John,I'm confused. Why is this so difficult?
There is a Federal Law which requires that your local phone company (I'm a phone company retiree so I always want to ensure that people use the FREE resources available) provide services for people who have difficulty using a phone. In California, it's the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) and there is tons of information available at the front of our local phone books describing DDTP Services, which includes all kinds of amplified phones. Free ones.
You're an attorney so I assume you are aware of the Federal Law. I also know the "application" of this law varies from state-to-state.
Where you live, in Indiana and Florida, are you telling me that you have already been through all the various FREE amplified-phone programs and this is what you are left with? I always recommend that people try the "free stuff" first prior to buying anything. I recommend that people ONLY buy an advanced product that they can't get for free.
Also, as an example, in California, the DDTP has consultants who assist you in finding the right one...akin to what you are talking about. I've actually seen people here in my State buy stuff for over $200 that they could have received for free. They didn't understand the Law and what the phone company is legally-obligated to provide.
Good luck...but don't pay for one if you can get it for free. If nothing else, try the basic ones first...for free.
--Lynne (AD-SD; Northern California)
John,Funny. I'm sure you are way ahead of me on this law. The only "law" I know alot about is Employment Law and it doesn't apply here.
I first became educated on the Federal Law re telephone accessiblity over two years ago when I worked the NSDA Booth with Dot Sowerby and other NSDA'ers at the huge ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) Conference in San Francisco. Later, I attended the Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference in LA and learned a ton more about these free phones and related details. At that point, I became very familiar with the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program in California, which was set up to implement the Federal Law in my State.
Much to my surprise later in 2000 (when communicating with Katrina Lantz and Lylia Bennett on this Bulletin Board), I discovered that all states implement the Federal Law differently. They live in Texas and Arizona. California is evidently far ahead of other States. As you investigate this, you will probably notice a difference between Indiana and Florida also.
As Katrina mentioned in her post on this thread, things change and when she first started researching after we discussed this issue many months ago on this BB, Arizona had nothing like it does now. So, how'd you like to be an *Advocate* for implementing a State Program like we have in California? It will probably take someone like you to get it going in your State. The DDTP description here takes up about a page (what hearing/speech disabled people are legally entitled to) in all of our local phone books. As you noted, State and Federal Laws are very different. Application of the "law" varies widely, by State.
Good luck and go get 'em! Somebody has to start the ball rolling in your State(s) and it may as well be you!
--Lynne
Hi John, did you see my post from some time this summer? I got an amplified telephone which I got by first calling the Special Needs Center listed the front of the phone book. Now, I had called a year before that and was told they didn't have anything like that yet, but were working on it. Lo and behold this summer I got lucky! The phone costs me nothing, but technically it doesn't belong to me and if I move out-of-state I am to return it to them. By the way I live in Arizona and have Qwest as my phone provider. Is Verizon your cell phone provider? I didn't ask about cell phones. They are a bear for me to use!Hope this helps. Not being able to use a telephone is a big PAIN.
Katrina
Katrina,I did find your post and, in fact, checked my phonebook as a result thereof. While the folks from Verizon were "helpful" - they acted like they believed that something should be available, it just did not materialize. But yes, your posting was helpful and gave me a good start - as did the post from Lynne. Thanks again. John