How Assistive Technology (AT) and the 

Older Americans Act work together

The Administration for Community Living is an operating division of the 

Last Updated: 6/2021 

What is AT?

AT includes products and services that

support people to live independently.

State and Territory AT Programs

The AT Act of 1998 created AT 

Programs to support access to AT for 

people with disabilities, older adults, 

and their caregivers. AT programs 

provide: 

· Public awareness and training

· Information and assistance

· Device demonstrations, loans, and

reuse

· State financing

Older Americans Act (OAA)

Originally passed in 1965, the OAA provides 

funding for programs and services supporting 

older adults and caregivers. Examples include: 

· Personal care, homemaker services, homedelivered meals, congregate meals, case

management, supportive services, and

assisted transportation for older adults

· Counseling, respite care, supplemental

services, access assistance, and information

services for caregivers

People with mobility needs use AT to:

Support Walking, Balance,

and Mobility

In FY 2020, AT programs expanded access to and acquisition of 

mobility, seating, and positioning products through: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Visit ACL.gov. 

-

- device demonstrations 

6,527 

28,316 

$310,124 

$179,400 

I I • II I • • I• I 

reused devices and $15.2 million in savings 

. . • • .. leveraged funding to provide 424 devices 

~ ACL Administration for Comm.Jnity Llving 

Older adults often can receive support for AT products 

and services through both State and Territory AT 

Programs and Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. 

OAA services, such as 

caregiver support services, 

can help caregivers locate 

and obtain devices to assist 

care recipients with mobility, 

seating, and positioning. 
How Assistive Technology (AT) Supports Older Adults and People with Disabilities ACL.gov 

People with transportation needs use AT to: 

Access In FY 2020, AT programs expanded access to and acquisition Transportation

of vehicle modification and transportation devices through: 

OAA assisted transportation services can include wheelchair lifts to ensure access for people with 

transportation needs. Some Area Agencies on Aging may use OAA funds to offer small grants that can be 

used to install ramps or grab bars in the homes of eligible older adults. 

People with hearing impairments use AT to:

Enhance Listening

In FY 2020, AT programs expanded access to and acquisition of 

hearing devices through: 

OAA case management 

services can help older 

adults locate and obtain AT 

devices to support hearing 

needs. 

device demonstrations 

short-term device loans 

reused devices and $243,255 in savings 

cash loans to purchase 186 devices 

$279,746 leveraged funding to provide 63 devices 

I I 

- device demonstrations 

short-term device loans 

reused devices and $126,040 in savings 

$1,010,422 leveraged funding to provide 3,133 devices 

~ ACL Administration for Comml.Wlity Living 
People with vision impairments use AT to: 

Read Websites or Documents and Input Text

Navigate the World 

In FY 2020, AT programs expanded access to and acquisition of 

vision devices through: 

OAA case management 

services can help older 

adults locate and obtain AT 

devices to support vision 

needs. 

People who need support in daily activities use AT to:

Support Personal

Hygiene and 

Independent Living

Support

Healthy Eating

In FY 2020, AT programs expanded access to and acquisition of 

daily living devices through: 

Many OAA home-delivered meal 

participants have multiple functional 

impairments, which may include 

limited ability to open containers like 

milk cartons and sealed meal trays. 

Packaging for OAA home-delivered 

meals should be easy to open and 

foods should be easy to consume. 

Source: Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance FY 2020 National Data Summary of State Assistive Technology Programs 

ACL.gov 

- device demonstrations 

short-term device loans 

reused devices and $591,539 in savings 

leveraged funding to provide 1,035 devices 

- device demonstrations 

, : , short-term device loans 

reused devices and $4.3 million in savings 

cash loans to purchase 51 devices 

leveraged funding to provide 660 devices 

~ ACL Administration for Comml.Wlity Living 

How Assistive Technology (AT) Supports Older Adults and People with Disabilities