Programs and Referrals

We operate the Buffalo Assistive Technology Center which provides Assistive Technology (AT) services for people with vision impairments who are receiving vocational rehabilitation services through the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB).   

Through this project, we serve consumers and counselors of NYSCB in Western New York. We provide services to employers and job coaches, and assist with college and student needs related to education and internships. We provide:

• Readiness assessments
• AT evaluations
• Individualized AT trainings
• Job site evaluations
• Technical support

Referrals for services are made through NYSCB vocational rehabilitation counselors to the Buffalo Assistive Technology Center.

We work with the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) to support their consumers who are in need of Assistive Technology (AT) devices on a short-term basis.

The program, available to NYSCB consumers for employment or educational purposes, is also coordinated with the NYS Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) project.

The Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) Client Services office maintains and manages an inventory of assistive devices used to assist people with vision impairments. We help NYSCB consumers select the appropriate devices to use on a short-term basis.

Requests for loans are made through NYSCB consumers vocational rehabilitation counselors.

We offer Assistive Technology (AT) services for consumers receiving vocational rehabilitation services through Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR).

Services include:

• AT Evaluations
• AT Trainings

Referrals for consumers are made through ACCES-R vocational rehabilitation counselors.

The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) has received funding from the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) to operate a three year project (4/1/2021 – 3/31/2024) that ensures the availability of enabling and/or assistive technology (ET/AT) for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability. 

CAT Client Services is providing this service for the Buffalo area, and through this project are able to service two clients per year.

Adults (21 years or older) who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), and are currently living in non-certified housing or currently living in certified housing with the intention of transitioning to non-certified housing, are eligible. 

Learn more about the Technology to Promote Non-Certified Housing Options for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities Program.

Contact our office directly for referrals under this program.

We provide AT services for students in elementary and secondary school systems. To refer a student to our office, please contact us so we can initiate the contract and referral processes. 

We provide a range of AT services for school districts. For AT evaluations, we apply the following process:

• Following a review of the referral documentation, our evaluators have a 30-minute remote meeting with the parent(s)/guardian(s), educational team (i.e., teachers, therapists), and the student if they are of transition age (14 years and older). This meeting enables our evaluators to ask questions about the referral documentation, review expectations related to the student's curricular requirements, and determine specific areas of need to be addressed under the evaluation.
• An in-person evaluation is conducted at our office. The process includes assessing the individual needs of the student, configuring adaptive equipment for hands-on trial, assessing the student’s ability to use adaptive equipment and modifying the system accordingly, and considering factors related to integrating the AT equipment into the student's classroom and computer use.
• A comprehensive report, including detailed justification and purchasing information is submitted in a digital, password-protected file to the district and parent(s)/guardian(s).

Our AT services are available under private pay to any entity, including to individuals and organizations. In order to provide any AT service under private pay,  we will need a contract and agreement in place. Please contact us to discuss your specific service needs, and to initiate the process.