KARRN (CARAT-TOP Mobile Program FY25)

Abstract Scope of Services: The goal to the proposed program is to expand the capacity of a new mobile version of our CARAT-TOP (Coordinating and Assisting the Reuse of Assistive Technology-Together One Priority) program. The CARAT-TOP Mobile program was developed to provide short (1-2 hours) interactive and accessible experiences in a variety of community settings. These hands-on experiences will be designed to teach middle and high school students of all abilities about the importance of play, accessibility, and inclusion. This program also provides the students the opportunity to help others within their community. Aim 1: Expand the capacity of the CARAT-TOP Mobile program though linkages with other ACAT programs. The mobile program involves conducting short educational experiences within local rural schools and other community settings (i.e., libraries, camps, senior centers). This program will be expanded to link with other programs at our Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology (ACAT), which work with high school students and community organizations. Specifically, we will link the mobile program with our Pre-ETS program as well as our developing collaborations with community organizations such as the Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center and the LKLP Compassionate Hearts adult day care programs. For example, students in the Pre-ETS program, students in the original CARAT-TOP program, as well as other high schools students, will come to the Center of Excellence in Rural Health to work in the makerspace. These students will help create build kits that will then be taken to the Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center and LKLP Compassionate Hearts adult daycare for these residents to work with. This model of linking programs can work as a template for working with additional community-based organizations in different regions of Kentucky. The objectives for establishment of a mobile educational program are: 1. Develop and formalize the procedures for conducting a series of hands-on learning experiences to engage students of all abilities. Multiple educational experiences will be formalized that can be rotated. Instructional handouts will be developed and formalized. 2. The expanded mobile program will create new avenues for engaging students of all abilities to support other community organizations that engage individuals with disabilities. Aim 2: Expand the reach of the CARAT-TOP mobile program to have a greater impact within communities. The mobile CARAT-TOP program will be expanded to work with students in other rural and urban counties. The objectives for piloting the mobile program are: 1. Establish the policy and procedures for conducting the educational experiences in a variety of community settings (e.g., schools, veteran centers, adult daycare programs, extension offices, senior citizen centers, summer camps). 2. Establish the policy and procedures for working in collaboration with organizations such as Kentucky 4-H to conduct a series of community-based events. 3. Establish the policy and procedures for conducting a series of sustainable summer camp experiences that engage students from across Kentucky. Program assessment and outcomes to be measured include: • Number of events held. • Number of organizations participating. • Number of individuals participating. a. Students b. Students with IDD c. Residents • Which activities did the participants enjoy and which did then not enjoy. Deliverables: 1. Work with community advisory group to expand capacity and evaluate the effectiveness of the mobile program. 2. Finalize the procedures for this program based on feedback. 3. Implement changes with the subsequent groups of rural and urban counties. 4. Track types of activities. 5. Finalize program curriculum/activities based on likes and dislikes of the activities.