[Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. Brittanie, a Black woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, is seated in her wheelchair in her kitchen. Her right arm is resting on a table that holds a smart speaker and a cellphone.]
I have to rely on my personal care attendant to use the phone. I'm unable to hold the handset and dial out on my own.
I became very isolated from my family and friends. I'm immunocompromised, so for safety reasons I wasn’t able see my loved ones in person. The only way to communicate was on the phone and I couldn't access it independently.
My friend learned about the TED Program. They provided me with this cell phone and smart speaker for free. I can now answer the phone and place calls on my own.
[Marilyn, a white woman with dark brown hair, is standing behind a table in an office. On the table is a smartphone on a phone holder stand, an electrolarynx, a voice amplifier and a tablet showing speech apps.]
I am a speech therapist, and I work with clients who have a wide range of speech disabilities. Many speech disabilities can make it difficult for other people to understand my clients on the phone. It causes a lot of frustration for clients, and they sometimes tell me they avoid making phone calls. The TED Program provides devices that make it easier for them to use the phone.
For instance, clients who have had throat cancer can receive devices like an electrolarynx to use with their cell phones. [Marilyn picks up the electrolarynx.] I have other clients that use speech apps on tablets and smart phones, voice amplifiers, and speech fluency devices. [The camera zooms in on Marilyn touching the tablet and smart phone, and pulls back as she gestures to the voice amplifier.] Clients have reported that they love being able to make their own phone calls again, not relying on their spouses or others to make calls for them.
Communication is so important. My goal as a speech therapist is to facilitate independence, and one of the ways I can do that is by putting them in touch with resources such as those available through the TED Program.
[Alan, a white man with a close-cut beard and shaved head, appears against a grey background. In the upper left corner is a video showing the TED equipment available: large button phone, tablet with keyboard and speakers, tablet showing a speech app, a smartphone in a phone holder stand, an electrolarynx, a voice amplifier, and a phone with a hands free speakerphone option.]
If you have a speech or physical disability that makes it hard to use a traditional phone, the Telephone Equipment Distribution Program can help! We provide assistive phone devices to eligible Minnesotans with a communication disability. Devices are loaned to you for free as long as you need them. To learn more about the program contact us at 1-800-657-3663 or dhs.dhhsd@state.mn.us You can also visit our website at mn.gov/deaf-hard-of-hearing and click on the Telephone Equipment Distribution Program link at the bottom of the page.
The Telephone Equipment Distribution Program is funded through the Department of Commerce-Telecommunications Access Minnesota (TAM) and administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
© Copyright 2022, State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services Produced by Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division 444 Lafayette Road St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Voice or preferred relay service: 800-657-3663 Videophone: 651-964-1514 Website: mn.gov/deaf-hard-of hearing
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) prohibits discrimination in its public services because of race, color, creed, religion, political beliefs, national origin, sex, public assistance status, marital status, age, sexual orientation or disability. Direct discrimination complaints to DHS Civil Rights Coordinator at dhs.info@state.mn.us or 651-431-2000. People with disabilities may request reasonable modifications to receive DHS services by contacting its Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator at dhs_ada@state.mn.us or 651-431-3040.
