Matthew Knotts

5. Matt Knotts, Lead advocate for the Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology Program at the Disability Law Center, Chair of the Governor's Managed Care Improvement Projects (MCIP), Member of the Management and Implementation Board for the Utah Assistive Technology Program More background information for Matt Knotts

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Testimony -- Matthew Knotts

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Written Comment Prepared by Matthew Knotts, Assistive Technology Program Specialist Disability Law Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

The Disability Law Center, Utah's Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency, has been providing legal advocacy in the area of assistive technology since 1994.In 1994 the Technology Related Assistance Act was amended to include P&A services.Prior to 1994, the Disability Law Center was unable to allocate the necessary resources to effectively assist individuals seeking funding for assistive technology (AT.) The Tech Act amendments of 1994 provided the Disability Law Center the opportunity to hire staff and concentrate advocacy efforts on both individual and systems change advocacy.There is no other organization in Utah that holds state and federal agencies accountable for their policies and practices related to AT.The P&As unique ability to use legal advocacy has brought about significant reform both locally and nationally for expanding coverage of AT devices and service.