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 meaningfully 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.


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.


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.


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.


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.