OVER 50 , DO YOU KNOW?

 

   IF YOU OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY IS HARD OF HEARING OR DEAF ?

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You can get assistance with FREE telecommunication equipment through the State of Texas.  The free telephone equipment is financed by the Texas Universal Service Fund which telephone subscribers pay as part of their telephone bill.  The program is administered through the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Division for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS), Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP).

To get the telephone equipment take the following steps:

(1) Locate a hearing specialist who is familiar with the program, has the application form,  and can certify your hearing problem.   For example, you will find such a specialist at The Goodrich Center for the deaf and blind, 2500 Lipscomb Street , Fort Worth , Texas , 76110 , telephone 817-926-5305.

(2) Make an application for the equipment.  At the time this information was posted, an application was shown at: http://www.tcdhh.state.tx.us/stapappreg.htm.  The form at that website states that the following types of individuals can certify your hearing problem:

_____Licensed Hearing Aid Specialist _____Licensed Audiologist _____Licensed Speech Pathologist _____Licensed Social Worker _____Licensed Physician or Nurse _____State Certified Special Ed. Teacher

_____State Certified Teacher of Blind/Visually Impaired Students _____State Certified Teacher of Speech Impaired Students _____State Certified Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students _____Appropriate State or Federal Agency Representative _____Director/Representative of DARS/DHHS Service Provider (Council) _____Director/Representative of Independent Living Center

(3)  When complete, the form must be submitted to the address shown on the form, and the Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program will take 6-8 weeks to process your application.  When approved, they will mail you a certificate which will allow you to pick up a phone or other equipment in your area.  For example, they list vendors located in Bedford, Hurst, Grapevine, and Fort Worth where you can pick up your equipment.   

 

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