CRIS maintains an equipment lending library for regionally eligible students to use at school and within EI/ECSE programs in our service area. We provide:
Motor Equipment such as sit-to-stand standers, supine standers, prone standers, adaptive tricycles, gait trainers, adaptive chairs and seating (OI eligibility required - only PTs are permitted to check out standers and gait trainers)
Assistive Technology for Access including adapted toys, switches (general switches, hands-free, pressure sensitive, sip, puff, speciality and voice activated)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication tools and devices such as the Step-by-Step with Levels, GoTalk, PRC devices, and Tobii Dynavox eye gaze devices
Equipment may be checked out by licensed service providers including PTs, OTs, SLPs, special education teachers, and AT/AAC specialists. LPTAs, COTAs, and SLPAs may not check equipment out in their name, but they may pick items up if the licensed service provider has communicated their approval to OI equipment room staff.
Our process for requesting and picking up is as follows (read further for equipment return information):
Step 1: Submit an equipment request via the OI Equipment Request Form. We will review and respond to your request via email indicating if the requested item(s) are available. The only exceptions to this are high-tech AAC devices and iPads with communication applications. Please use the AAC Device Trial Request Form for trial loans with these items.
Step 2: Review email from CRP OI team member. If we confirm the items are available, select a day/time on our equipment select-a-time calendar* (please do not schedule a time unless we have confirmed the availability of the equipment).
Step 3: Come to CRIS to pick up equipment.
EQUIPMENT SELECTION
If you would like to view the selection of equipment currently available in the OI Equipment Center, please schedule a time in advance using our equipment select-a-time calendar*. We are unable to accommodate drop-ins at this time.
EQUIPMENT RETURNS
Please schedule all equipment returns using the OI equipment select-a-time calendar*. We are unable to accommodate drop-ins at this time. Please plan on coming to the rear equipment room door at the back of the building.
*When scheduling a time on the equipment select-a-time calendar, please use the description field to indicate if the appointment is for equipment selection, pick-up, and/or return and add your cell phone number (in case we must notify you of any changes, closures, etc. to prevent a wasted trip).
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS!
Do you need assistance selecting, fitting, or using equipment - or regarding OI evaluation and eligibility? Visit our OI Team page, and email any member with your questions. A member of our team will respond as soon as possible.
For many pieces of equipment, there are caps on how many items can be checked out per student. An item that is currently checked out may need to be returned to CRP before we can check out a new, replacement item. For example, if a child needs a new walker, the previous walker must be returned before the new one may be checked out.
Note the following per student caps:
OI Equipment
Cap per Student
Motor Items
Standers
1 per Student
Gait Trainers
1 per Student
Walkers
1 per Student
Lifts
1 per Student
Chairs
1 per Student
Tables
1 per Student
AT/AAC Items
Switches
2 per Student
Switch Latch & Timers
2 Singles (or 1 Choice/Dual) per Student
Switch Mounts (Universal Arms, Goosenecks)
1 per Switch
Toys
3 per Switch Site (max of 6 toys)
VOCAs - “Talking Switches”
2 Per Student
Note this list is not exhaustive. Caps exist on other items not listed in this table.
We welcome your equipment returns as this increases availability of needed items for other children in the region. Please email Tammy to coordinate a day and time for equipment returns as the equipment room will be only intermittently staffed.
For obvious public health reasons, we greatly appreciate your assistance by cleaning and sanitizing motor and AT/AAC items to the best of your ability before returning them to CRIS for other children to use.
Rule of Thumb: Return the equipment in the condition you would want if your own child was using the item.
We are funded by the department of education and legislature to provide equipment for educational access at school or wherever the child is placed by their IFSP or IEP team. In most cases, this means that equipment on loan from CRIS must remain at school and home use is not permitted.
However, if a child's educational placement is their home (e.g., homebound), then CRIS equipment may be used in the home as long as the professional who checked it out ensures the safe and appropriate use, and ensures the equipment is returned. Please remember if you deliver CRIS equipment to a child's home, you remain responsible for returning it. Thank you for your understanding, and helping us prevent equipment loss.
When you check out equipment, you assume responsibility for its safe and appropriate use and for returning it according to the loan terms. Items remain assigned to you until they are returned to CRIS or formally transferred to another service provider who has agreed to take responsibility.
