Equipment Distribution Service
North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) services offers Equipment Distribution Services (EDS) to help individuals with hearing loss, combined hearing and vision loss and speech disabilities to communicate and connect with others. To qualify for equipment, one must meet the program's disability and income eligibility guidelines. There are staff within DSDHH to help you decide which services and devices work best for the specific type of hearing loss and/or communication need you have. To learn more about the options, contact one of DSDHH's seven regional centers. Staff will be happy to provide individualized guidance at no charge to meet your unique needs.
Eligibility
To apply for a telecommunications device you must meet certain eligibility requirements:
- Up to 250% of poverty level
- Certificate of disability
- Resident of North Carolina
Available Equipment and Services
Adaptive Telephones: These specialized devices enable you to use a standard telephone to call anyone.
Captioned Telephones: Captioned telephones contain a screen attached to the telephone base that displays text, allowing you to understand what the person at the other end of the line is saying.
Hearing Aids: You may qualify for a hearing aid with a telecoil, also known as a "T-coil," switch. This switch enables you to use the telephone, but not everyone can benefit from this type of hearing aid. To find out if you could benefit from such a hearing aid, consult with your hearing healthcare professional.
Personal Amplifiers: Personal Amplifiers are small devices that amplify sounds to help hear on the telephone better.
Weather Alert Radio: Weather Alert Radios are available to eligible North Carolinians who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind. The weather alert radio is a tool with available visual and haptic alerts to call attention to emergency broadcasts related to severe weather events and man-made disasters. Applicants must provide proof of North Carolina residency and proof of hearing loss. Eligibility requirements is not income-restricted. Contact your nearest regional center for more information.
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program: DSDHH is currently certified by the Federal Communications Commission since its inception in 2011 to administer the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program which is also known as iCanConnect. It provides the equipment needed to make telecommunications and advanced communications accessible to low-income individuals who have combined hearing and vision loss.
Contact
To learn more about the Equipment Distribution Service, please contact one of the DSDHH’s regional centers near you.
Telecommunications Resources Program Manager
Email: Becky.Rosenthal@dhhs.nc.gov
Phone: (919) 760-3833