Completed applications can be mailed to:

The AT Network
1029 J Street, Suite 120
Sacramento, CA 95814

For more information, call the AT Network at 800-390-26999 (voice) or 800-900-0706 (tty) or email info@atnet.org

• the Transportation Loan Guarantee Program, and
• the Assistive Technology Loan Guarantee Program

Transportation Loan Guarantee Program

The Transportation Loan Guarantee Program is for use by the parents or legal guardians of a child with a disability who uses a wheelchair for the purchase and/or modification of a vehicle to provide transportation for their child. In addition, a person with a disability who requires a modified vehicle may be eligible for the program. Please apply for services at CATE for eligibility determination for services. The loan guarantee is limited to a maximum of $50,000.

The program will guarantee the loans made by a financial institution organized, chartered, or holding a license or authorized certificate under a law of California or the United States to make loans or extend credit as a part of this Program. Loans made by these lenders can be guaranteed by the Department of Rehabilitation provided the following conditions are met:

1. Qualified applicants include:
   • Parents of a child with a disability, who are living in the home, and who require a modified vehicle for mobility or assistive technology to live more independently, as certified by a physician or the Department of Rehabilitation. The guardians of children with disabilities qualify only for the Transportation Loan Guarantee Program and not the Assistive Technology Loan Guarantee Program.
   • Adults with disabilities who require a modified vehicle for mobility, or assistive technology, to work or live independently, as certified by a physician or the Department of Rehabilitation.
2. The consumer verifies the number of family members living in current resident.
3. The consumer verifies if their income-level is eligible by visiting this website: http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il.html
4. If the consumer needs assistance on the HUD website to verify income-level eligibility, please contact CATE by phone at 818-677-2510 or by email at cate@csun.edu.

Policy

1. The loan application and customer survey now available online.  You must have Adobe Reader version 7 or later to download the PDF format. To download the latest version of Adobe Reader, please visit Adobe Reader Download's web site.
   • Loan Guarantee Program Application
     • PDF Format
     • Word Format
   • Loan Guarantee Customer Survey
     • PDF Format
     • Word Format
2. The consumer either fax or mail the completed loan application and required documentation to CATE at:
   818-677-6270 OR
   Attention: California Assistive Technology Exchange (CATE) at NCOD
   California State University of Northridge (CSUN)
   18111 Nordhoff Street
   Northridge, CA 91330-8267
3. The CATE Loan Committee will screen your loan application and determine your qualifications.
4. If approved by the committee, the loan application will be processed through American River Bank (ARB).
5. The loan application is approved by ARB, the bank will notify the applicant.
6. After receiving the check, the applicant fills out the AT Loan Guarantee Program Customer Survey and either fax or mail the form.

If you have any questions or would like to initiate the loan guarantee process, please contact CATE by phone at (818) 677-2510 or by email at cate@csun.edu.

The Assistive Technology Loan Guarantee Program assists persons with disabilities or their employers, to purchase durable equipment, adaptive aids and assistive devices in order to obtain or maintain employment or to live more independently.

The program allows the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to guarantee loans from private institutions so that persons with disabilities or their families, who cannot qualify for other assistance or private loans can obtain necessary adaptive technology. The Department is able to work with financial institutions to buy down interest rates in order to make payments more manageable for consumers.

To download the loan application and customer survey, please refer to Policy, item #1.

How It Works

It is the responsibility of CATE to evaluate the applicant's ability to make loan payments given his/her income level. CATE may contact the applicant for further information relative to financial information which is absent, incomplete, or needs clarification.

The application is also reviewed to assure that the device or equipment is appropriate or best-suited to the applicant's disability. Additional information may be requested from the applicant regarding his/her needs, the manner in which the equipment will be used, and whether the applicant has had a thorough evaluation of the current/needed device or equipment, if appropriate.

CATE will then make an initial determination for the eligibility for the loan guarantee program and will contact the applicant and a local cooperating financial institution to initiate the lending institution's loan process. The lending institution will then process the loan pursuant to their standard procedures but incorporating the Department's offer to guarantee the loan and buy down the interest rate to make the payments affordable. The lending institution then notifies the CATE and it is determined if the loan is approved given the relevant information. It should be noted that the CATE retains the discretion to deny the loan guarantee should the lender's review of the application reveal additional information which reflects negativity on the applicant's ability or willingness to repay the loan.

Vehicles are not included in the definition of adaptive aids, assistive devices or durable equipment subject to this loan guarantee program. Modifications may be considered. Vehicles are specifically addressed in the Transportation Loan Guarantee Program, a vehicle loan program for children with disabilities and/or individuals with disabilities who need the modified vehicle or van for transportation to and from employment.