|
Answer:
At the Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference,
March 2002, Jamie Judd-Wall of the Technology and Inclusion Center in
Austin, Texas presented a paper titled, Talking on the Phone: Discovering
a New Source for AAC Devices. She described the Specialized Telecommunications
Assistance Program,(STAP) which is managed by the Texas Commission for
the Deaf, and Hard of Hearing, funded by the Public Utilities Commission
of Texas and located at the Texas Technology Resource Center. http://www.taicenter.com/stap.html.
This program provides specialized equipment to enable children and adults
with disabilities to independently use a telephone.
While most people are aware of basic telephone access items for individuals
with hearing impairments, many are not aware of the other devices that
are available through this program, specifically augmentative communication
devices. Many augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices
have been adapted for use with telephone equipment; those AAC devices
are available through STAP, or the STAP equivalent in your state. A
fast and easy way to determine if the AAC item is telephone adaptable
is the presence of an external speaker jack. If you can plug in an external
speaker, then you can plug in a phone adapter. If you can plug in a
phone adapter, the AAC device can be provided by STAP, or the STAP equivalent
in your state.
The equipment is FREE to the user. There are no income exclusions, nor
are you excluded if you are a participant of another state or federally
funded program. The good news is that EVERY state has a similar program
mandated by the public utilities commission.
In California, the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Programs are
known as the California Telephone Access Program or CTAP and equipment
can be requested through the call center at 800-806-1191. For eligibility
requirements, go to http://www.ddtp.org/EligibilityAndFAQ/Eligibility.htm
As far as I know, the California program has not, yet, been asked to
fund augmentative or alternative communication devices so that people
without vocal speech can access the telephone and I plan to use the
Texas model to encourage them to do so. Please go to the Texas Technology
and Inclusion Center, STAP web site to see examples of their application
procedures and AAC devices they are currently funding. http://www.taicenter.com/stap.html
|
Discussion Home Page