back view of individual in a manual wheelchair

The DME Challenge Part 1

Written by: Christine Fitzgerald, Community Advocate, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center When I think of what life might be like without access to Durable Medical Equipment (DME), it makes me think of living in earlier times.  Not too long ago many of us would have been forced to live in institutions where we would most…

Join Californians with Disabilities to Advocate for Health Care

  On June 13, 2017, people with disabilities from all over California will gather for Disability Capitol Action Day (DCAD), one of the nation’s largest cross-disability events.Disability Capitol Action Day is an annual event coordinated by The Disability Action Coalition as an opportunity for people of cross disabilities, their families and allies to come together…

Are insurance companies required to cover durable medical equipment (DME)?

    by: Kim Cantrell CFILC’s Director of Programs Do you know what your health insurance policy covers when it comes to durable medical equipment (DME)? But first, what exactly is durable medical equipment? According to Medicare.gov, durable medical equipment must: have a lifespan of at least 3 years; be used for a medical reason…

Financial Loans for Assistive Technology Now Available in California!

Financial Loans for Assistive Technology Now Available in California! Finding money to pay for assistive technology can be a challenge for many people with disabilities and qualifying for a loan may seem like an impossible task due to limited income and credit history. Fortunately, on July 11th, CFILC launched a low-interest financial loan program for…

gnetleman in front of a podium is talking in front of an Ability Tools banner

National Reuse Conference Declared a Success by All!

We had such an exciting and successful Ability Tools Reuse Conference! Thanks to everyone that made it out to Sacramento last week! At this national conference, we were fortunate to have folks from all over the United States join us to learn, share, collaborate, and strengthen the Reuse movement in California. Many participants were from…

graphic that says prosthetics are #not a luxery sign the petition to rescind the medicare proposal restricting access to prosthetic care

#NotALuxury Medicare Issue Alert

The Amputee Coalition, along with many others in the prosthetic limb communities, are asking for help in raising awareness of a recent Medicare policy proposal released on July 16 that has the potential to drastically change prosthetic care for individuals with amputations. Keep in mind that even if you’re not currently a Medicare patient, private…

Picture of a little boy sitting at a desk using a communicaiton tablet

Sometimes A Mother Knows Best – Communication Devices Available From Ability Tools

written by Erin Lauridsen, Assistive Technology Educator at ILRCSF Parents of children with disabilities know that part of parenting is navigating complex systems and resources. Jasmin is just such a navigator for her 5 year-old son, Jordan. Jordan has low muscle tone, a mild hearing loss, and developmental delays. Jordan cannot speak, but understands spoken…

$5000 Workplace Accessibility Credit

This post was reprinted with permission from disABILITY WORK TOOLS Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tax Incentives can help offset the cost of accommodating a worker’s disability.  With assistive technology and accommodations workers can keep doing their jobs instead of quitting their trade and applying for social security disability payments.  Workers and employers often do…

picture of three power wheelchairs

Medi-Cal Repair Woes

By Kim Cantrell, CFILC’s Program Director When Medi-Cal pays for durable medical equipment (DME), like a wheelchair or a scooter, the recipient actually gets the device from a DME vendor. Vendors are independent businesses that contract with the state of California to provide DME to Medi-Cal recipients. Sounds simple, right? It gets complicated when we…