Commonwealth of
Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell
Veterans Now
Eligible for Telecommunications Equipment from Virginia Department for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
New
program provides equipment for military veterans living with hearing or speech
loss
RICHMOND – The Virginia Department for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) and Virginia Relay announced today that
military veterans living with a hearing or speech loss are now automatically
eligible for telecommunications equipment through Virginia’s Technology
Assistance Program (TAP).
Adaptive telecommunications equipment, including
text telephones (TTY), captioned telephones (CapTel) and other devices are
available to individuals who meet the following qualifications:
- A veteran with a hearing or speech loss and proof of an Honorable Discharge
- A veteran with a hearing or speech loss and documentation of a service-related disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- A surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty and has a hearing or speech loss
- An active member of the Virginia National Guard who has completed the required initial active-duty service
“I am pleased to announce today that veterans
living in Virginia with a hearing or speech loss are now automatically eligible
for telecommunications equipment through Virginia’s Technology Assistance
Program. I urge all eligible Virginia veterans to learn more about this new
program to help reduce communications barriers.”
“Our veterans have dedicated their lives to
protecting our way of life, and now through our Technology Assistance Program,
we are honoring their service by offering veterans with a hearing or speech loss
adaptive telecommunications equipment,” said Ron Lanier, director of VDDHH. “Our
goal is to make daily life easier for Virginia’s veterans living with a hearing
or speech loss by helping them to stay connected with their family, friends, and
employers as well as their grateful community.”
Paul Galanti, Commissioner of the Virginia
Department of Veterans Services, noted, “the US Department of Defense Hearing
Center of Excellence estimates 60 percent of veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq
have hearing loss as a result of their military service. This new benefit will
help provide these men and women with the tools necessary to adapt to this
loss.”
TAP provides telecommunications equipment to all
qualified applicants whose disabilities prevent them from using a standard
telephone. To qualify for the program, individuals must be deaf, hard of
hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled. Applicants must also be Virginia
residents and meet income eligibility requirements that are based on household
income and family size. There are no age restrictions; however applications from
minors must be co-signed by a parent or legal guardian.
To learn more about VDDHH, Virginia Relay and TAP
for veterans, call 1-800-552-7917 v/tty or visit www.vddhh.org
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