About the AT Lab

https://cv-atlab.org/about/about-the-at-lab/

History

The Assistive Technology (AT) Lab at Community Vision officially opened its doors in 2018. Our team of AT providers is here to serve the community. We created the Lab in response to community feedback. Several years before our Seven Corners building was constructed, Community Vision polled many stakeholders and families in the disability community to find out what service was most needed. The overwhelming response: easy access to assistive technology (AT) services and support. In April 2020, the AT Lab opened its free Loan Closet.

Our Purpose

The AT Lab is a collaborative education and resource center that is open to the public. It is a program within Community Vision, a unique disability nonprofit in Portland, Oregon. The goal of the Lab is to help build AT capacity in Oregon, Southwest Washington, and across the region.

AT creates possibilities for people with disabilities. It can change lives. We want more people to feel comfortable with AT. Whether it is an individual and her family, a teacher and her student, a speech-language pathologist and his client—our goal is to help close the AT gap that exists in our region.

A large room with tables, chairs, a couch, a run, and a large flatscreen TV. The room follows Universal Design principles, including high contrast between the floor and tables. There are many brochures and booklets on one of the tables

an area for children with orange wobble stools, a green bean bag, a large blue ball, and a table with colorful books on it

How We Are Funded

Community Vision’s AT Lab is funded primarily through local and national grants, as well as private donations. To offset costs, the Lab generates a small portion of income through fees for trainings and direct services.

Advisory Committee

Before the AT Lab opened, we assembled an advisory committee of leaders in that area of assistive technology and disability advocacy. The committee met regularly for two years. Their work informs the purpose of the Lab and its physical space.

Committee members included:

endever* corbin—Self-advocate
Roberta Dunn—FACT Oregon and Parent Advocate
Melanie Fried-Oken, Ph.D., CCC-Sp—Oregon Health & Science University, REKNEW Projects
Ali Hasan—Software engineer and Parent Advocate
Anne Nichol—Attorney and Parent Advocate
Samuel Sennott, Ph.D—Portland State University, Department of Education Universal Design Lab (uLab)
Robin Shobe, MS, CCC-SLP—Oregon Department of Education and Parent Advocate
Noelle Sisk—Portland Public Schools Special Education Family & Community Coordinator and Parent Advocate
Sam Vranizan—Co-president of Bridging Communities Through Alternative Communication (BCTAC) and AT Advocate & Consumer