporting them with knowledge and suggested tech solutions that can help the people they support to be more independent in achieving their own dreams.

Penn-Mar is heartened to know that there are companies and organizations out there that want to hear about different innovative tech solutions for the people with IDD we support and recognize how capable they are of adapting and thriving because of them. Truly a game changer.