Several months ago, there was an article published in the St. Pete times about assistive listening devices for the deaf and hard of hearing. I was very pleased to see the word get out to the community about this great service.
I use to work for Pasco/Hernando County Deaf Service Center in Port Richey, FL and one of my duties was to schedule the appointments to obtain these devices. You can obtain TDD's, VCO (Voice Carry Over), and volume control phones (for hard of hearing), from many Deaf Service Centers as the article explains. I would just like to add a little more information to the article that may be helpful.
Florida Telecommunications (not the deaf service center) requires a mini in-service on how the phones/TDD's and Visual/Audible Ring Signalers work. The class is usually about an hour long and you leave with your new equipment. Not to confuse you, the classes and equipment are available through the Deaf Service Centers; they are the distribution centers for Florida Telecommunications. You must call and setup an appointment to attend the class and receive your equipment.
A few pointers in case you are interested. You must prove that you are hard of hearing or deaf by going to your doctor or to a hearing center. Most hearing centers have the forms in their office to fill out. If you are going to your doctor instead of a hearing center, you can call the Deaf Service Center to have a form sent to you. However, if you wear hearing aids, you can be exempt from this form and the deaf service center will provide another form for you. Your hearing aid(s) usually is proof enough of your hearing loss and you must wear you hearing aid(s) to the in-service.
Another thing that is important to know, which you will learn in the class - if you decide to leave the state of Florida, the equipment must be returned to the Deaf Service Center that you obtained it from. Also, if your equipment becomes damaged, it can be replaced for free. You must also set up an appointment for all repairs, just as you must do for the in-service/class, but you will not be required to go through the in-service again.
Here is a list of Deaf Service Centers for Pasco/Hernando, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties. REMEMBER, you must call for an appointment first.
Hillsborough County - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
4023 N. Armenia Ave Suite. 250
Tampa, Fl. 33607
Ph: 813-354-9522
Pasco/Hernando County - P/HC Deaf Service Center
8610 Galen Wilson Blvd. Bldg. B, Suite 100
Port Richey, Fl. 34668
Ph: 727-849-1088
Pinellas County - Friends of the Deaf Service Center
7190 76th St. North
Pinellas Park, Fl. 33780
Ph: 727-541-4488
