OVERCOMING COMMUNICATION BARRIERS

Transcription

1 OVERCOMING COMMUNICATION BARRIERS Scott Murray Deaf-Blind Program Coordinator Elaine Williams Communications Technology Manager

2 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.

3 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.

4 THE AUDIOGRAM AND SPEECH SOUNDS: Mild Moderate Moderately Severe Severe

5 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

6 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!

7 DRM PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ADAPTIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT: Telecommunications Equipment Program (TEP) Maine Relay National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP)

8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT PROGRAM (TEP)

9 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!

10 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: 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!

11 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!

12 PHONE ACCESSORIES: Flashing Ringers Amplified Ringers Amplified and Slow Play Back Answering Machines Surge Protectors Pocketalkers

13 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

14 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.

15 MAINE RELAY

16 RELAY SERVICES OFFERED IN MAINE: TTY Voice Carry Over Hearing Carry Over Speech-to-Speech Deaf-Blind Services Spanish Captioned Telephone (CapTel )

17 HOW IT WORKS: Communication Assistant Captioned Telephone User Other Party

18 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

19 NATIONAL DEAF-BLIND EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM (NDBEDP)

20 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.

21 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.

22 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

23 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

24 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

25 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

26 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.

27 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.

28 Outreach: Independence without Fear Senior Expos Assisted Living Facilities Deaf Culture Festival/Deaf Culture Tea icanconnect.org

29 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

30 QUESTIONS: If you would like a brochure, application, or more information about any of our programs, please call us: (LOCAL) (TOLL-FREE) (VIDEO PHONE) Or stop in and see us: 68 BISHOP STREET, SUITE 3 PORTLAND, MAINE, THANK YOU!