Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center

Opened in July 1996, the Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center (KTC) at The Viscardi Center is a hands-on laboratory where education, evaluation, and training services are offered to children and adults with disabilities, as well as those who require assistive devices due to illness, injury or the natural aging process. Through the use of technology-based solutions, KTC is dedicated to promoting the full participation and independence of people with disabilities, and others, by enhancing their capabilities in school, at work, at home, and in the community.

KTC also offers workstation evaluations for employers who want to reduce their workers’ compensation costs and keep employees working. The Return to Work (RTW) aspect allows employees who were injured to return to work safely and productively.

In addition to individuals, Kornreich Technology Center supports organizations in accommodating people with disabilities in their roles as students, as employees, within their families, and within their communities.  These include school districts, public and private employers, and community services such as museums and parks, benefit from judicious use of technology.  Kornreich Technology Center assists these organizations through the process of choosing and implementing solutions and training professionals to work with people with disabilities.

KTC is staffed by a professional team of multiple disciplines who have specialized in assistive technology for people with disabilities and the aging populations and provides:

• Assistive Technology Evaluations 
• Training 
• Consultation 
• Educational Services 
• Equipment Leasing 
• Return to Work Initiatives and Reduction of Workers’ Compensation 

Assistive Technology Evaluations
The Kornreich Technology Center professionals assist in selecting assistive technology that meets  individual needs in a variety of areas, including:

• Improving quality of life
• Return to work
• Augmentative/alternative communication
• Computer access
• Workstation design

People of all ages and a broad range of disabilities come to the Center to discuss their needs and preferences with an experienced assistive technology specialist. The  KTC  demonstration area allows for “hands on” experience with the devices, software, and techniques geared toward using their unique combination of abilities to address those needs within their personal environment and lifestyle. The specialist offers advice and guidance as needed to help each person make informed choices and realistic plans. Kornreich Technology Center professionals also travel into the community to provide services.

The result of an individual evaluation is recommendations, which may be for no technology at all, for simple devices or techniques, for sophisticated technologies, or most commonly, for a combination of low-tech and high-tech solutions to the problems identified during the evaluation process. Recommendations generally go beyond equipment to include positioning, postural training, ergonomic assessments/solutions, software, adaptive techniques, and training related to any of the recommendations. 

The Kornreich Technology Center does not provide or sell any products, but instead gives detailed information on recommended products and where to procure them.  We also may provide the necessary devices through a leasing program when budgets are limited.

For the aging population, one of KTC’s most commonly accessed services is assistance in understanding the use of, and eliminating the fear of, today’s changing communication devices such as:

• Smart phones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Desktops
• Use of various operating systems

For learn more, or schedule an assistive technology evaluation, contact croth@viscardicenter.org. 

Training 
Some assistive technology (AT) is very simple, and its operation is intuitive. Other kinds of AT are more elaborate, requiring some learning and practice. Sometimes, new devices or software need to be installed, adjusted, or customized for the individual user's requirements. The Kornreich Technology Center (KTC) provides training in the use of AT hardware and software to the consumer and to others who support that consumer. Training may be a brief orientation to a new device, or extended instruction in the use of complex technology, such as voice-recognition software.

For more information about our training programs, contact croth@viscardicenter.org. 

Consultation 
For solutions to be effective, individual evaluation and training services should not stand alone. Steps need to be taken to prepare the environment where the technology will be used, and the people within that environment. Kornreich Technology Center consults with agencies, school districts and employers with regard to integrating their users’ assistive technology into the classroom, workplace, or other environments. This includes exploring workplace design and universal design approaches that allow everyone to perform at their best.

To learn more about about how we can integrate assistive technology into your setting, contact croth@viscardicenter.org. 

Educational Services 
The Kornreich Technology Center is dedicated to promoting increased awareness of the benefits of assistive technology, ergonomics and related solutions for people with disabilities, as well as the aging workforce. The KTC team is available to make presentations at conferences and meetings, teach continuing education programs and academic courses, and partake in other educational  or business venues delivered through webinars, teleconferences, etc.

Education is provided for a variety of audiences, including: