Announcing the 2021 CTA Foundation Grant Recipients

The CTA Foundation is thrilled to announce the 2021 class of grant recipients. In a year that saw an increased need

and interest in using technology to address the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, the CTA Foundation is committed to getting resources to a wide range of organizations across the country on behalf of the consumer technology industry.

Telehealth was a hot topic this year. Organizations such as the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing will be using mobile solutions to provide tele-mental health services to residents in their communities. BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals of Greater Houston, is expanding the coverage of telehealth solutions through its app database and training programs. And the Code of Support Foundation’s PATRIOTlink system continues to build on its platform to match military service members, veterans, families and caregivers with the services they are eligible to receive.

Virtual and augmented reality also jumped to the forefront in providing resources to caregivers. The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio is developing a virtual reality-based caregiver trainer and Lutheran Services in America is using augmented reality glasses to support caregivers in its pilot program.

Other groups receiving first-time grants include the Ablegamers Charity, which uses a large scale 3D printer to prototype individually customized solutions for people with disabilities to get the social benefits of accessible gaming. Access Hears in Baltimore is providing access to affordable hearing devices to low-income communities. Avenidas provides technology training programs to low-income Vietnamese and Mandarin-speaking seniors in Santa Clara County, CA. Second Sense is taking an innovative approach to supporting people who are blind or low vision through a remote technology solution. And St. Barnabas Senior Services is undertaking a new initiative with USC’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology to address the technology needs of low-income, ethnically diverse seniors.

A complete list of the 2021 class of grant recipients is below.