Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology

What Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology does

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) is a Florida-based nonprofit founded in 1994 and administered through the Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, with federal funding from the Administration on Community Living under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Its core function is to increase access to assistive technology for Floridians with disabilities, delivered through a curated lending library spanning vision, hearing, speech communication, learning/cognition, mobility, daily living, environmental adaptations, vehicle modifications, computer access, and recreation categories, plus device demonstrations, an AT reutilization/recycling program, public awareness and training, and a low-interest alternative financing program launched in June 2015 that has facilitated over $1.45 million in funded loans.

The organization delivers services free of charge to end users via its Tallahassee headquarters, 11 Regional Demonstration Centers distributed across Florida, statewide device shipping, and mobile outreach to community events such as SportsAbility and Family Café. Specialized programs include Step Up AT (early literacy for preschool-age children) and Get Out and Play (recreation for individuals with disabilities). The service model is community-led and mission-driven: FAAST reaches customers through disability community word-of-mouth, partnerships with educators, therapists, healthcare professionals, and Centers for Independent Living, and direct field outreach, with a small staff of 1–10 led by Executive Director Eric Reed.

Commercially, FAAST operates as a grant-funded nonprofit with no direct product revenue from end users. Its revenue mechanics are (1) federal grants under the AT Act, (2) state appropriations through the Florida Department of Education, and (3) a small transaction-volume revenue line from the low-interest loan program. Pricing for all core services is free (freemium) to individuals; the financing program charges low interest and is best characterized as a transaction-fee model. Notable operational scale signals include 17,000+ services provided, 12,024 individuals trained, 90–95% participant satisfaction, $1.6 million saved by clients, and a 2026 RFP to establish a 12th Regional Demonstration Center in North Central Florida.

Name

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology

Legal name

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc.

Website

https://faast.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) is a Florida nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides free assistive technology device loans, demonstrations, reutilization, training, and low-interest financing to Floridians with disabilities, delivered through 11 Regional Demonstration Centers statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: FAAST is primarily funded through government grants including federal funding from the Administration on Community Living under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, and state funding through the Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Services are provided free to individuals.
2. Alternative Financing Program: Low-interest loans provided to individuals for purchasing assistive technology. As of 2021, over $1.45 million in funded loans since the program began in June 2015.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FAAST is a nonprofit program that provides Floridians with disabilities free access to assistive technology through short-term device loans (30 days), hands-on device demonstrations, an AT reutilization/recycling program, public awareness and training, information and assistance, and a low-interest alternative financing loan program. Services are delivered statewide through a Tallahassee headquarters and 11 Regional Demonstration Centers equipped with device libraries covering vision, hearing, speech, mobility, learning/cognition, daily living, and computer access categories.

Product overview

FAAST (Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology) is a nonprofit assistive technology service organization that provides a comprehensive ecosystem of services rather than a single product. The core offering is a short-term device lending program where individuals can borrow from an extensive inventory of assistive technology devices for 30 days at no cost to evaluate suitability before purchasing. This lending library encompasses products across multiple categories including computer access devices (keyboards, mice, screen readers), speech communication devices (GoTalk, iTalk, BIGmack communicators), daily living aids, environmental adaptations, vision and hearing devices, mobility equipment, and learning/cognition tools. Supporting services include device demonstrations, an AT reutilization/recycling program, a low-interest financial loans program for AT purchases, public awareness training, information and assistance, and specialized programs like Step Up AT for early literacy. FAAST delivers services through its main office and eleven Regional Demonstration Centers distributed across Florida, with additional resources including training videos and a funding guide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Short-Term Device Loan Program Free lending program allowing Floridians with disabilities to borrow assistive technology devices for 30 days to determine suitability before purchasing. Devices can be shipped statewide or picked up from Regional Demonstration Centers.
• Device Demonstrations Hands-on AT device comparisons and demonstrations at Regional Demonstration Centers helping Floridians make informed purchase decisions about assistive technology.
• AT Reutilization Program Recycling program that collects used assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment and redistributes them to individuals in need.
• Financial Loans Program Alternative financing program providing low-interest rate loans to individuals with disabilities statewide for purchasing assistive technology devices and services.
• Public Awareness and Training Assistive technology awareness presentations and detailed training on AT devices and services to keep Floridians updated on available resources.
• Information and Assistance Q&A services related to assistive technology devices and services, helping individuals navigate available options and resources.
• Regional Demonstration Centers Eleven Regional Demonstration Centers across Florida providing local access to FAAST services, device trials, hands-on demonstrations, and personalized assistance. Centers include Smart Home and sensory spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.6 million saved by Floridians through FAAST services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAAST is administered through the Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This state agency provides oversight and funding support for FAAST's programs and services.
• Administration on Community Living (ACL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAAST receives federal funding from the Administration on Community Living under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004 (P.L. 108-364). This provides primary federal funding for the organization's mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing a broad portfolio of disability and rehabilitation services (including AT-adjacent programs through affiliates like Easterseals Crossroads), with a similar mission of increasing independence for people with disabilities but a much wider service scope than FAAST's AT-focused model.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit network delivering workforce development and disability-related services including assistive technology access and employment supports for people with disabilities, overlapping with FAAST's mission of enabling independence and access to AT but operating at much broader scale and scope.

Others

• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; intersects with FAAST's disability community but focuses on advocacy, family support, and residential services rather than direct AT device lending.
• United Cerebral Palsy: National disability services nonprofit whose affiliates deliver assistive technology, therapy, and accessibility services to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities; overlaps thematically with FAAST on AT access but operates through a federated affiliate model rather than as a single statewide AT Act grantee.

Regional players

• Easterseals Crossroads (INDATA Project): Easterseals Crossroads operates the federally-funded INDATA Project, Indiana's Assistive Technology Act program that provides device loans, demonstrations, training, and reuse services - directly analogous to FAAST's program mix but serving Indiana rather than Florida.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/faastinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrjfh4gW3u33TgWrQrECXJA
• Facebookfacebook.com/192676177786
• Instagraminstagram.com/faastinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faastincorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology