(A)
Technical assistance efforts
A qualified technical assistance provider or qualified protection and advocacy system technical assistance provider receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (b)(1) shall support a technical assistance program for States or protection and advocacy systems receiving a grant under section 3003 or 3004 of this title, respectively, that—
(i)
addresses State-specific information requests concerning assistive technology from entities funded under this chapter and public entities not funded under this chapter, including—
(I)
effective approaches to Federal-State coordination of programs for individuals with disabilities related to improving funding for or access to assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities;
(II)
model State and local laws, regulations, policies, practices, procedures, and organizational structures, that facilitate, and overcome barriers to, funding for, and access to, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services;
(III)
effective approaches to developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining activities described in section 3003 or 3004 of this title, as the case may be, and related to improving acquisition and access to assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities, and requests for assistance in developing corrective action plans;
(IV)
policies, practices, procedures, regulations, or judicial decisions related to access to and acquisition of assistive technology devices and assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities;
(V)
effective approaches to the development of consumer-controlled systems that increase access to, funding for, and awareness of, assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; and
(VI)
other requests for information and technical assistance from entities funded under this chapter; and
(ii)
(I)
assists targeted individuals and entities by disseminating information and responding to requests relating to assistive technology by providing referrals to recipients of grants under
section 3003 of this title or other public or private resources; and
(II)
provides State-specific, regional, and national technical assistance concerning assistive technology to entities funded under this chapter, and public and private entities not funded under this chapter, including—
(aa)
annually providing a forum for exchanging information concerning, and promoting program and policy improvements in, required activities of the State assistive technology programs;
(bb)
facilitating onsite and electronic information sharing using state-of-the-art internet technologies such as real-time online discussions, multipoint video conferencing, and web-based audio or video broadcasts, on emerging topics that affect State assistive technology programs;
(cc)
convening experts from State assistive technology programs to discuss and make recommendations with regard to national emerging issues of importance to individuals with assistive technology needs;
(dd)
sharing best practice and evidence-based practices among State assistive technology programs;
(ee)
developing or maintaining an accessible, national, and public website that includes information, tools, and resources on assistive technology devices and assistive technology services and links to State assistive technology programs, appropriate Federal departments and agencies, and private resources;
(ff)
developing a resource that connects individuals from a State with the State assistive technology program in their State;
(gg)
providing access to experts in the State-level activities described in
section 3003(e)(2) of this title through site visits, teleconferences, and other means, to ensure access to information for entities that are carrying out new programs or programs that are not making progress in achieving the objectives of the programs; and
(hh)
supporting and coordinating activities designed to reduce the financial costs of purchasing assistive technology for the activities described in
section 3003(e) of this title, and reducing duplication of activities among State assistive technology programs.
(B)
Collaboration
In developing and providing technical assistance under this paragraph, a qualified technical assistance provider or qualified protection and advocacy system technical assistance provider receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (b)(1) shall—
(i)
collaborate with—
(I)
organizations representing individuals with disabilities;
(II)
national organizations representing State assistive technology programs;
(III)
organizations representing State officials and agencies engaged in the delivery of assistive technology;
(IV)
other qualified protection and advocacy system technical assistance providers and qualified technical assistance providers;
(V)
providers of State financing activities, including alternative financing programs for assistive technology;
(VI)
providers of device loans, device demonstrations, and device reutilization; and
(VII)
any other organizations determined appropriate by the provider or the Secretary; and
(ii)
in the case of a qualified technical assistance provider, include activities identified as priorities by State advisory councils and lead agencies and implementing entities for grants under
section 3003 of this title.