CAT provides assistive technology services through contracts with New York State agencies, and engages in projects and research activities related to accessibility in a range of contexts.
New York State has two vocational rehabilitation programs, the Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, and Adult Career and Continuing Ed Services- Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) through the NYS Education Department.
CAT has contracts with both NYSCB and ACCES-VR to provide assistive technology services to clients participating in vocational rehabilitation.
Learn more about these projects below, and if you think you may qualify for assistive technology services at CAT through NYSCB or ACCES-VR you can learn more about the process by contacting CAT or your vocational rehabilitation counselor.
We operate the Buffalo Assistive Technology Center which provides assistive technology services for people with blindness and low vision who are receiving vocational rehabilitation services through the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB).
Through this project, we provide:
Referrals for assistive technology services are made through NYSCB vocational rehabilitation counselors. If you are seeking services funded by NYSCB at CAT, contact your NYSCB vocational rehabilitation counselor to discuss the referral process, or CAT for more information.
CAT is contracted to provide assistive technology services through NYSCB for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
We provider assistive technology services for clients participating in vocational rehabilitation through Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR).
Services include:
Referrals for assistive technology services are made through ACCES-VR vocational rehabilitation counselors. If you are seeking services funded by ACCES-VR at CAT, contact your ACCES-VR vocational rehabilitation counselor to discuss the referral process, or CAT for more information.
CAT is contracted to provide assistive technology services through ACCES-VR for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
CAT is the Western Region provider of the NYS TRAID Program, and serves Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. Through TRAID, we maintain an extensive inventory of low and high-tech assistive technology devices.
Schedule an appointment with us
To setup a device demonstration, loan or return of a borrowed item, please contact us to schedule an appointment. Appointments for device demonstrations, loans and returns are free and up to 30 minutes.
Please note, we require an appointment for any TRAID service, including returns. Our small (but mighty) team conducts a variety of services daily, so walk-in appointments cannot be accommodated.
What is TRAID?
The TRAID Program provides device loans and demonstration to people with disabilities, caregivers, educators, providers and students. CAT operates one of twelve Regional TRAID Centers and has for over 35 years.
TRAID is provided under the New York State Justice Center with grants from the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living (ACL), the NYS Department of Health and NYS Education Department.
TRAID Inventory
CAT maintains the TRAID Inventory, which includes assistive technology devices for mobility, safety, positioning, cognition, vision, hearing, education and more. Our range of devices meets the needs of individuals with disabilities pursuing educational and/or work, independent living and early intervention goals.
Our inventory includes:
CAT is one of two provider of the NYSCB Equipment Loan Closet in the state. We work with the New York State Commission for the Blind to support their clients who are in need of assistive technology devices on a short-term basis. CAT maintains and manages an inventory of assistive technology available to support participants in NYSCB vocational rehabilitation in using assistive technology for employment or education.
The program is only available to NYSCB clients for employment or educational purposes, and must meet specific criteria outlined by NYSCB under their Guidelines for Equipment Loan Closet.
Requests for loans are made through NYSCB vocational rehabilitation counselors and must meet the eligibility criteria under the program guidelines. For more information on the program, please contact your NYSCB vocational rehabilitation counselor or CAT.
The Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (KT4TT) was sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Agency (NIDILRR) and operated by CAT for five grant cycles, the last of which ended in 2018.
The KT4TT program assisted NIDILRR Grantees and potential applicants who planned or conducted technology-oriented R&D projects for the purpose of generating beneficial impacts for persons with disabilities. The primary objectives were:
The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) received funding from the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) to operate a three year project (4/1/2021 – 3/31/2024) that ensured the availability of enabling and/or assistive technology for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability. Through this project, CAT served a total of four participants in the Buffalo area.
With funding from the Warren J. Perry and Charles Donald Perry Memorial Fund, a collaboration with Dr. Sharon Ray, of the Occupational Therapy Program in the Rehabilitation Science Department at the University at Buffalo, and CAT was formed. This project enabled the team to development and implement a training program on the built-in accessibility features of Microsoft Office and the Windows operating system, which was then provided to over 200 teachers in an underserved school district in Western New York.
The research team published two articles on the research activities conducted through the Warren J. Perry and Charles Donald Perry 2019 Memorial Fund:
Ray, S., Brunelle, E., Naus, K., Lane, J., & Stapley, B. (2023). The development and implementation of an assistive technology training for teachers in an underserved school district. , (4), 496–515. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2022.2112360
Ray, S. A., Brunelle, E., Grosche, K., Lam, J., Meade, C., & Nolan, M. (2024). Teachers’ Sustained Utilization of Technology: A Follow-up Study. , (2), 394–415. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2023.2168826