Telecommunications Access Program for TelephoneTAP for Telephone provides basic voice telephone calling (both sending and receiving) and telephone alerting devices for individuals with disabilities in the state of Missouri through the delivery of adaptive telephone equipment. The program is not designed to provide access to other types of telecommunications, such as two-way radio, alpha-numeric paging, or alerting devices such as smoke alarms, wake-up alarms, doorbell signaler and baby criers. The program is also not designed to assist individuals resolve face-to-face communication, thus the program does not provide devices such as hearing aids and augmentative communication devices. What are the Eligibility Requirements?
Who Can Certify me as Having a Disability? Professionals who can certify include licensed physicians, audiologists, speech pathologists, hearing instrument specialists, or agencies approved by Missouri Assistive Technology. Approved agencies include Centers for Independent Living, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and L.E.A.D. Institute for the Deaf and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. How Do I Apply for Equipment and Select Equipment to Meet My Needs? An authorized person or agency must designate equipment that matches your disability needs. Professionals who have completed training will be able to assist you in the selection of equipment. The TAP for Telephone Equipment Worksheet is used to verify an appropriate match between the individual with a disability and adaptive equipment and must be signed by an approved agent. All of the Independent Living Centers listed below have demonstration equipment and staff to help with the selection of equipment (locate the county you live in and contact the nearest listed center):
Access II Independent Living Center
Bootheel Area Independent Living Services
Delta Center for Independent Living
Disability Resource Association
Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence
Heartland Independent Living Center
Independent Center of Southeast Missouri
Independent Living Resource Center
Living Independently for Everyone
Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living
Northeast Independent Living Services
On My Own, Inc.
Ozark Independent Living
ParaQuad, Inc.
Rural Advocates for Independent Living
SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence
Services for Independent Living
Southwest Center for Independent Living
The Independent Living Center, Inc.
Tri-County Center for Independent Living The Coalition for Independent Living
The Whole Person, Inc.
Warrensburg Independent Living Services Who Owns the Equipment After it is Purchased? You own the equipment! There will be a sticker on the phone equipment that includes the name of the vendor who distributed the equipment and the phone contact. If you need your phone repaired during the four years after you receive the phone, you need to contact the vendor who distributed the equipment. Miscellaneous supplies such as TTY paper, headsets and regular batteries are your responsibility. How Often Can I Apply for Equipment? You can reapply for equipment every four years. If your disability changes to the point that different equipment is necessary, you may reapply based on your new needs. What Type of Equipment is Available on the TAP for Telephone Program? A full range of adaptive equipment is provided at no cost to meet the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities. Equipment include the following: Amplified Phones - This is a telephone for people with mild to severe hearing loss designed with a built-in amplifier. All of the phones come with tone and frequency adjustments, loud ringers of up to 95 dB and a maximum of 55 dB volume gain.
Amplified Cordless Phone - The cordless phones provide up to 50 dB volume gain.
Voice Carry Over (VCO) Phones - The Voice Carry Over (VCO) phone utilizes special technology that combines voice and text communications over the telephone. It allows individuals who have a severe to profound hearing loss who wish to use their own voice, to speak directly to the other person on the telephone, and read the other person's response on a text display. Voice Carry Over services is available through Missouri Relay.
TTY's - A TTY is a specialized telephone (also known as a TDD or TT) that enables people to use the telephone to communicate by typing messages back and forth to one another instead of talking. A TTY looks much like a typewriter and has a standard keyboard.
TTY Software - TTY software allows the computer to be used as a TTY.
Large Visual Display TTY (for low-vision/hearing loss)- These include TTY's and a VCO phone with a special enlarged print display for persons who are deaf and have low vision. This equipment is only available to individuals who have a documented hearing/low vision loss not corrected by glasses.
Amplified Large Number/Braille/TalkBack - This is a standard phone for persons with low vision who need larger numbers on the dial pad for ease in dialing. The JV-35 is a phone that can be used by individuals who read and use braille, or needs auditory feedback with a digital voice that vocalizes each number that is pressed. The phone comes equipped with numbers on the dial pad printed in braille. This is also an amplified phone that provides up to 35 dB volume gain for the user. The JV-35 has a loud ringer of 85 dB.
Deaf/Blind
Telephone Signaling Devices: Auditory Loud Ringers - This is an alerting device that increases the volume of the sound of the phone ringing. The signalers allow the user to customize the ring to make it ring high, low or warbled.
Visual Alerting Device - Visual signalers are devices that work in conjunction with the ringing of the phone. It lets the user know the phone is ringing by turning sound (the telephone ring) into light.
Deaf/Blind Alerting Device (for deaf/blind only) - This is an alerting device that a person who is deaf and blind wears on their body. It alerts them to the ringing of the phone by way of a vibrating signal. Vibra-tactile signalers are only available to individuals who have a documented hearing/low vision loss not correctable by glasses.
Mobility Disabilities - There are several types of phones for people with mobility disabilities. The cordless phones have a hands-free speakerphone that allows a person to speak and listen without using a handset. The RC-200 telephone is for persons who have a mobility disability and may have limited use of their hands or body. It can be operated with a remote control or voice activating answering capabilities.
Speech Disabilities - The handset or phone is for individuals with speech impairment who have difficulty producing volume in their speech.
Hearing Carry Over (HCO) - The Uniphone 1140 and Q90 enables a person who can hear but cannot speak, to communicate on the phone by listening on the receiver and typing their responses instead of talking. For a person who has a speech disability, hearing carry over (HCO) services are available through Missouri Relay. Note: Adequate manual dexterity to type on a keyboard is essential to use these phones. The Q90 comes with external speakers for hands-free operation.
Anti-Stuttering Devices - This is an anti-stuttering telephone device with delayed auditory feedback (DAF) and frequency-shifted auditory feedback (FAF).
Multiple and Other Disabilities - This is a phone for persons who have difficulty dialing or remembering numbers or for those who have cognitive disabilities. The large number dial buttons allow the user to insert photos or icons to represent the number being dialed. The numbers must be pre-programmed into the phone so the number corresponds to the photo. The user merely has to push the picture or the number they want to call and the phone dials the number automatically.
To ensure that the best equipment is ordered to meet the individuals needs, applications must be completed in person. For more information about the program, call Missouri Assistive Technology at (800) 647-8557 (voice) or (800) 647-8558 (TTY). |
