Maryland Technology Assistance Program

05/07/2026

Disability Rights DC is hiring!

DRDC is seeking a full-time staff attorney for advocacy and investigations. Start date no later than July 20, 2026.

Qualified candidates with at least one year of legal experience preferred and excellent writing, analytic, research and communication skills required. Candidates must have demonstrated commitment to public interest work and to disability rights. Current DC Bar admission or the ability to waive into the DC Bar is required.

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.uls-dc.org/jobs/full-time-disability-rights-attorney

05/07/2026

Behind every great state is a team of extraordinary people—and today, we are shining the biggest, brightest spotlight on the incredible staff at the Maryland Department of Disabilities!

Happy State Employee Recognition Day, MDOD Team!

Because of your hard work, our communities are more inclusive, accessible, and vibrant.

Your work isn't just about policies and programs; it’s about people. It’s about the reassurance you give a family navigating constituent services, the independence you unlock through technology assistance, and the passion you bring to creating a Maryland where everyone can live, work, and thrive.

Thank you for all you do!!!

05/05/2026

Now Available Free at MATR:

Giraffe Bottle Tower Hands Free Drinking System

-BPA FREE, FDA COMPLIANT MATERIALS - 700ml/25oz Tritan Bottle, neck, drinking tube, and check valve all made from FDA compliant, BPA-free plastics.
-FLEXIBLE AND ADJUSTABLE - Features a 15 inch / 38 cm flexible modular plastic hose and drinking tube. The neck is fully and repeatedly adjustable and will stay in place without springing back.
-INTERCHANGEABLE AND REPLACEABLE PARTS - Each component is easily replaceable for hygiene and interchangeable for customization.
-REMOVABLE CHECK VALVE - The check valve prevents liquid from flowing back into the bottle. For those with limited lung function, keeping liquid primed and at-the-ready makes staying hydrated a breeze.

Check our inventory to find out what other equipment we have to give away!
https://myatprogram.org/home/24

04/29/2026

Communication without barriers. That’s the Signapse promise
Signapse- a company that launched during the pandemic- is combining cutting-edge AI with deep cultural respect to make the world more accessible for the Deaf community. By providing real-time, high-quality sign language translation, with Photo-realistic AI, they are ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table 🤟

Inclusive. Innovative. Impactful.

Discover how they are building a more accessible today, and tomorrow.

https://www.signapse.ai/post/breaking-barriers-in-ai-sign-language-translation-signapses-journey-from-concept-to-reality

-Post contributed by Nazia Rangwala-Vohra, UMD Global Fellows Intern

Embark on Signapse's remarkable journey from concept to reality, as it revolutionises accessibility for the Deaf community using AI-driven sign language translation.

04/28/2026

Thank you to Kayssy Kenge, UMD Global Fellows Intern for contributing this infographic highlighting the Livescribe Echo 2!

"As the student writes a keyword or draws a symbol on specialized paper, the pen records the audio. Later, the student simply taps the ink to hear exactly what the teacher was saying at that moment"

Reach out to borrow the Livescribe from our library for a 30 day trial: [email protected] | 410-554-9230

04/27/2026

It's tough out there these days! Check out the LISS lottery program if you need help paying for assistive tech (and other supports) in Maryland.

https://health.maryland.gov/dda/pages/liss.aspx

04/24/2026

In March 2003, Edward Mitchell was struck by a hit-and-run driver while biking. The accident left him with a C5-C6 incomplete spinal cord injury. He was still in high school.

What happened next is a story about determination and independence—and it offers powerful insight for anyone considering an accessible vehicle.

Watch a video about Edwards story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQvMltaBjOg&t=2s

Reach out to learn about our financial loan program, which can help you to pay for your own accessible vehicle! [email protected]

An accessible vehicle helps Edward regain a sense of independence and, in his words, “opens the doorways for you to go!”Learn about Edward’s journey and expl...

04/23/2026

What does freedom look like?

For Mike Huddleston, a Maryland man who has used a power wheelchair for the past decade, it looks like pulling into his adaptive van, locking his chair into place, and driving wherever he needs to go. No waiting. No asking for help. Just independence.

Mike's story recently reached a national audience thanks to MotorWeek, the Emmy Award winning automotive series produced by Maryland Public Television and one of the longest running shows on television. In Season 45, Episode 33, reporter Stephanie Hart dedicates a segment to the growing world of adaptive driving technology and the people whose lives depend on it. You can watch Mike's portion of the episode starting at the 7:40 mark and running through 12:12.
https://video.mpt.tv/video/2026-nissan-leaf-2026-land-rover-defender-110-icwtpa/

Mike was diagnosed with a progressive condition at 16. By 52, he was using a power wheelchair. Today, his van is equipped with a Q-lock system that secures his chair, and a "push and rock" hand control that lets him brake and accelerate without foot pedals.

"If I need to get up and go somewhere, I get up and go somewhere. That's 90 percent of it, if not more."

The segment also highlights how these vehicles are built. Conversion companies like BraunAbility and Vantage Mobility International take standard vehicles and completely rebuild them with automatic ramps, kneel systems, and self-tensioning wheelchair straps, a process that takes four to six weeks per vehicle.
These vehicles are life-changing, but they are also expensive, and health insurance does not cover them. What the segment does not mention is that Mike obtained his van through an Alternative Financing Loan from the Maryland Technology Assistance Program, Maryland's AT Act Program.

Every state and territory has an AT Act Program offering services like device loans, demonstrations, equipment reuse, and financial loan programs to help people access assistive technology.

"People within the disability community, they just want to live their lives. They want to have independence. They want to contribute to this life just like everyone else."

Find out what your AT Act Program can do for you or someone you know!
https://at3center.net/state-at-programs/

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04/22/2026

Official 2026 Proclamation, recognizing April 22, 2026 as Assistive Technology Awareness Day in the state of Maryland.

WHEREAS, Maryland recognizes the unlimited potential for all Marylanders, including those with disabilities, to live, work, and thrive in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Enabling technology, including assistive technology and remote supports, allows people with disabilities to enhance their functional independence; and

WHEREAS, Access to enabling technology supports and services allows Marylanders with disabilities to have independence, safety, and privacy; and

WHEREAS, On August 15, 2022, Maryland was declared a Technology First State, advancing Maryland’s commitment to empowering all citizens with disabilities to have access to technology that will enhance their ability to pursue their best life as they define it; and

WHEREAS, Maryland is committed to building a state that promotes equal opportunity, access, and choice for all Marylanders with disabilities.

Happy AT Awareness Day!

04/22/2026

Happy AT Awareness Day!!!

Assistive technology is about far more than basic needs; it is the foundation for participation, independence, safety, and dignity. It is the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving.

As we work toward a more all-encompassing future, consider these three questions:

• Personal Tech: Have you explored the built-in accessibility features on your daily devices?
• The Workplace: Does your organization actively prioritize accessible technology for all employees?
• Community: Are your public events and digital spaces fully accessible to every participant?

Remember: Assistive Technology. Everywhere. Everyone!