Assistive Technology Programs in South Dakota
Where to try, borrow, and get help paying for assistive technology in South Dakota. 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 South Dakota
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South Dakota's Assistive Technology Act programDakotaLink
Call (800) 645-0673
Staff demonstrate devices, lend them short-term so you can try before anyone buys, and help people sort out which of the programs below fit their situation.
From public sources, June 2026
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MedicaidSouth Dakota Medicaid
Call 1-800-597-1603
For application questions specifically, call 605-773-4678 rather than the main recipient support line.
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, the federal program for people 65 and older and for younger people with disabilities, usually after two years on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). 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
From public sources, June 2026
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Vocational RehabilitationDivision of Rehabilitation Services
Call 605-773-3195
Part of the Department of Human Services; browse the DHS website to find local office contacts for this division.
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?
From public sources, September 2026
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Vocational Rehabilitation · blind and low visionSouth Dakota Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI)
Call 800-265-9684
South Dakota's dedicated vocational rehabilitation division for people who are blind or have low vision, housed within the Department of Human Services.
About this program and what to ask
Some states run a separate vocational rehabilitation agency for people who are blind or have low vision. It does what general VR does — helps people get a job, keep a job, or train for one — with staff who specialize in vision loss. Assistive technology such as screen readers, magnifiers, braille displays, and training in how to use them can be part of that help. These agencies usually also run independent living services for people 55 and older who are losing vision, whether or not work is the goal.
Call this agency instead of general VR when vision loss is the main barrier. It fits if you're working, looking for work, or in school or training that leads to a job and need technology or skills to do it with low vision or blindness. If you're 55 or older, ask about independent living services even if you aren't working.
Questions to ask when you call
- How do I apply for services, and what happens after I apply?
- Can assistive technology be included in my plan if it helps me get or keep a job?
- Can you pay for a low vision or assistive technology evaluation to figure out what would help?
- Do you offer training on the technology itself, like screen reader, magnification, or braille instruction?
- I'm 55 or older and not working — do you have independent living services I can use?
- If I have other disabilities besides vision loss, should I also be talking to general VR?
- How long does the process usually take from application to receiving services?
From public sources, June 2026
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AT financing loanDakotaLink Assistive Technology Loan Fund
Call 1-800-645-0673
Run by DakotaLink, South Dakota's AT Act program, this fund offers loans for assistive technology, home access modifications, and vehicle modifications.
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?
From public sources, June 2026
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ABLE savings accountABLEnow
Call 1-844-669-2253
South Dakota has no state ABLE plan, so residents use this national program, administered by Virginia529.
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?
From public sources, 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.
Something wrong? Tell us
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. Each entry says who confirmed it: “Confirmed with the program” means the program itself checked it, and “From public sources” means we checked the program’s website and public directories. Programs change — if a link is wrong, email hello@whatcanhelp.com.