Special telephones for East Texans with impairments

Special telephones for East Texans with hearing, sight, speech, and mobility impairments will be presented in Athens on Tuesday, April 17 beginning at 10:30 am at St. Stephens's Anglican Church, 2101 East College St. Edith Hirth from the Deaf Action Center (DAC) will present the available equipment that includes:

- telephones that repeat audibly the numbers dialed for sight impaired;

- amplified telephones for hearing impaired;

- teletype writers that convert speech into text for hearing disabled;

- telephones that talk for speech impaired; and

- adapted telephones to assist dialing or holding a receiver for mobility challenged persons.

Senior citizens and others in East Texas who have disabilities that make it difficult for them to use a telephone can get specially designed equipment -- for free -- through the state's specialized Telecommunications Assistance program.

DAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminate barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people. The center also assists persons in obtaining hearing aids they might not otherwise afford.

Mobility challenged persons can call for assistance. The program is funded by the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DARS) - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS). For additional information please call the Center in Longview at 903-553- 9655 or the church in Athens at 903-675-1639.