Grant Brings State-of-the-Art Equipment to Area Students
Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency (PLAEA) is excited to announce it has been awarded a $12,499 grant from the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation (PACGDC). This funding will be used to revitalize and expand the agency’s Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) Equipment Loan Closet, ensuring students across North Central Iowa have access to the latest assistive technology.
The grant is a testament to the dedication of Amy Profit, PTA with Prairie Lakes AEA, who spearheaded the application process. For Profit, the mission was personal and professional, rooted in a desire to provide the best possible tools for the 32,000 students in the Prairie Lakes AEA service area.
A Vision Reimagined
The seed for this grant was planted after Profit gave a presentation to the PLAEA Board of Directors. After sharing the success of the loan closet, board member Cheryl Harris encouraged Profit to seek further funding to keep the inventory modern and effective.
"It is always encouraging and a confidence booster to know that others think your idea and passions are good and worthy," said Profit. "We were all so excited when we got word that we were 2025 Grant Recipients! I couldn't wait to share the good news with our OT and PT providers."
Why a Loan Closet Matters
Located in Pocahontas, the Equipment Loan Closet operates much like a library. It allows therapists to check out specialized equipment such as adaptive chairs, standers and gait trainers for students to trial in their natural environments.
These eight-week trial runs are vital for several reasons:
- Every child’s needs are unique. Trials ensure that equipment is a perfect match before a school or family commits to a permanent purchase.
- Data collected during a successful trial often provides the missing link for insurance approvals.
- The closet provides immediate access to equipment while families wait for long-term funding or grants.
"Each child and situation we work with is unique; there is no cookie-cutter approach," Profit explains. "The trial process provides insurance approval, buy-in from families, and support from school districts when they witness how the right piece of equipment can impact a child's life."
Cutting-Edge Tools for Smallest Users
The grant funds will be used to replace worn items and introduce innovative technology. Profit is particularly excited about the Zing Portable Stander, which serves infants and toddlers.
"Typically, children learn to stand between 9 and 13 months. The Zing Stander gets our smallest children upright and weight-bearing on time. It has been a struggle to find equipment that fits our smallest users, so this is a game-changer."
Another addition is the Rifton Adaptive Desk, which features a magnetic whiteboard surface and adjustable angles to ensure every student, regardless of whether they are seated or in a wheelchair, has a workspace that promotes independence.
A Model for the Nation
The PLAEA loan system is so effective that it has garnered national attention. Profit was recently invited to present the program’s framework at a conference in New York, where educators and medical professionals from across the country looked to Prairie Lakes AEA as a blueprint for managing special education equipment.
How to Access the Closet
The loan closet serves families and school districts across 14 counties. To ensure safety and proper fit, equipment must be checked out and monitored by a skilled PLAEA therapist.
If you are a family or school within the agency’s service area and wondering if a piece of equipment could help a student reach their goals, contact your Prairie Lakes AEA Physical or Occupational Therapist to begin the consultation and trial process.
"Having the equipment ready to be processed into our system is a breath of fresh air," said Prairie Lakes AEA board member Cheryl Harris. "We know that for a family waiting on insurance, or a teacher trying to help a student engage in class, the arrival of this gear represents a new chapter of support. We aren't just adding inventory; we are expanding what’s possible for the children we serve."