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The Buck Starts Here... > Telecommunication Access Program (TTY Distribution)
Telecommunication Access Program (TTY Distribution)
Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH)
Overview:
In 1994, the KCDHH worked closely with the Kentucky General Assembly to pass legislation (H.B. 538, Sponsored by Rep. Rex
Smith) that would provide specialized telecommunications equipment (such as amplified phones, CapTel, TDD, VCO or TeliTalk) at
no charge to deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired residents of Kentucky.
The Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) of KY and the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) which was enacted by law
in 1991, together provide equal access to the telephone for all citizens. The Telecommunications Access Program (TAP) of KY
is funded by a surcharge on residential telephone lines throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for at least one year.
- You must be at least five (5) years of age (If you are under 18 years of age, your parent/guardian will assume full
responsibility for the equipment).
- You must be deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired or deaf-blind, to the extent that you cannot use the regular
telephone for communication without the use of adaptive equipment.
- You must be living in a home that is currently subscribing to a residential telephone line and paying the monthly
telephone bills.
AT Services Provided/Covered:
- Purchasing/Acquisition
- Training/Technical Assistance
AT Devices Provided/Covered:
Application Process:
- Request an application to be mailed to your address, by calling (800) 372-2907, or visiting http://www.kcdhh.ky.gov/oea/ttyapply .
- Fill out the application completely.
- Mail or bring your completed application to the KCDHH office in Frankfort.
Contact Information:
KCDHH
632 Versailles Rd
Frankfort, KY 40601
Local: (502) 573-2604
Toll Free: (800) 372-2907
Fax: (502) 573-3594
Additional Information:
Equipment is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may be placed on a waiting list in times of
fiscal constraints. First time applicants have priority over those who have already received equipment and are reapplying for
additional equipment. There is a limit of one STE per deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech-impaired individual, per
residential telephone line.
Bridges & Potholes:
Bridges
- To this point, there has been very little assistance available for purchasing TTYs and related technology. This
program fills a gap in services and will help end the isolation of many people.
Potholes
- Limited funds are available. Equipment will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The program has a limited scope. Only equipment that will assist an individual in communicating over the telephone
is distributed.