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As we approach Fall, when some families begin a fresh start, we would like to take the opportunity to amplify the message that PATF continues to provide families with access to assistive technology (AT) funding and services for their loved ones with disabilities. AT can help people with disabilities live with more independence, safety, productivity, and with an improved quality of life.
At PATF, we educate ourselves regularly to best serve loan applicants and those seeking assistance, helping them to thrive in their communities, engage with their families and neighbors, maintain employment and housing, and participate in all of the activities that are important to them. As we enter this new season, we recommit ourselves to our work to influence policies that make AT funding more accessible while encouraging individuals to explore options that align with their goals.
| | Lending that Changes Lives | | |
PATF’s CEO, Will Hall, sat down with National Disability Finance Coalition to discuss how lending for assistive technology can open new markets for mission-driven lenders, improving the lives of people with disabilities.
Will shares PATF’s design and structure for our loan programs. We keep it simple, affordable, accessible, and still maintain smart lending. By manually underwriting, every application is reviewed by a dedicated team member who can work with applicants and borrowers, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way. We understand the financial barriers that people with disabilities experience, so by looking at the full picture, we can approve loans that make sense, even if someone’s credit score doesn’t tell the whole story of their unique needs.
Read the full blog
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“I can navigate safely from floor to floor, enhancing my mobility at home, providing peace of mind for myself, my loved ones, and my caregiver. It’s made such a difference in my life,” said Colleen, who used PATF’s Mini-Loan to purchase an inclined platform lift.
Colleen has always been very active, but when she was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, she eventually lost her ability to walk. At first, she was able to use a chair lift to go up and down stairs, but then it became challenging to transfer from her wheelchair to the chair lift. So, she started looking into getting an inclined platform lift and borrowed funds from PATF to make it happen. Having an inclined platform lift has transformed Colleen’s life.
Read Colleen’s story
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CHOP’s 8th Annual Autism Play Date - CHOP held its 8th Annual Autism Play Date on August 2nd, and we had the pleasure of attending. It was an opportunity to gather, connect, and support the Autism community! It was a day filled with live music, great food, fun games and activities, resources, and community networking.
Wendy Dav, PATF’s Marketing and Outreach Director (left in photo), joined in on the fun and dressed up as Ahsoka from Star Wars. She had the opportunity to talk to parents about assistive technology to help with everyday activities and how PATF can help with funding assistive technology.
| | | Senator Scott Martin’s Senior Expo - PATF attended Senator Scott Martin’s 2025 Senior Expo on August 14th and spoke with older Pennsylvanians about assistive technology devices and PATF’s programs. The expo had other state, county, and local agencies that provided information about health and wellness, consumer protection, income tax assistance, veteran benefits, traffic safety, utility assistance, and more! | | |
Opening Doors Together Conference - Inglis held their annual, statewide housing conference on August 26th and 27th. They believe accessible housing is a human right, and we agree. We were able to attend the conference, and some of the topics covered were the latest innovations in service delivery, creative alternative support solutions and assistive technologies, and updates on advocacy and policy shifts and how that impacts housing access for people with disabilities.
We presented Funding Assistive Technology for Independence – From Home Modifications to Smart Home Technology, which highlighted how home modifications are assistive technology and that PATF can help fund home modifications through our financial loans.
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Philadelphia Bilingual Disability Resource Fairs - Together, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation and the City of Philadelphia, Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, are hosting the Philadelphia Bilingual Disability Resource Fairs. This is a two-day event with the first fair happening on September 12th at Concilio from 11 AM to 3 PM, and the second fair happening on September 13th at St. Thomas Aquinas Church from 11 AM to 3 PM.
We understand the barriers and extra stress in the daily lives of people with disabilities, which are amplified when language barriers exist. This event is designed to bridge the gap in access to resources. Attendees will be able to spend the day meeting disability professionals, agencies, service providers, and nonprofits to learn about the different resources available to them. There will be resources and materials available in both English and Spanish!
There will also be free health screenings available. Temple’s Emergency Department will provide blood pressure and blood oxygen tests. They will also have information available about seizures. During the first fair on September 12th at Concilio, HearUSA will be doing ear exams and providing information on healthy hearing. At the second fair on September 13th at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, there will be free vision screenings provided by Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired.
We welcome you to join us on these dates for the Philadelphia Bilingual Disability Resource Fairs! If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Davis.
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We are excited to announce that Highmark Wholecare will sponsor our AT Awareness campaign in November, when people with disabilities will be creating informative videos to post online to show people how they use their assistive technology daily to live better lives.
Highmark Wholecare’s donation makes it possible for us to compensate these content creators for their time. Many thanks to Highmark Wholecare for also providing lunch for dozens of attendees at our Allentown Bilingual Disability Resource Fair in May. We are grateful for their continued support.
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We are proud to announce that Santander has backed Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) with a $20,000 grant to support our lending and financial education programs. With Santander’s generosity, we are expanding our lending and financial education programs to reach more individuals with disabilities across Santander's Pennsylvania footprint – including in York County, where Kathia purchased a modified van to better meet her accessibility needs to travel to and from work safely.
Thanks to partnerships like the one PATF has with Santander, we will have more impactful stories similar to Kathia’s which remind us why our work matters. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians with disabilities – empowering individuals to live independently, work, and thrive.
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We received an anonymous donation through Vanguard Charitable. We thank you for your support. With donations like this, we can continue to expand our programs across Pennsylvania to people with disabilities and health conditions.
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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) helps Pennsylvanians of all ages, all disabilities and health conditions, all income levels, and all communities and cultural backgrounds. We offer information about acquiring assistive technology (AT), funding resources, financial education, and financial loan programs. For more information, call 484-674-0506 or visit www.patf.us.
PATF is a state and federally-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and is the Commonwealth's designated Alternative Financing Program (AFP) under the federal Assistive Technology Act.
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