AT Funding Guide
Every pathway to fund assistive technology for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania, with step-by-step instructions.
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Major AT Cap Changes, Effective January 1, 2026
Pennsylvania restructured AT funding caps across all three IDD waivers. The old $10,000 lifetime limit has been replaced. See each waiver section below for new caps and variance processes. Reference: ODPANN 24-015.
ODP Consolidated Waiver
The most comprehensive IDD waiver. Covers the broadest range of services including AT.
What's Covered
- Electronic devices (one replacement per 5 years)
- Modified or customized equipment
- Repairs, warranties, and supplies
- Software and apps
- AT needs assessments (by qualified OT, SLP, or certified ATP)
Items already covered by Medicare or Medicaid State Plan are excluded.
How to Get AT Through This Waiver
- 1
Talk to your Supports Coordinator (SC)
Your SC is employed by an independent SC Organization (SCO), not a provider agency. Tell them you want to explore AT options.
- 2
Get an AT assessment
The SC arranges an evaluation by a qualified professional (OT, SLP, or RESNA-certified ATP). The assessment identifies what AT would help and why. This assessment is itself a billable service under the waiver.
- 3
SC documents the need in the ISP
The Supports Coordinator builds the AT request into your Individual Support Plan (ISP) in HCSIS, Pennsylvania's service tracking system. Include vendor quotes and the clinical assessment.
- 4
Administrative Entity (AE) reviews
Your county-based AE reviews the ISP on their Plan Dashboard. For requests under $3,000/year, this is typically approved at the AE level.
- 5
For requests over $3,000/year, file a variance
The SC submits additional justification to ODP. Include clinical documentation explaining why the standard cap is insufficient. ODP reviews and approves or denies the variance.
- 6
Authorization and delivery
Once approved, the authorization is issued and the AT provider delivers the device or service.
Use ODP Announcement 24-015 (ODPANN 24-015) as your reference. It includes a Decision Tree attachment that helps distinguish AT devices from Remote Supports devices, which have separate funding rules.
Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver
Self-directed model. You control the budget and choose your own vendors.
How This Differs from Consolidated
Under P/FDS, you have budget authority: you select AT products, choose vendors, and direct purchases yourself. There's no separate AT spending cap. Instead, AT competes with all your other services within your annual Individual Service Budget (ISB) of approximately $41,000.
A Supports Broker (not a Supports Coordinator) helps you manage your budget. A Financial Management Service (FMS) provider handles payments and payroll.
How to Get AT Through This Waiver
- 1
Work with your Supports Broker
Identify AT needs and research products that fit within your budget.
- 2
Allocate funds in your ISB
Designate a portion of your annual budget for AT purchases.
- 3
Get an AT assessment if needed
An assessment helps justify the purchase and ensures the right fit.
- 4
Purchase through your FMS
Your FMS provider processes the payment to the AT vendor.
The flexibility of P/FDS is powerful but requires active budget management. More money on AT means less for other services. Use TechOWL's lending library to try before you buy.
Community Living Waiver
Focused on community integration with a higher overall service cap.
Key Details
Like P/FDS, the old $10,000 lifetime AT cap was eliminated entirely. AT is now funded within the overall annual service cap of approximately $97,000, the highest of the three waivers.
ODP also clarified that AT evaluations can now be completed for technology costing less than $750 if the service plan team believes it would be beneficial. Previously, assessments were typically reserved for higher-cost items.
This waiver has limited capacity with waitlists. Priority goes to people with the most emergent needs. Contact your county MH/ID office for current slot availability.
TechOWL: PA's AT Act Program
Free device loans, demos, consultations, and refurbished equipment. Run by Temple University.
Device Lending Library
Borrow from over 1,500 devices to try before you buy. Standard loan period is 5 weeks (iPads and Chromebooks: 9 weeks). Borrow up to 3 items at a time. Shipping is free both ways.
Order through myatprogram.org . First-time users create an account.
Free Consultations & Demos
TechOWL staff will help you identify what AT might work, demonstrate devices, and connect you with funding resources. Available by phone, email, or at one of 10 regional AT Resource Centers across the state.
REEP: Refurbished Equipment Program
Free or reduced-cost gently-used equipment including walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and shower chairs. Operated through 13+ partner organizations across Western, Central, and Eastern PA.
Regional AT Resource Centers
| Region | Organization | Location |
|---|---|---|
| SE | TechOWL Main Office | Philadelphia |
| NW | CRI | Erie |
| SW | CLASS | Pittsburgh |
| NC | CILNCPA | Williamsport |
| NW | LIFT | Saint Marys |
| NE | LVCIL | Allentown |
| SW | TRPIL | Washington |
| Central | UCP Central PA | Camp Hill |
| NE | UCP NEPA | Scranton |
TechOWL is your best first step for ANY AT question in PA. Their consultations are free regardless of income, disability type, or waiver status. Use the lending library to try devices before committing waiver funds.
PATF: PA Assistive Technology Foundation
Low-interest loans and mini-grants specifically for AT purchases.
Loan Programs
Mini-Loans: $100–$2,000
0% interest, no fees. Minimum $20/month payment. Maximum 4-year repayment.
Standard Loans: $2,000–$60,000
3.75% interest, no fees. Repayment terms based on device lifespan. Maximum $45,000 with board guarantee.
Mini-Grants
Up to $1,000 (maximum 50% reduction on loans under $7,000). Requirements: household income at or below 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines and all other funding sources exhausted. Automatically reviewed with every loan application. No separate application needed.
What You Can Buy
- Computers, tablets, and software
- Wheelchairs, scooters, and ramps
- Hearing and vision devices
- Smart home technology
- Vehicle adaptations
- Home modifications
- Adaptive sports equipment
PATF is more flexible than traditional lenders. They consider lower credit scores and higher debt-to-income ratios. Any PA resident with a disability aged 18+ can apply.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
AT funding tied to employment goals: getting, keeping, or advancing in a job.
How It Works
- 1
Apply at any OVR district office
Apply online at pa.gov or visit a local office. You must have a disability that is an impediment to employment. People with IDD qualify.
- 2
Develop an IPE with your VR counselor
Once eligible, you and your counselor create an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with a specific vocational objective. AT is authorized only if it directly supports this employment goal.
- 3
OVR procures the AT
OVR funds adaptive workstations, communication devices for workplace use, job-specific modifications, and other employment-related AT.
Limitations
- Only covers AT directly tied to your employment goal
- Payer of last resort, so other funding sources must be exhausted first
- Will not fund AT unrelated to employment
For transition-age youth (14–21), OVR should be invited to IEP transition planning meetings. Students can be referred to OVR as early as age 14. OVR also operates CART, the Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology at Hiram G. Andrews Center.
Education / IDEA Pathway
For students ages 3–21 with IEPs. The school district must provide AT at no cost.
Your Rights
Under IDEA and PA Chapter 14, IEP teams must consider assistive technology for every student with a disability (34 CFR 300.324). If the team determines AT is needed for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), the school district must provide it at no cost to parents.
PaTTAN Lending Library
Schools can borrow AT devices for a 4–6 week trial (“try before you buy”) through the PaTTAN portal at pattan.net. Free to all PA school districts. PaTTAN and intermediate unit AT consultants provide technical assistance to IEP teams.
Transition Planning
IEPs for students ages 14–21 must address AT needs for post-secondary goals in education, employment, and independent living. AT considerations must appear in Present Levels and Transition Goals. This is where OVR referrals and waiver applications often begin.
Understanding the PUNS Waitlist
If you're on PUNS, you don't have a waiver yet, but you still have options.
What This Means for AT
Being on the PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) waitlist means you do not yet have a Medicaid waiver , which means you cannot access waiver-funded AT. But you can still use:
- TechOWL: free lending library, consultations, and REEP equipment
- PATF: loans and grants don't require waiver enrollment
- OVR: if employment-related
- IDEA/IEP: if school-age
- Medicaid State Plan: covers some durable medical equipment directly
Don't wait for a waiver to explore AT. TechOWL and PATF are available to anyone in PA regardless of waiver status. Contact the PA Waiting List Campaign at info@pawaitinglistcampaign.org or (267) 765-0301 for help navigating the waitlist.
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions about what you need and we'll show you which AT products fit, and which funding pathways are available to you.
Find AT for your needsThis guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or clinical advice. Funding rules, caps, and eligibility criteria may change. Always verify current information with your Supports Coordinator, Administrative Entity, or the relevant program directly. Last reviewed: March 2026. Key reference: ODPANN 24-015.