Special telephones for the hard of hearing (Desoto Sun Herald)

Carol Moyer, executive director of Hearing Impaired Persons, a nonprofit organization serving the hard of hearing and deaf community, has announced the opening of a distribution center for specialized telephone equipment available through Florida Telecommunications Relay.

Representatives of the organization will be at the DeSoto Health Resources Center, 1901 S.E. Baker St., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 20. Those wishing to apply for this special telephone equipment, or those who already have equipment but need help, may come to the site for assistance. All necessary paperwork will also be available at that time.

The organization is grateful to DeSoto Health Resources for donating space so that better service can be provided to DeSoto County residents.

"The telephone distribution program has been in existence since 1991 and has benefited thousands of Florida residents by making it possible for them to communicate more effectively," Moyer said. "Partnering with DeSoto Health Resources provides the means to better serve the community and spread the word about a valuable resource." Persons applying for equipment will be matched to the type that is most beneficial to them based on their hearing, speech, or vision loss -- at no charge to the individuals, no charge for the equipment, and no additional monthly charges on their telephone bill.

The program is funded through a portion of the surcharge assessed on every telephone bill each month.
The individuals must be residents of Florida to qualify for equipment. Proof of residency should be presented at the time of application.

For more information, contact the organization at 1(888) 878-8477. Anyone wishing more information can call or visit the Port Charlotte office from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is at 24901 Sandhill Blvd., #8.

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