As we celebrate Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness Month, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) would like to take this opportunity to amplify the message that assistive technology (AT) can improve the lives of people who are living with CP.   

CP is a neurological condition resulting from damage to the brain during fetal development or in early infancy that impacts muscle tone, posture and/or a movement disorder. According to Cleveland Clinic, between 5,500 and 13,100 children in the United States are born with CP each year, and research indicates that more than 1 million adults are living with CP. Treatment often involves a combination of approaches, including using assistive technology devices.

Join us on our social media accounts as we highlight different assistive technology that people living with CP use to improve their quality of life and independence, along with funding resources available to help make this technology accessible. 

In February, PATF staff spent much of their monthly all-staff meeting discussing the most common steps we see people needing to take to get an adapted vehicle. This list is not meant to be a complete list for every situation but is meant to illustrate some of the most common steps. As always, please reach out to PATF for help in navigating your specific situation. 

Where do I start? 

There is no one place to start for everyone, but some early steps include: 

• If you are the recipient of a waiver, talk to your service coordinator and find out if you are eligible for funding for a modified vehicle and what the steps are 
• If you are a customer of PA’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), reach out to the Transportation Services Coordinator in your local OVR district office. All modification services must meet OVR eligibility requirements and require approval prior to purchasing a vehicle
• If you are seeking funding from PATF or a grant program from a source like Achieva Family Trust, reach out to that funder 
• It’s usually best to go through the assessment processes these funders have in place early in the process to ensure you are aware what options are available to you 

What other steps should I take? 

It’s important to know that not all funders will provide funding for all of the options listed below, and it’s important to know what options are available by talking to your funder(s): 

• Look for a dealership that might have a used or new vehicle for purchase that is already adapted to fit your needs  
• Look into options to purchase an unmodified vehicle and work with a vehicle modification company to install the modifications you need 
• If you need help identifying these dealerships or companies, reach out to PATF for assistance 

Check to see if the modification requires training and a special designation on your driver's license prior to the purchase/installation of the AT.

Buying a car and installing modifications is expensive, and I can’t afford it 

• Reach out to PATF for assistance. PATF can identify options to combine multiple funding sources (a process we refer to as “braiding funding”) to bring down your costs to purchase a vehicle 

Borrowing Money 



• If borrowing money from PATF or another lender is going to be a part of your process, it’s best to know what amount of lending they can provide before you settle on a vehicle or modification process 
• It’s very important to know that you can shop for the lender that is giving you the best deal. Do not settle for someone pushing you to a particular loan or lender without making sure you know it is the best deal for you by comparing it with other options 
• You also want to make sure that the length of any loan you take will not be longer than the useful life of the vehicle 
• Our Low-Interest Loan Program provides loans from our partner banks. Most loans for modified vehicles fall under this program due to the higher cost of vehicle modifications. If the bank approves the loan, PATF pays the bank a fee to bring the interest rate down to 3.75%. If the bank denies the loan, PATF may decide to guarantee the loan. If the loan requires a guarantee, the loan is capped at $45,000. For specifics on using a PATF loan for modified vehicles, please contact us

National Disability Institute (NDI) held a webinar in January that reviewed what you can expect when purchasing or upfitting an accessible vehicle, so that people with disabilities can feel empowered and confident when speaking with dealers, compare modification options, and understand financing before you make a purchase. 

The webinar included discussions from national experts in accessible vehicle modifications, affordable financing options, independent living and driver rehabilitation, and choosing the right vehicle to meet your needs. 



Watch the recordings now. 

Join our upcoming financial education webinar to learn how to better recognize, prevent, and respond to financial scams and exploitation. Our speaker will be Dave Shallcross with the Elder Abuse Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. During this session, participants will gain an understanding of common types of scams and financial exploitation, learn how to identify red flags, identify the differences between various scam and exploitation tactics, and review practical steps for reporting suspected scams while protecting themselves and their loved ones from financial harm.

ASL, CART, and Spanish interpretation will be provided. This webinar will not be recorded. A blog will be available after the webinar, which will provide important information shared during the webinar.

Register today.

If you have questions or need assistance registering, please contact PATF at 484-675-0506 or communications@patf.us.

Did you miss our webinar, Resources for the 2026 Tax Season? The recordings and slides are now available for viewing. 

In January, we teamed up with United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to host a webinar on free and trustworthy tax resources. Topics of conversation included information about the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, Bank On, and tax filing basics. 



View the recordings and slides.

Wendy Furman has been with PATF since February of 2024 as a Program Associate and Underwriter. She was recently promoted to PATF’s Finance Director. Please join us in congratulating her on her new role! 

Prior to PATF, Wendy was an underwriter in the Merchant Cash Advance industry for eight years. She enjoys thrifting, fiber arts, music from the early 20th century, and showcasing vintage cookbook photography.  

Rachelle McStravog is joining PATF as our Program Associate and Underwriter. Rachelle is no stranger to PATF. Prior to joining us full-time, she worked as a temporary staff member within our Information and Assistance program in 2024.  

She brings a strong commitment to mission-driven finance and believes that access to the right resources can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Through her work with PATF and her experience in alternative lending and underwriting, she has helped people navigate complex financial processes with compassion and care. She is especially passionate about advancing more equitable and accessible lending practices and looks forward to supporting communities by helping people access the tools they need to live with greater independence and confidence. In her free time, she likes riding her bike and scouting out new places to read. 

The PA ABLE Savings Program is a tax-free savings option that helps people with disabilities save for disability-related expenses while maintaining eligibility for important public benefits. Funds in a PA ABLE account can be used for assistive technology, clothing, rent, transportation, and more. They have two major updates that we would like to share!

PA ABLE Expands Age Eligibility to Support More Pennsylvanians - PA ABLE has officially raised the age of eligibility to 46, meaning people who acquired their disability before age 46 may now qualify to open a PA ABLE savings account. This expansion represents a major step forward in access to funding for assistive technology and other disability-related expenses. People can open an account at any age, as long as their disability was acquired before age 46. 

Learn more about PA ABLE and its benefits. 

Register for PA ABLE’s Upcoming Webinar - Learn more about the PA ABLE Savings Program during an upcoming webinar on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. The webinar will review eligibility requirements for opening an account, federal and state tax advantages, and how PA ABLE accounts interact with public benefits programs.  

If you require accommodations to participate, please contact info@paable.gov. 



Register today to reserve your spot. 

Helping People with Disabilities Explore Accessible Vehicle Options - NDI has published two new guides to help people with disabilities explore their accessible vehicle options. 

Need an Accessible Vehicle? Funding and Affordable Financing Options outlines strategies to reduce the cost of purchasing or modifying a vehicle for accessibility.

Selecting or Upfitting a Vehicle for Accessibility highlights key considerations when choosing or customizing a vehicle to best meet your needs. 



Download the guides. 

Share Your Impactful Story and Earn $100 - We’re excited to help spread the word about an opportunity with NDI. If accessible transportation plays a role in your life, they’d love to hear your story.  

Whether it’s a short-written story, an audio reel, or a 1–3 minute video, your experience can make a meaningful difference to motivate others. Selected contributors may receive a $100 stipend. 



Share your story. 

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.