Assistive Technology Funding Programs in Hawaii
Hawaii's official starting points for help paying for assistive technology. Each is an independent public program: call, ask the questions listed below, and let them tell you what's possible. These are starting points, not coverage advice.
Where to start in Hawaii
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Hawaii's Assistive Technology Act programAssistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii
Call (808) 532-7112
Staff demonstrate devices, lend them short-term so you can try before anyone buys, and know which of the programs below fit a given situation. If you make one call, make this one.
Verified September 2026
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MedicaidMed-QUEST Division
Call 1-800-316-8005
Med-QUEST is run by Hawaii's Department of Human Services; a language assistance line is available on the TTY number.
About this program and what to ask
Medicaid is your state's health coverage program for people with limited income or significant disabilities — it is run by the state, unlike Medicare, which is the federal program tied mostly to age. Many states also run Medicaid "waiver" programs, which are home- and community-based services that can include assistive technology for daily living and communication. Every state sets up its Medicaid program and waivers differently, so the way in is always a conversation with your state's agency.
This program is worth a call if you or the person you support already has Medicaid, or has a disability or limited income that might qualify. It is a common starting point for daily living aids and communication devices, especially for children and for adults receiving home-based supports.
Questions to ask when you call
- Does my Medicaid plan have a process for requesting assistive technology or durable medical equipment, and where does that request start?
- Does our state offer home- and community-based waiver programs that include assistive technology, and how do I apply or get on a waitlist?
- What documentation do you need from a doctor, therapist, or other professional to consider a device request?
- Is there a case manager or care coordinator who can help me through this process, and how do I get one assigned?
- If a request is denied, what is the appeal process and how long do I have to file?
- I'm not sure whether I have Medicaid, Medicare, or both — can you help me confirm what coverage this person has?
- How long does a decision usually take, and who can I contact to check on the status?
Curious about waivers? What a Medicaid waiver is · Medicaid.gov's official state waiver list
Verified June 2026
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Vocational RehabilitationHawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
Call (808) 586-9745
Part of the Hawaii Department of Human Services; Ho'opono, the blind and low-vision branch, sits inside DVR, and applications start on the DVR website's Apply page.
About this program and what to ask
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is your state's program for helping people with disabilities get a job, keep a job, or train for one. Assistive technology can be part of that help when it connects to work — anything from screen readers to communication devices to workplace equipment. Some states also have a separate agency serving people who are blind or have low vision, and it works the same way.
This program fits if you're working, looking for work, at risk of losing a job because of a disability, or in school or training that leads to employment. The connection to work is what matters here — if the technology would help you do a job or prepare for one, this is a program worth calling.
Questions to ask when you call
- How do I apply for vocational rehabilitation services, and what happens after I apply?
- Can assistive technology be included in my plan if it helps me get or keep a job?
- Does my state have a separate agency for people who are blind or have low vision, and should I be talking to them instead?
- Can VR pay for an assistive technology evaluation to figure out what would actually help me at work?
- I'm in school or a training program — can VR help with technology I need to finish it?
- How long does the process usually take from application to receiving services?
- If I'm already employed but struggling, can VR help me keep the job I have?
Verified June 2026
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Vocational Rehabilitation · blind and low visionHo'opono Services for the Blind
Call (808) 586-5269
Ho'opono is the dedicated blind and low-vision services branch within Hawaii's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, reachable by voice or TDD.
About this program and what to ask
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is your state's program for helping people with disabilities get a job, keep a job, or train for one. Assistive technology can be part of that help when it connects to work — anything from screen readers to communication devices to workplace equipment. Some states also have a separate agency serving people who are blind or have low vision, and it works the same way.
This program fits if you're working, looking for work, at risk of losing a job because of a disability, or in school or training that leads to employment. The connection to work is what matters here — if the technology would help you do a job or prepare for one, this is a program worth calling.
Questions to ask when you call
- How do I apply for vocational rehabilitation services, and what happens after I apply?
- Can assistive technology be included in my plan if it helps me get or keep a job?
- Does my state have a separate agency for people who are blind or have low vision, and should I be talking to them instead?
- Can VR pay for an assistive technology evaluation to figure out what would actually help me at work?
- I'm in school or a training program — can VR help with technology I need to finish it?
- How long does the process usually take from application to receiving services?
- If I'm already employed but struggling, can VR help me keep the job I have?
Verified June 2026
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AT financing loanAssistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii (ATRC) — Financing & Cost Support
Call 808-532-7110
ATRC of Hawaii runs the state's AT Act program, including its financing and cost-support services for assistive technology.
About this program and what to ask
Every state has an Assistive Technology (AT) Act program, and many of them run a financing arm that offers low-interest or guaranteed loans for buying assistive technology. These are loans, not grants — you borrow the money and pay it back over time, usually on friendlier terms than a bank or credit card would offer. The program listed here is your state's official starting point.
This option fits when other funding programs have come up short or don't apply to your situation — for example, the device you need isn't covered elsewhere, or you'd rather buy now than wait on an approval process. Before borrowing, check whether your state's device lending program lets you try the equipment first, so you're confident before you commit to payments.
Questions to ask when you call
- What interest rate and repayment terms would apply to a loan for the device on my list?
- What do I need to qualify, and do you work with people who have limited income or a low credit score?
- Can the loan cover related costs like training, repairs, warranties, or installation, or only the device itself?
- How long does the application and decision process usually take from start to finish?
- Is there a way to try this device through a lending library or demonstration program before I take out a loan?
- If I'm turned down, can you point me toward other funding programs that might fit my situation?
- Are there any fees, and what happens if I need to pay the loan off early or my situation changes?
Verified June 2026
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ABLE savings accountHawaii ABLE Savings Program
Call 1-844-394-2253
This is Hawaii's own state-run ABLE savings plan.
About this program and what to ask
An ABLE account (Achieving a Better Life Experience) is a savings and investment account designed for people with disabilities. Money in the account can be put toward disability-related expenses — which can include assistive technology — and, unlike a regular savings account, it is built so that saving does not automatically put benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid at risk. It is a way to save toward equipment over time, not a program that pays for it.
An ABLE account fits when you are planning ahead rather than facing an urgent need — saving toward a future purchase, or setting money aside without jeopardizing the benefits you rely on. It also fits when family members want to contribute toward equipment costs and need a safe place for that money to go.
Questions to ask when you call
- Who is eligible to open an ABLE account, and what do I need to show about my disability or when it began?
- How does money in an ABLE account interact with the benefits I receive now, like SSI or Medicaid?
- Would assistive technology — for example, a communication device or a screen reader — count as a qualified disability expense?
- How much can be contributed each year, and is there a point where the balance starts to affect my benefits?
- What fees does the account charge, and is there a minimum to open or maintain it?
- Can family members or others put money into the account directly?
- How do I take money out when I'm ready to buy equipment, and what records should I keep?
Verified June 2026
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Same in every stateNational programs and charities
Medicare, VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service, Lions Clubs International, Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Cerebral Palsy, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children. Federal rules or nationwide requests, the same wherever you live.
TTY users can reach any number on this page through relay by dialing 711. Programs that publish their own TTY line have it listed under their phone number.
Compiled from official state program websites, the AT3 Center directory (at3center.net), and the ABLE National Resource Center (ablenrc.org). Starting points, not coverage advice. Programs change — if a link is wrong, email hello@whatcanhelp.com.