Principles & Values

The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund is values-based
  1. It empowers applicants.
  2. It is consumer-controlled.
  3. It is non-discriminatory.
  4. It meaningully involves disability partners and other community partners.

The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund:

  1. Provides easy access for people with disabilities.
    • Applications are available by phone, by internet, or through local contact with 20 different application sites throughout the state.
    • Assistance with applications is available for people who need it.
    • All documents are in low literacy format.
    • Loan applications are processed promptly.

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  2. Is value-added and provides customer responsive, supports.
    • It offers applicants assistance to find appropriate technology.
    • It offers applicants assistance to find skilled technology needs assessments.
    • It offers applicants assistance to find competitive prices for equipment.
    • It will seek to develop the capacity to provide a secondary market for used equipment, including recycle/resale assistance.
    • It provides follow-up technical support as requested.
    • It will seek to develop the capacity to provide a loan closet to loan technology equipment.
    • It recognizes that assistive technology is a system, not just equipment, and may include in its loans costs for warranties, maintenance contracts and/or training.

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  3. Provides value-based fiduciary stewardship.
    • It uses compassionate collection procedures with supportive services to applicants who cannot repay their loans for reasons related to their disabilities.
    • It is confidential.
    • It provides full and complete notice of its actions and the reasons for them.
    • It provides open options if equipment does not work out for the customer.

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  4. Provides customer responsive terms.
    • There is no minimum loan level and the maximum loan amount is $30,000.
    • Flexible payment schedules are available to accommodate emergencies if possible.
    • Interest Rates are as low as possible.

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  5. Has a collaborative, robust business strategy.
    • It is not a poverty-based model nor does it encourage poverty thinking; it is professional and business-based.
    • It develops multiple funding sources.
    • It invests the funds for maximum benefit.
    • It provides core funding for leverage not loans.
    • There is a good marketing plan.
    • It is run by a stable administrative group.
    • It does not rely solely on funding from banks or government agencies.
    • It maintains real-time quality data.
    • It has a sustainable business strategy.

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