— (12/26/2014) What is your hourly rate for Adaptive Technology Training and your rate for Rehab Engineering? We want to look at the average rate nationally as we evaluate our current policies for update.

From Kellie Scott, KY OVR:

$30-$35 & $75. See attached. We are a general VR agency.

Attachments: 1

From Jennifer Beilke, MN State Services for the Blind:

Itinerant Rate 1: $75/hour base rate for trainers who are teaching any of the assistive technology devices in service groups 1-6 identified below and are competent in and training core application software (Windows, WORD processing, Email, Internet).

1) Screenreaders (JAWS, Window-Eyes, Supernova, System Access, NVDA, Apple VoiceOver/Zoom).
2) Screen magnification software (Zoomtext, MAGic).
3) Scanning software and devices (Kurzweil K1000, Open Book, DocuScan Plus, KNFB Reader ).
4) Digital talking book players and digital recorders (Victor Reader Stream, Book Sense, Book Port Plus, Plextor Pocket, Olympus).
5) Note-takers (Braillenote, PacMate, Braille Sense).
6) iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch).

Itinerant Rate 2: $65/hour base rate for trainers who are teaching any of the assistive technology devices identified in service groups 3-6 above and are competent in and training these devices as stand-alone products not interacting with a computer and where competency in core application software is not required.

Itinerant Rate 3: $75/hour base rate for trainers who are teaching any of the assistive technology devices in service groups 1-6 identified below and are competent in and training core application software (WORD processing, Email, Internet) for the Apple Macintosh.

Itinerant Rate 4: Rate will be adjusted to $85 where: the instructor is competent in both Windows core software and Apple Macintosh core software; and where the instructor is competent in either Windows core software or Apple Macintosh core software and any two or more of groups 1-6.

Rates will be negotiated for other software or devices, taking into account need, complexity, whether the instructor has the personal capacity to interpret the spoken or written instructions to a student, and customer satisfaction. In all cases of rehabilitation technology rate-setting, rates may be adjusted as necessary to assure that quality services are available to customers statewide.

Methodology: Rate determined by analysis of Minnesota market rates and benchmarking with other state rehabilitation agencies. Rates are reviewed periodically.

SSB also pays $25.00 per hour travel time and mileage at the federal IRS mileage rate.

From Michael Shoemaker, Utah State Office of Rehabiliation:

At the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, we at the primary funding source for the Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT). This center provides adaptive technology training and rehab engineering. UCAT funds come directly out of the agency budget, so there is not an hourly rate for services that we pay because UCAT employees are agency employees.

From David Bergmann, State of CT Dept of Rehabilitation Services Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind:

$0. We provide our services at no charge to consumers of our Bureau.

From Arlene Lugo, Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Services:

For general VR we have a contract of $100 per hour for both Assistive Technology evaluation and training. We do not differentiate between Adaptive technology evaluation/training and rehab engineering — it all falls under our Assistive Technology services. For the CT BR for the blind, (BESB), I have sent the survey to someone there for their response.

From Curtis Glisson, Blind and Deaf Division Alabama VR:

We have our own Rehab Engineers and AT staff. We also have a CRP that is under contract that specializes in serving Blind consumers including AT services. We rarely purchase these services by the hour.

From Robyn Throlson, ND-DVR:

We don’t currently have set hourly rates.

From Ed Tos, Delaware DVR:

$90 and $90 per hour for AT assessment and training.

From Richard Clark, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services:

Iowa general VR does not have a set rate for either of these. Most of the training would either be done by our AT person in house or be part of the purchased product from the vendor. As for engineering we would be getting bids on the product depending on the amount of the product. Other than that we have no set standards for rates outside of the medicaid rates.

From James Gears, Opportunities for Ohians with Disabilities:

We have two rates for services:
Low Vision Services is $8.70 UOS ($87.00/Hour)
Rehabilitation Technology is $9.50 UOS ($95.00/Hour)

If you would like more information on how we define services our VR Provider Manual which includes service descriptions and rates is online at: http://www.ood.ohio.gov/Provider-Information/VR-Partner-Provider-Services/Provider-Manual. Thank you.

Posted in: Assistive Technology