HAZARD, Ky. (March 15, 2024) — In March of this year, the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UKCERH), in collaboration with the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and other organizations across the country, announced that the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UKCERH) will collaborate with the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and other organizations across the country to promote the inclusion of people of all abilities in all areas. We are raising awareness about the importance of various aspects of community life.
This year's theme for National Disability Awareness Month is “A World of Opportunity,” which aims to celebrate people and work together to remove barriers. According to NACDD, the goal is to build a community committed to creating a world where everyone can do well and succeed. Join us in creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
To commemorate Disability Awareness Month, UK CERH and the Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology (ACAT) are hosting a durable medical equipment (DME) drive every Friday until the end of March. Anyone who has used medical equipment, such as a walker, cane, wheelchair, shower chair, or other similar items, can drop off donations at the front lobby of UK CERH, located at 750 Morton Blvd. can. Every Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in Hazard.
A dedicated team of UK CERH employees and students will restore the items and donate them to people in the local community through Project CARAT Eastern Kentucky. This is a service learning project where students receive specialized training to clean and repair her DME items and distribute them to individuals. need.
ACAT offers a wide range of services to Eastern Kentucky residents, including the opportunity to rent assistive technology equipment through its short-term loan locker service. ACAT also offers maker spaces, workforce training, consulting, and demonstrations, including Toys with a Purpose, a free lending library with modified toys, and CARAT-TOP, a 10-week training program for higher education institutions. It is the base for many related programs, including: students of all abilities. ACAT is a member of the Kentucky Assistive Technology Service (KATS) network
For more information about DME donation efforts or the many services and programs available at ACAT, contact Keisha Wells at keisha.wells@uky.edu or https://www.uky.edu/chs/karrn/acat Please refer to the.
The University of Kentucky Rural Health Center of Excellence was established by state law in 1990 to address the health disparities and unique challenges facing rural Kentucky communities. Its mission was and is to improve the health and well-being of rural Kentuckians. For more than 30 years, the Center has partnered with communities, health care providers, students, and individuals to provide health professional education, health policy research, health services, and community engagement to achieve this mission. Ta.
