OVERCOMING COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

Scott Murray

Deaf-Blind Program Coordinator

Elaine Williams

Communications Technology Manager

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Hearing Loss is Difficult to Track Hidden disability

Denial and under-diagnosis

US Population – 36m and growing

Maine Population - 1.3m Deaf/Hard of Hearing: 8.5% (110,500)

Profoundly Deaf: 10% of above (11,050)

Only 20% of people receive the technology services they need.

HEARING LOSS DEMOGRAPHICS:

An estimated one-third of US adults have hearing loss.

Hearing loss is the #1 disability among veterans Paired with other disabilities

Noise induced & age related

Maine is the “oldest” state! 30-60% of seniors have hearing loss

Hearing loss may be compounded by language processing issues, medical conditions and/or dementia

Average 7-10 years between onset & asking for help.

THE AUDIOGRAM AND SPEECH SOUNDS:

Mild Moderate

Moderately Severe Severe

ADDITIONAL IMPLICATIONS:

Elders with hearing loss: Hyper-vigilance as a coping skill

Hearing loss can mask other illnesses

Every day, people with hearing loss: are forced into early retirement

experience isolation

90% of deafened adults experience severe depression

Acquired Hearing Loss and Mental Health Issues: Grief and Loss

Physical and Mental Exhaustion

Paranoia

Depression and Anxiety

FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION:

Get attention

Provide topic

Maintain eye contact

Speak at a normal pace and

volume

Add natural gestures

Advise of topic change

Check for Understanding

Allow extra time for responding

Offer choices

Share what you learn with others to improve overall communication with an individual!

DRM PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ADAPTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT:

Telecommunications Equipment Program (TEP)

Maine Relay

National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution

Program (NDBEDP)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

EQUIPMENT PROGRAM (TEP)

ABOUT TEP:

Disability Rights Maine administers the Maine state

telecommunications equipment distribution program.

We are able to provide:

Amplified Phone Equipment

Captioned Telephone Equipment

Phone Accessories

Training and Installation of the above Equipment

A Single Hearing Aid per Client

We are located in Portland, and have demo equipment

available for testing!

AMPLIFIED PHONE EQUIPMENT:

Easy Application Process

Identify your struggles on the phone and let us help you find the right equipment!

Requires proof of income and proof of disability.

Download & complete the application online: http://drme.org/deaf-services/tep

Variety of Features

Tone and Volume Adjustment

Phone Number Memory

Caller ID Screens

Photo Memory Buttons

Corded and Cordless

All equipment is hearing aid compatible!

CAPTIONED TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT:

CapTel phones use the relay system to

provide captions of what the other party is

saying!

Amplified- listen to what you can.

Read the captions to catch information you

may have missed.

Large, Adjustable Screen Features

Captioned Answering Machine

Built in, one touch customer service

button!

PHONE ACCESSORIES:

Flashing Ringers

Amplified Ringers

Amplified and Slow Play Back Answering Machines

Surge Protectors

Pocketalkers

HEARING AIDS:

DRM provides a single hearing aid to individuals

65+, on a lending basis

Tiered system of distribution:

Age

Live alone

Waiting list!

We partner with audiologists

all over the state

LENDING AND COST-SHARE PROGRAMS:

Equipment provided based on income guidelines.

People on limited or fixed incomes qualify for LENDING

PROGRAM

Equipment at no cost to you!

Repairs and replacements of the equipment covered.

You return it to us when you no longer need it!

If you exceed the income guidelines, you may qualify for

our COST-SHARE PROGRAM!

You purchase the equipment at a reduced cost.

You own the equipment for life.

Installation and training are included.

MAINE RELAY

RELAY SERVICES OFFERED IN MAINE:

TTY

Voice Carry Over

Hearing Carry Over

Speech-to-Speech

Deaf-Blind Services

Spanish

Captioned Telephone (CapTel)

HOW IT WORKS:

Captioned Telephone User

Communication Assistant

Other Party

HAMILTON CAPTEL MODELS:

Internet and Non-Internet Based Models

Traditional Style

Tech Savvy Updates

Mobile CapTel

Hamilton CapTel for PC/Mac

Hamilton CapTel for Smartphones

Hamilton CapTel for Tablets

NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM (NDBEDP)

ABOUT NDBEDP:

DRM administers the FCC’s National Deaf-Blind

Equipment Distribution Program for the State of

Maine

SIGNIFICANT COMBINED hearing and vision loss

Established in 2012, the program is available in all

states.

Funding is based on the individual state’s

population.

PROGRAM DEMOGRAPHICS:

74 Mainers served so far:

26 in year 1

25 in year 2 (19 New)

27 in year 3 (19 New)

22 in year 4 (10 New)

Of those served, two are Braille users and twelve

use ASL as their preferred language.

COUNTIES SERVED:

o Extreme South (A): 11

o L/A Area (B): 7

o Portland Area (B): 20

o Augusta Area (C): 12

o Mid-Coast (D): 7

o Bangor Area (E): 6

o Extreme North (F): 7

o Downeast (J): 4

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY/GOALS:

Reduce isolation

Increase independence

Enhance access to telecom and internet

DSI is more than the sum of its parts

Focus on distance communication

APPLICATION PROCESS/ELIGIBILITY:

Follows Helen Keller National Center for

Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC) definition

of Deaf-Blind

Income limit is 400% of FPL

Flexible sign-off

No age limit

Application stays “open” after equipment and training

received

APPLICATION PROCESS – DETAILS:

Simple application form – basic client data

Attester signoff, proof of income

Goal is distribution of equipment within 60 days of

approval of application

First-time applicants get priority

Can reapply if needs change

EQUIPMENT/ACCESSORIES:

Everything TEP provides, plus:

iPads and iPhones

PC or Mac laptops/desktops

Magnification software

Screen Readers

Refreshable Braille displays

Large-screen monitors

Touch-screen All-in-Ones/Tablets

NO hearing aids or hearing aid accessories.

Training, Installation and Follow-up:

Up to 10 hours of training included

Partners include DBVI, Iris Network,

Mainely Access, and Perkins.

Interpreters provided for trainings

as needed.

Equipment maintenance is covered

for first three years.

Outreach:

Independence without Fear

Senior Expos

Assisted Living Facilities

Deaf Culture Festival/Deaf Culture Tea

iCanConnect.org

LOW-TECH APPROACHES TO VISION AND HEARING LOSS:

o Fresnel lens

o Micro LED flashlight

o Assistive Listening Devices

o Tablet Stand

o Ear Plugs

QUESTIONS:

If you would like a brochure, application, or more

information about any of our programs, please call

us:

207.797.7656 (LOCAL)

800.639.3884 (TOLL-FREE)

207.766.7111 (VIDEO PHONE)

Or stop in and see us:

68 BISHOP STREET, SUITE 3

PORTLAND, MAINE, 04103

WWW.DRME.ORG

THANK YOU!