ATAC: Members and Liaisons

About the council

Purpose

The 21st Century Assistive Technology Act requires the establishment of a statewide assistive technology (AT) advisory council. The purpose of the AT Advisory Council (ATAC) is to provide consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice to the state for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the activities carried out for the grant, including the setting of measurable goals.

Interested in becoming a council member?

People interested in becoming a member can complete an application in two ways:

• Online, via electronic survey form.
• Printed, via fillable pdf, 02574. (PDF) Applications completed this way can be mailed or emailed to:
  Assistive Technology Advisory Council
  1 West Wilson St., Room 551
  PO Box 2659
  Madison, WI 53701-2659
  dhswistech@dhs.wisconsin.gov

If you have questions or need assistance with the membership application, please call 608-514-2513, or send an email to dhswistech@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Composition

Required members

The ATAC is composed of individuals with disabilities who use assistive technology or the family members or guardians of those individuals. Additional required members include representatives from specific state agencies and organizations as outlined in the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act. These members are indicated by a *.

The ATAC is composed of no fewer than nine and no more than 17 members. At least 51 percent of the membership of the ATAC must be people with disabilities.

Additional representatives

In addition, the ATAC may appoint additional representatives from other state agencies, public agencies, or private organizations, as long as the consumer majority is maintained. As the ATAC recruits consumer members and makes additional appointments, care should be taken to maintain a council that reflects the diversity of the state "with respect to race, ethnicity, types of disabilities across the age span" as well as the types of AT devices and services used by its citizens with disabilities.

ATAC members

• Jim Denham, Wisconsin Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Chairperson)
• Calvin Richtig, Options for Independent Living * (Vice chairperson)
• Nurudeen Amusa, Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired*
• Laurie Lane, Independence First*
• Dawn Merth-Johnsin, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction *
• Debra Remmel, Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation*
• Jennifer Seale, Waisman Center*
• Lindsey Kreitzman, Wisconsin Department of Medicaid Services*
• Julie Bergen
• Stacy Ellingen
• BJ (Elizabeth) Ermenc
• Cassie Frost
• Mike Hipple
• Jim Rau
• Rick Ziller
• Cortney Zurawski

ATAC committees

The AT Advisory Council has created three committees that have directives to assist in the development and monitoring of the State Plan for AT. People interested in becoming members of these committees, do not have to be AT Council members.

• Assistive Technology and State Plan Development Committee – This committee works on identifying the latest and most up-to-date assistive technology devices cross-disability, cross-age to assist consumers statewide. This committee also works with DHS staff on developing survey instruments and other related materials to collect data for the State Plan for AT.
• Collaboration and Outreach Committee – This committee works on marketing, social media, website, and other related items for the WisTech and WisLoan programs to raise awareness and referrals to these programs. This committee also identifies key partners and funding resources to expand the state’s AT program and to increase the utilization of assistive technology statewide.
• Data Collection and Analysis Committee – This committee reviews quarterly WisTech program data to identify unmet AT needs throughout the state and works with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to improve quality and reporting of AT data. By analyzing data the this committee works to identify additional data needed to get a more accurate picture of AT needs throughout Wisconsin.