Westrom honored for removing barriers for people with disabilities

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Fourteen Minnesota citizens, educators and organizations were recently recognized in a ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda as champions of removing barriers to independence for people with disabilities.

State Representative Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, who represents Douglas County, was one of those honored.

The Minnesota STAR Program’s “Awards for Excellence in Assistive Technology” honor individuals and groups for championing the removal of barriers to independence through the use of assistive technology (AT).

AT is any device that maintains, improves or increases function at home, school, work and in the community. Examples range from a pencil grip and a desk riser for accommodating a wheelchair to a communication device that generates speech, controls appliances and performs computer tasks.

Recipients include pioneers in the field of assistive technology, educators, professionals and consumers who promote the use of assistive technology.

Westrom was honored with four other lawmakers in the “Advocate” category.

STAR is Minnesota’s Assistive Technology Act Program, administered through the Minnesota Department of Administration.

The STAR program is federally funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004 (P.L. 108-364).

For more information about assistive technology and the STAR program, visit the STAR website at www.starprogram.state.mn.us.

Tags: state news, news, government, politics, westrom, disabilities