King of Prussia-based Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation is making the lives of older adults and people with disabilities easier, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today.

The nonprofit co-founded by Bala Cynwyd’s Susan Tachau, who acts as the organization’s executive director, provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy to seniors and people with disabilities, that help them acquire assistive technology devices and services.

In its more than two-decades-long history, the nonprofit has procured $42 million in loans for around 4,000 people.

Tachau, who is one of five recent recipients of an AARP Purpose Prize, was inspired to start PATF by her own son, Michael. The 38-year-old was born prematurely with cerebral palsy.

Over the years, Tachau and her husband, Mark, a Temple University law professor, experienced many of the ups and downs of parenting a child with a disability.

After the Assistive Technology Act included a new section in 1998 that allowed non-traditional lenders, Tachau came up with a program that could help many low-income people with disabilities.

Today, PATF is state and federally certified and is one of 42 Alternative Financing Programs throughout the country.

Read more about Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation in Main Line Today.