AT Funding Guide

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Section 1: Public Sources of Funding

The Aliʻiōlani Hale building and King Ka

The links below lead to public and government funding sources. To find the best options for your needs, check each agency’s eligibility rules, financial criteria, and the types of AT they cover.

Funding from public sources is not guaranteed. You will need to show why the AT is essential. If your request is denied, most agencies offer an internal appeals process.

Section 2: Private Sources of Funding

If public funding is used up and appeals are denied, and your insurance does not cover the assistive technology you need, the next step is to look for private nonprofits and foundations that may help.

These organizations vary in what they provide, eligibility rules, and available resources. You may seek assistance from a private nonprofit, trust, or foundation. This section lists some options and contact information, but there may be other local resources not included here.

Multiple Areas of AT

Ability Found – Equipment for mobility and daily living activities for people of all ages
Alyssa V. Philips Foundation – Equipment to increase the independence for people with Cerebral Palsy
ATRC Alternative Financing – ATRC provides low interest loans for assistive technology
Be Perfect Paralysis Awareness Foundation – Medical supplies, wheelchairs, small scale home or car adaptations, and participation in activity based therapy programs for people with paralysis and varying neurological disorders
Chive Charities – Mobility devices, service dogs, wheelchair adapted vans, and more for people with rare medical conditions, Veterans, military families, and first responders
Duchenne Family Assistance Program – Financial assistance for home and vehicle modifications and equipment needs for families living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Gwendolyn Strong Foundation – Wheelchair repairs and modifications, home modifications, accessible vehicles, standers and wheelchairs, medical equipment, and other assistive technology for people with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Habitat for Humanity Aging in Place – Home repairs and modifications along with community supports for older adults
Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults, National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program – Provide equipment to enable access to telephone, advanced communications, and information services for people who are low income with DeafBlindess
Laughing at My Nightmare Grants – Will cover any kind of AT. One set of grants for people living with muscular dystrophy, one for people living with any disability
Limeades for Learning, Sonic Foundation – Funding classroom projects for public school teachers
Lion’s Club International – A variety of grant projects including vision supports, diabetes supports, and matching grant programs
Make a Wish Hawaii – Children’s wish granting foundation, can include assistive technology or home modifications
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Assistive Technology Program – Equipment for activities of daily living, communication, computers, environmental controls, home and vehicle modifications, orthotics, seating, positioning and mobility aids, vision, hearing, and cooling aids for people with Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy Association – Equipment assistance for a variety of AT for people with Muscular Dystrophy
My Gym Foundation – assistive devices, medical equipment, and sensory devices for children under 18 with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities
NAPA Center Kids Foundation – Equipment such as bikes, communication devices, medical equipment, wheelchairs and more for children with illnesses or sudden injury
Oracle Health Foundation – Wheelchairs, AT equipment, prostheses, care devices, hearing aids, vehicle modifications and more for children under 18 with any disability
Project 34 – Medical equipment and assistive devices for people with spinal cord injuries
Sunshine Foundation – Children’s wish granting foundation, can include assistive technology or home modifications
The Perseverance Project Grant Program – Home and vehicle modifications, specialized home or exercise equipment, and more for people with neurological disorders, movement disorders, spinal cord injury, or amputation
Triumph Foundation Keep Moving Forward Grant – Equipment for activities of daily living, home and vehicle modifications, adaptive computer devices, recreational equipment, etc for people with spinal cord injury
Tyler Schrenk Foundation – Several grants for AT in all categories for people with all disabilities
Twilight Wish – Can request wheelchairs and other assistive technology for adults over the age of 65
United Cerebral Palsy Elise S. Bellows Fund – Any category of assistive technology for an individual with a disability
Victoria’s Victory – Home and vehicle modifications and mobility equipment for people with mobility disabilities

Daily Living

Dysphagia Food Bank – Thickeners, pre-modified foods, therapy tools, oral care supplies, and adaptive equipment for people with dysphagia across the lifespan

Hearing

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Financial aid for various costs incurred for children and teens who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
CaptionCall – No cost service for people with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone
Hearing Aid Project – Hearing aids for people who cannot purchase them on their own
Help America Hear – Funding of last resort for people of all ages needing prescription hearing aids
Miracle Ear Foundation – Funding of last resort for people of all ages needing prescription hearing aids
TPA Hearing Trust – Provides financial aid to people with deafness or hearing loss

Seating, Positioning, Mobility, and Recreation

AMBUCS Amtryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program – Amtryke adpated tricycle grant program for people with mobility disabilities
Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association Orthotic Grants – Financial assistance for orthotics for children with hemiplegia or hemiparesis
Kelly Brush Foundation – Grants to purchase sports equipment for people with spinal cord injury
McLindon Family Foundation – Provide adaptive bikes to children and young adults with special needs, including conditions like Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Batten Disease, Charge Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Autism, and more
Steps of Faith Foundation – Providing prosthetic limbs to uninsured and under insured amputees

Speech Communication

Apraxia Kids – Tablets for communication devices provided to children diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Bridging Voice – Partnering with Eleven Labs to create AI Voices for people diagnosed with ALS and similar conditions
National Autism Association Give a Voice Program – Provide iPads for AAC to people with Autism that are nonspeaking or unreliably speaking
Small Steps in Speech – Grants for communication devices and apps for children 3-22 with communication disorders

Vehicles and Modifications

Magic Mobility Vans – Wheelchair accessible vans provided for individuals and families of all ages, children, adults, and Veterans

Vision

Association of Blind Citizens – Fund to cover 50% of costs for assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals
Computers for the Blind – Provides affordable, accessible refurbished computers and training to people of any age with a visual impairment
Madison Trust Company – Comprehensive guide for financial aid and college scholarships for students that are blind or visually impaired
National Federation of the Blind Free Slate and Stylus Program – Will distribute plastic, four-line, twenty-eight cell slate with a saddle stylus for Braille to anyone that is blind or low vision
National Federation of the Blind Free White Cane Program – Every six months any blind individual can request a free white cane
New Eyes – Provide basic pair of eyeglasses for low income individuals of any age
VSP Eyes of Hope – VSP network doctors can provide no cost vision care if certain criteria are met