KU News Release

KU program receives award for pollution prevention

LAWRENCE — A statewide University of Kansas program that refurbishes and redistributes durable medical equipment to Kansans with disabilities was recognized with a Kansas Department of Health and Environment 2007 Pollution Prevention Award.

The Kansas Equipment Exchange (KEE) was among six Kansas organizations and businesses to receive the award. Since March 2003, the KEE program has collected 1,800 devices worth more than $1.9 million. Many of these devices-power wheelchairs, hospital beds, shower chairs and other items-would have ended up in trash bins and landfills. Instead, certified vendors have refurbished the items that were then reassigned to Kansans with disabilities at no cost to them.

Seven centers across the state, coordinated by the KU Life Span Institute's Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK) program, distribute the equipment. The program is developed and directed by Sara Sack.

Kansas Health Care Policy (Medicaid) and ATK have worked together for nearly four years to collect, refurbish and reassign used assistive technology and durable medical devices to Kansans with disabilities and health concerns.

The Assistive Technology Access Site at Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave., serves as an equipment distribution center for the KEE program.

Sack predicts that the rapidly growing Lawrence KEE will reassign equipment valued at more than $100,000 in 2007 alone.

The KEE program inventory includes items such as power and manual wheelchairs, scooters, electric hospital beds, patient lifts, electronic communication devices and other assistive devices.

Sack said that the KEE program also has a new initiative that will collect used electronic handheld devices such as personal digital assistants and navigational devices and refurbish them for people with disabilities.

“This program not only helps people who can benefit from the time management features of these devices, but it will help address the electronic waste problem facing our nation.”

For more information or to reach the Lawrence AT Access Site call 1-800-526-3648.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.