[Asheville, NC] February 11, 2019 — Looking for help financing assistive technology devices that can offer people with disabilities a better quality of life?  Curious about disability rights in North Carolina? Self-Help Credit Union (SHCU) will host a free event on Wednesday, February 27 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Goodwill Industries Headquarters, 1616 Patton Avenue in Asheville that features disability rights experts, device demonstrations and information on various financing options available.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, just over 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility. This group includes 1.7 million wheelchair or scooter riders and millions of users of other mobility devices, such as canes, crutches, and walkers.

Other examples of assistive technologies are:

• Hearing aids.
• Cognitive aids, including computer or electrical assistive devices.
• Computer software and hardware, such as voice recognition programs, screen readers, and screen enlargement applications.

Assistive technologies can make life a little easier for people with disabilities but costs may be prohibitive. Device demonstrations will be conducted by the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program.

The event is sponsored by Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC). DRNC is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization and our state’s Protection & Advocacy system, with a unique mission to advance the rights of people with all types of disabilities, of all ages, statewide. DRNC uses an array of strategies to create a more integrated and just society, with a critical component being our advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities.

Call the Asheville branch of Self-Help Credit Union at 828-255-0809 to reserve your seat by Friday, February 15. Please let us know of your accessibility needs when you call.

Self-Help Credit Union is part of the Center for Community Self-Help (Self-Help), a leading national community development financial institution headquartered in Durham, NC. Since 1980, Self-Help has provided over $7 billion in financing to 150,000 families, individuals and businesses. It helps drive economic development and strengthen communities by providing responsible financial services; lending to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits; developing real estate; and promoting fair financial practices across the nation. Through its credit union network, Self-Help serves 150,000 people in North Carolina, California, Illinois, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin and Florida.

More information about Self-Help Credit Union can be found at self-help.org.

Jenny Shields, Director of Media Relations, Self-Help Credit Union