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Check your health insurance as it sometimes provides limited coverage of hearing aids. Do first check out whether you might
be eligible for the following sources of financial assistance.
Children with hearing loss may be able to receive
assistive technology at no cost if their Individual Education Plan specifies that they need the assistive technology (such
as hearing aids or FM systems) in order to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). For more information,
see How the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Applies to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, at
http://clerccenter2.gallaudet.edu/KidsWorldDeafNet/e-docs/IDEA/index.html
In some states, people with low income qualify for hearing aids through medical coverage provided through a state program.
People with higher income may temporarily qualify for assistance with medical expenses, including hearing aids, through the
medically needy program administered by the county social service agency (look in the Government section of the telephone
book under County, and request an appointment)
Prospective and current college students and other people of working
age may qualify for financial assistance for hearing aids, assistive technology, and other rehabilitative services from state
vocational rehabilitation agencies (look under State in the Government section of the local telephone book).
Veterans
of military service may qualify for assistance with hearing aids and other rehabilitative services; contact the medical facility
for the appropriate branch of the military.
State telephone equipment programs can be found via
http://www.tedpa.org.
These programs vary quite widely in what they provide and what their eligibility requirements are, but some provide free telephone
equipment to eligible residents.
Local agencies serving deaf and/or hard of hearing people may also know about local
hearing aid banks and other resources, such as clinics that provide services on a sliding scale basis according to income,
state assistive technology loan programs, and state financial assistance programs for children with disabilities.
In
some situations, a federal or state law may require an employer or organization to provide auxiliary aids and services for
communication access. Some of these situations are: workplaces, government programs, hotels, hospitals, senior centers and
residential facilities. If you are inquiring about communication assistance in one of these situations, call the Disability
and Business Technical Assistance Center at (800) 949-4232 (v/tty) for more information.
The following are national or
regional resources for assistance:
HEAR NOW
Provides recycled and used hearing aids to low-income persons.
9745 East Hampden Avenue
Suite 200
Denver, CO 80231-4923
1-800-648-HEAR (v,tty)
HEAR USA FOUNDATION
AND HEARING AID BANK
Provides financial assistance to low-income families and persons for hearing aids.
7702 E. Doubletree
Ranch Rd.
Suite 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2059
1-888-835-HEAR
TRAVELERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP
TRUST FOR THE DEAF AND NEAR-DEAF
3755 Lindell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63108
314/371-0533 (voice)
Provides
assistance for mechanical devices, medical care, and/or specialized education or treatment, to those who demonstrate financial
need. U.S. citizens only. Grants may be used to purchase hearing aids, assistive listening equipment, or may help with the
cost of a cochlear implant.
BETTER HEARING INSTITUTE
1-800-EAR-WELL
http://www.betterhearing.org
STARKEY HEARING FOUNDATION
Assistance for low-income children and families in purchasing hearing aids.
6700 Washington
Avenue South
Eden Prairie , MN 55344
(612) 928-4648
(612) 929-1318 [Fax]
800-648-4327
EASTER SEALS
Over 400 local service centers with varying services; some assist low-income adults and children with hearing aids and
other rehabilitative devices.
230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 726-6200 [Voice]
(312)
726-4258 [TDD]
(312) 726-1494 [Fax]
1-800-221-6827
http://www.easter-seals.org/
CHILDREN OF THE SILENT WORLD
Assists low-income children with purchasing hearing aids.
P.O. Box 2425
Cridersville,
OH 45806
http://www.metroevents.com/silent/
DISABLED CHILDRENS RELIEF FUND
Provides disabled children with hearing aids and other assistive devices.
P.O. Box
7420
Freeport, New York 11520
http://dcrf.com/
HIKE FUND, INC.
Provides low-income children between 0-20 years with hearing aids and assistive devices
Supreme
Council, IOJD
233 W. 6th Street,
Papillion, NE 68046
(402) 592-7987
http://www.iojd.org
MIRACLE EAR CHILDRENS FUND
Assists low-income children and families with purchases of hearing aids from this manufacturer.
P.O. Box 59261
Minneapolis, MN 55459-0261
1-800-234-5422
UNITRONS KIDS KLUB FOUNDATION
Assists
low-income children with hearing aids and rehabilitation services.
333 West Fort Street
Suite 2010
Detroit,
Michigan, USA 48226
1-800-521-5400
http://www.unitron.com/pages/cikk.htm
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL
Assists low income individuals with purchasing hearing aids.
300 West 22nd Street
Oak
Brook. IL 60523-8842
http://www.lionsclub.org
QUOTA INTERNATIONAL
Assists low income individuals with purchasing hearing aids
1420 21st Street NW
Washington,
DC 20036
(202) 331-9694
http://www.quota.org
SERTOMA INTERNATIONAL
Assists low-income persons with purchasing hearing aids
1912 East Meyer Boulevard
Kansas
City, MO 64132-9990
816-333-8300
http://www.sertoma.org/
DOROTHY AMES TRUST FUND
Assists children in New England states with hearing aids and assistive technology.
Key Trust
Company of Maine
P.O. Box 1054
Augusta, ME 04332-1054
OPTIMISTS CLUB
Provides aids and services to hearing
impaired youth.
Optimist International Youth Program
Help Them Hear Program
Contact your local Optimists Club
HOPE FOR HEARING FOUNDATION AND HEARING AID BANK
Assists low-income children in Los Angeles area with hearing
aids, rehabilitation and education.
6535 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 255
Los Angeles CA 90048
(323) 651-2615
(323)
651-2631 [Fax]
http://hope4hearing.org
Many of your local civic organizations, such as the Kiwanis, may be able to provide financial assistance to purchase or acquire
hearing aids and other assistive device. Check your local phone directories or the Chamber of Commerce for a listing of civic
organizations in your area.
Please see the following pages for a list of state agencies for deaf and hard of hearing
people.
STATE AGENCIES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
State agencies are designed to be
resources for the specific persons they serve. State agencies can often be a direct source of financial assistance and services.
Please be aware that the information below may be out of date, however.
ALABAMA
Department of Rehabilitation
Services
State Coordinator: Earl Lindsey
(334) 281-8780 Voice
(334) 613-2249 TTY
(800) 441-7607 V/TTY in AL
ALASKA
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
State Coordinator: Duane Mayes
(907) 561-4466 V/TTY
ARIZONA
Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
Exec. Director: Sherri Lambert Collins
(602)
542-3323 V/TTY
(800) 352-8161 V/TTY in AZ
web: www.achi.state.az.us
ARKANSAS
Office of the Deaf and Hearing
Impaired
Deputy Commissioner: Gloria Wright
(501) 296-1635 V/TTY
(501) 296-1669 TTY
CALIFORNIA
State
Office of Deaf Access
Chief: Tom Lee
(916) 653-8320 Voice
(916) 653-7651 TTY
(916) 653-4001 Fax
COLORADO
Colorado Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Supervisor: Larry Gauthier
(303) 894-2515 x222 V/TTY
(303) 937-0561
V/TTY
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Exec. Director: Valerie R. Marino
(860) 561-0196 V/TTY
DELAWARE
Delaware Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
State Coordinator: Loretta
Sarro
(302) 577-2850 V/TTY
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Rehabilitation Services Administration
State Coordinator:
Marlene Jones-Kinney
(202) 727-0981 V/TTY
FLORIDA
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Program
State Coordinator:
Cecil Bradley
(904) 488-2867 V/TTY
GEORGIA
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Deaf Program Coordinator:
Vacant
(404) 657-3073 V/TTY
HAWAII
Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness
Program Coordinator:
Marianne Chung
(808) 586-8131 V/TTY
(808) 586-8130 TTY
IDAHO
Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Exec. Director: Pennie Cooper
(208) 334-0879 Voice
(208) 334-0803 TTY
(800) 433-1323 V in ID
(800) 433-1361
TTY in ID
ILLINOIS
Division of Services for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
State Coordinator of
the Deaf: Ellen Roth
(312) 814-2939 Voice
(312) 814-3040 TTY
INDIANA
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Deputy Director: Jerome Freeman
(317) 232-1143 V/TTY
(800) 962-8408 V/TTY (Indiana only)
IOWA
Deaf
Services Commission of Iowa
Administrator: Vacant
(515) 281-3164 V/TTY
KANSAS
Kansas Commission for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Exec. Director: Wayne C. Mnich
(913) 296-2874 V/TTY
(800) 432-0698 V/TTY in KS
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Exec. Director: Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins
(502)
573-2604 V/TTY
(800) 372-2907 V/TTY in KY
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf
Exec. Director:
Vacant
(504) 925-4178 Voice
(800) 256-1523 Voice
(800) 543-2099 TTY
MAINE
Division of Deafness
Office
of Rehabilitation Services
State Coordinator: Norm Perrin
(207) 624-5318 Voice
(207) 624-5322 TTY
(800) 332-1003
V/TTY in ME
MARYLAND
Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services
State Coordinator: Bona A. Achinanya
(410)
554-9404 Voice
(410) 554 9411 TTY
(410) 554 9412 Fax
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
Commissioner: Barbara Jean Wood
(617) 727-5106 V/TTY
(800) 882-1155 V/TTY in MA
(800)
249-9949 in MA (after hours-emergency)
MICHIGAN
Division on Deafness
Michigan Department of Labor
Director:
Christopher Hunter
(517) 373-0378 V/TTY
(517) 373-8397 V/TTY
(800) 729-2253 V/TTY
MINNESOTA
Minnesota
Commission Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Exec. Director: Curt Micka
(612) 297-7305 V/TTY
MISSISSIPPI
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Director of Deaf Services: Gary Neely
(601) 853-5310 V/TTY
(800)
443-1000 V/TTY in MS
MISSOURI
Missouri Commission for the Deaf
Exec. Director: Dr. Roy E. Miller
(573)
526-5205 V/TTY
(800) 796-6499 V/TTY
MONTANA
Montana Rehabilitative/Visual Services Division
Contact Person:
Faith Timm
(406) 727-7740 V/TTY
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Commission for the Hearing Impaired
Exec. Director:
Tanya Wendel
(402) 471-3593 V/TTY
(800) 545-6244 in NE
NEVADA
Rehabilitation Division
State Coordinator
of Deaf Services: Scot A. Pott
(775) 687-4452 Voice (new toll free nbr effective 12/98)
(702) 259-3894 TTY
(702)
259-6421 FAX
(888) 337-3839 Ext. 4452 in NV
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Division
of Vocational Rehabilitation
State Coordinator: H. Dee Clanton
(603) 271-3471 V/TTY
(800) 299-1647 in NH
NEW JERSEY
Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
New Jersey Department of Human Services
Director: Richard
Herring
(609) 984-7281 V/TTY
(800) 792-8339 V/TTY in NJ
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
Commissioner: Robert Geesey
(505) 827-7584 V/TTY
(505) 827-7588 TTY
(800) 489-8536 V/TTY
in NM
(800) 873-8897 V/TTY News Line in NM
NEW YORK
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals
with Disabilities
Deaf Services Coordinator: Mark Myers
(518) 486-3773 V/TTY
(800) 222-5627 V/TTY
NORTH
CAROLINA
Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Department of Human Resources
Director: Frank Turk
(919) 733-5199 Voice
(919) 733-5930 TTY
NORTH DAKOTA
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
State Coordinator:
Wanda Gier
(701) 328-3999 Voice
(701) 328-3975 TTY
(800) 755-2745 Voice in ND
OHIO
Rehabilitation
Services Commission
Program Specialist: Karlton (Skip) Bergquist
(614) 438-1325 V/TTY
(800) 282-4536 V/TTY in
OH
OKLAHOMA
Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Interim Coordinator: Judy Fox-Goodrich
(405) 634-9937
V/TTY
(800) 833-8973 V/TTY in OK
OREGON
Deaf and Hearing Impaired Access Program
State Coordinator: Marjorie
McGee
(503) 378-3142 V/TTY
(800) 358-3117 V/TTY in OR
(800) 521-9615 V/TTY in OR
PENNSYLVANIA
Office
for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Director: Debra Maltese
(717) 783-4912 V/TTY
(800) 233-3008 V/TTY in PA
PUERTO RICO
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Director of Division of Deaf Clients: Ivan Ramirez
(809) 782-0011
V/TTY
RHODE ISLAND
Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Coordinator: Kristin J. Mulrooney
(401)
277-1204 Voice
(401) 277-1205 TTY
SOUTH CAROLINA
Vocational Rehabilitation Department
State Coordinator:
Larry Harrelson
(803) 896-6630 Voice
(803) 896-6635/6636 TTY
SOUTH DAKOTA
Communication Services for
the Deaf
Director: Benjamin Soukup
(605) 361-5760 V/TTY
(800) 642-6410 V/TTY in SD
TENNESSEE
Tennessee
Council for the Hearing Impaired
Exec. Director: Sherri Rademacher
(615) 313-4913 V/TTY
(615) 313-5695 TTY Ans
Mac 24 hours
TEXAS
Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Exec. Director: David Myers
(512)
451-8494 V/TTY
UTAH
Utah Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
Administrator: Gene Stewart
(801) 263-4860 V/TTY
(800) 860-4860 V/TTY in UT
VERMONT
Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation
State Coordinator: Rene Pellerin
(802) 241-2186 V/TTY
VIRGINIA
Department for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
Director: Susan Walker Buckland
(804) 225-2570 V/TTY
(800) 552-7917 V/TTY in VA
VIRGIN
ISLANDS
Division of Disabilities and Rehabilitation Services
Administrator: Sedonie Halbert
(800) 774-0930 Voice
in VI
(809) 773-2323 V
WASHINGTON
Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Director: Leon Curtis
(360)
753-0703 V/TTY
(360) 753-0699 TTY
Message only lines:
(800) 422-7930 Voice
(800) 422-7941 TTY
WEST
VIRGINIA
West Virginia Commission for the Hearing Impaired
Exec. Director: Hubert Anderson Jr.
(304) 558-2175
V/TTY
(304) 558-0026 TTY
WISCONSIN
Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Department of Health and Social
Services
Director: Richelle Hammett
(608) 243-5625 Voice
(608) 243-5635 TTY
WYOMING
Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation
State Coordinator: Carl Shapard
(307) 856-2393 V/TTY
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