Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP)

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy Resource Center distributes free CapTel phones, free amplified telephones, free phone signalers, free TTYs and free Ameriphone Q90s to all qualified applicants with certified hearing or speech loss who are limited in the use of a regular telephone.

To Apply for any Deaf or Hard of Hearing Equipment

Download and print these forms:

• Consumer Intake form
• TEDP Certification form

After you have completed the forms to the best of your ability, please return them in person, by mail or fax to the DHHARC office nearest you.

CapTel (Captioned Telephone)

• Ideal for hard of hearing users
• Works like a traditional telephone
• Uses typical analog phone jack
• Get live word-for-word captions

Captioned Telephone (CapTel) is a new telephone technology that allows people to receive live word-for-word captions of their telephone conversations. Callers talk and listen to each other while the other party's conversation is shown on the phone's built-in screen.

The captioning service is connected automatically if the caption button is depressed. A specially trained operator at the CapTelSM service center uses the latest in voice-recognition technology to transcribe whatever is said by the person you called.

Crystal Tone Amplified Telephone

• Ideal for severely hard of hearing users
• Up to 50db handset gain
• Up to 100db ringer gain with adjustable pitch
• Filters out background noise
• Tone control enhances incoming voice
• Extra large, easy-to-see high contrast keypad
• Hearing aid compatible audio jack
• Bright incoming ring flasher
• 3 emergency speed-dial keys
• Outgoing volume control
• Built-in speakerphone

Simplicity LT Telephone Ring Signaler

• Plugs directly into telephone line
• Built-in outlet to flash your plugged-in lamp
• Switch allows lamp to be turned on or off
• Transmits signal to remote receiver(s)
• Flash pattern follows the ring pattern
• Optional add-on strobe flash signaler

The Simplicity LT Telephone Ring Signaler alerts you to incoming phone calls by flashing a plugged-in lamp or add-on strobe light. It can transmit the signal to other Simplicity Remote Receivers in other rooms. The built-in switch allows you to turn a plugged-in lamp on or off for normal room lighting.

Ameriphone Q90 Digital TTY/VCO

• For Speech Impaired clients only!
• Portable, lightweight and full-featured
• Works with many cell/cordless phones
• Built-in text answering machine
• Remote message retrieval
• Full-size 68 key keyboard
• Hi-Speed compatible

The Ameriphone Q90 Digital TTY/VCO is a powerful, dual-purpose TTY offering true mobility and convenience. Now you can go anywhere your conversation takes you. Use it at home, the office or your car. A large, backlit, two-line 48-character display makes text easy to read. It has a bright visual ring flasher to announce incoming calls, a built-in microphone for hands-free voice calls (VCO) and 32k conversation and incoming message memory, The Ameriphone Q90 TTY/VCO connects to most computer printers to print conversations. Comes with A/C adapter, rechargeable batteries and a 2.5mm connector for cell and cordless phones. Available for Speech impaired and Hearing Carry-Over clients only.

Teletypewriter (TTY)

A TTY is a text telephone that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to use the telephone by reading and typing messages to one another instead of talking and listening. A TTY equipped with a keyboard and LED screen is required by both the caller and the person called.