Now that’s NEAT!

By Erna Albertz

Having recently moved back to the United States after living in Europe for the past 10 years, I sometimes recall with a sense of excitement the Children’s Centers that have just been created across England as a "one-stop shop" for young children and their families, offering every child-parent service from daycare to parenting classes to therapy and medical counseling all under the same roof.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the NEAT (New England Assistive Technology) Center at Oak Hill in Hartford, CT. Founded in 1999, NEAT is doing something similar in their community for those with disabilities of all types.

NEAT is a unique resource for the local disabled population and all those connected to it, offering training, workshops, specialized summer camps, evaluations, business and employment trainings, and a wide variety of other services including the Equipment Restoration Center.

Rifton customers often ask us what they should do with their used equipment and whether Rifton is able to recycle any of it. While we would love to, we simply are not in a position to do so, and our standard answer up to now has been to tell them to look around in their neighborhood to see if there is a group, organization or home that might be grateful for it.

So it was with astonishment and delight that I toured NEAT’s Equipment Restoration Center (just one of NEAT’s remarkable programs) run by Don Hoerman (contact info) and his small staff, who accept and repair donated pieces of used equipment from all over New England. Not only this—they are even willing to come out and pick up used items from locations that are unable to finance shipment for them, within a reasonable distance of Hartford, CT.

Don’s tour was incredible: we walked through room after room of donated used equipment, organized on warehouse shelves by type of equipment and manufacturer. All donated items are first treated to the Center’s "Wheelchair Washing Machine," a huge dishwasher designed to wash and sanitize wheelchairs and other large pieces of equipment. Any equipment too battered to be refurbished is then stripped for parts that are used to restore other similar equipment. Local high school students volunteer at the Center and one group of them assembled large wooden storage drawers for Don, into which he sorts the parts and wheelchair footrests.

Creativity and ingenuity were to be felt in every corner and hallway of the maze that makes up the Restoration Center’s workspace, a former swimming pool complex from the Oak Hill School for the Blind. In one corridor, Don had used simple black iron pipe to create an elaborate rack for wheelchair wheels. At the back of the main room we observed one of the Center’s employees busily fixing up a wheelchair.

Don then took us outside to three sheds also constructed and painted by local high school students. Restored equipment not used by the local community is selected and placed there awaiting transfer to a program that will take it into a third world country. When a shed is full, partner organizations are contacted to come and take whatever they can ship to South America or Africa where the equipment will be distributed and valued.

In an average year, the Equipment Restoration Center receives approximately 8,000-9,000 phone calls and emails regarding donations. 1500-1800 pieces are donated to them yearly, and about 800-1000 go out again to domestic end–users while the rest are passed on to the international community. And all of this happens with just two full–time employees, one part–time, and lots of volunteers!

I could hardly wait to bring this thrilling picture back to the other folks at Rifton. Not only does a wide range of equipment become affordable (items are sold either directly or through many local dealers in partnership with NEAT, at no more than 50% of the original cost) but used, quality equipment can continue to be utilized instead of filling dumpsters. The local qualified equipment supply companies who assist in the re–furbishing and fitting process also assure that any item received through NEAT is medically appropriate and in sound condition. As many of our customers know, Rifton items are built to last: We were pleased to see Rifton pieces from as long ago as 1993 and 1996 being restored to full functionality for children who need them.

Certainly, NEAT encourages all end users who can obtain new products via their insurance or Medicaid to do so. Yet there is value in seeing the workmanship involved in making continued use of products, in a consumer culture that often operates on a "throw–away" mentality without concern either for the environment or for less privileged—but equally deserving—individuals.

And you can also become part of this green and giving effort. If you don’t live in New England, we have listed other organizations that may accept donations of used, yet usable, products. I highly recommend asking for a tour and getting better acquainted with the program nearest you. Contact them today!

Don Hoerman, ATP
860-286-3106
neatrestore@neatmarketplace.org