Memorandum pg.3

Memorandum (cont.)

You may be asking yourself, “Why does the call volume vary so much from state to state?” Talking to people all over the United States revealed that the states with high call volumes also had strong consumer training and outreach programs.

For example, the state that had the highest call volume (60,339 completed calls) employs two full-time outreach specialists who target potential STS users. Each specialist has a territory constituting of geographically half of the state. These specialists educate speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, hospital staff, physicians, etc. The specialists educate consumer support groups for people with ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, Cerebral Palsy, M.S. etc. The specialists also participate in large state and national organizations that offer support to people with these disabilities. This participation helps the specialists build relationships with direct service providers.

In conclusion, DOR again thanks everyone who provided data and encourages all of you to increase your outreach and training of potential STS users in 2004.

DOR looks forward to receiving your 2003 STS call volume data. Would you please send your state’s total number of STS calls in 2003, broken down month by month to:

Bob Segalman, Ph.D.

Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section

California Department of Rehabilitation

2000 Evergreen Street

Sacramento, CA 95815

916-263-8691

bsegalma@dor.ca.gov

Note: DOR is very grateful to Tina Stidman who was instrumental in preparation of this report. This report would not have been completed without Tina’s tireless effort.

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