• How to adapt your workplace for a Deaf/hard of  hearing individual
• The use of technology for counseling

TTY - A telecommunications device for the deaf that allows them to communicate with another deaf individual directly or with a hearing person with the assistance of a communications operator through the Virginia Relay Service (this service is free).
ESTIMATED price: $200-$500

Smoke Detector/Fire Alarm - will alert the deaf/hard of hearing person to an activated alarm by flashing a light or by some other visual/sensory means (amplified or sensory, or both).  Your building may already have a strobe light alerting device within the main fire alarm system if it was installed recently.
ESTIMATED price: $170-$300

Door Knocker - to be placed on a door to alert the deaf/hard of hearing person that someone on the other side is knocking on the door by a flashing light
ESTIMATED price: $30-$40

Doorbell - instead of the doorbell emitting a chime, it will flash a specific light to alert the individual someone is at the door.
ESTIMATED price: $60-$70

There are also amplified doorbells for the hard of hearing.

Alerting device for the phone - will flash a light to let the person know that the phone is ringing
ESTIMATED price: $20-$60

There are also amplified ringers to let a hard of hearing person know the phone is ringing.

Amplified phone - aimed specifically towards individuals with a mild to moderate hearing loss to allow them to better understand individuals over the phone by amplifying sound.  There are also portable amplifying devices for the phone as well.
ESTIMATED price: $20-$350
Portable amplifier ESTIMATED price: $12-$45

FM System/Infrared System - to be used in conference and meeting settings to allow the deaf/hard of hearing individual to better understand the speaker or speakers during a presentation by amplifying sound through a microphone directly to the individual.  There are numerous types of devices that employ different methods to use for different situations.
ESTIMATED price: $12-$5000

Interpretors:

• ASL interpretor:  a screened or certified individual that will use American Sign Language  to interpret and relay all that is being said
• Transliterator: a screened or certified individual that uses cued speech to interpret and relay all that is being said

ESTIMATED COST: $20 - $37.50 per hour
 
• CART: Stands for Computer Assisted Real Time.  This method uses a stenographer and computer laptop to provide real time (live) captioning and transcripts of what is being said word for word.  This service is provided by captioning companies.
• CAN: Stands for Computer Assisted Notetaker.  Basically, it?s an individual that will sit next to the deaf or hard of hearing individual and types notes for them to follow.  It is not word or word, rather it is a summary of what is being said, just as a notetaker would.  This method can employ a professional or any individual that is proficient in this type of notetaking by simply using a laptop computer.

ESTIMATED COST:  $85 per hour *Ballpark figure* (CAN tends to be cheaper and the cost depends on the company employed and service required)

Pager: They can be set on vibrate to alert the deaf/hard of hearing person that someone wants to get in touch with them.  There are various types of pagers available including those that receive messages.  Can be very helpful for those who do not answer the phone and a customer wants to get in touch with the individual.

E-mail:  Electronic mail is a very effective way of sending information back and forth without the added cost of paper.  In some cases, it?s considered more effective than using the Relay.

Fax Machine:  Simple way of getting information back and forth without the hassle of the phone and provides a hard copy of communications.

**All of the above are estimates.  Several of the alerting systems can be combined into one unit to allow for just one purchase to serve numerous purposes.  There are numerous options available for every need.  The best thing to do is order catalogs and decide which is best for your employee on an individual basis since every individual has a different hearing loss and adapts accordingly.  Contact your local service provider for the deaf and hard of hearing for more information and talk to your employee to ensure they are getting the appropriate assistance.**
 

How To Use Technology to Adapt Your Counseling for Hard of Hearing  Individuals
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The disAbility Resource Center  has technology for loan through the Virginia Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) Technology Assistance Program.  We have enclosed a listing of different vendors where the below equipment may be purchased. The listing are from VDDHH and also Self Help for Hard of Hearing National. Please feel free to come in and try the equipment and receive training.  We have a Demonstration Site through VDDHH.  If you have any questions please call us as we have catalogs that you can look through.  We do not sell any equipment but we are there for you for information, training, and referrals. 

Office Computer/ Lap top computer - can be used for communications especially for the late deafened adult who has no lipreading skills or does not use American Sign Language. It is a variable tool for those that have good reading skills.  This can also be used for those that cannot speechread or lipread and do not get good results from the use of the hearing aid or the cochlear implant. 
ESTIMATED price: $2,000-$3,000

Pen and paper - Found in all offices and easy to use.

Email/Fax - Found in all offices and easy to use.

Virginia Relay - Service that enables TTY users to communicate with non-TTY users by way of a communication assistant. Special phone number is used to reach the communication assistant. Every state in the U.S. has a relay service.

TTY - A telecommunications device for the deaf  that allows you to communicate with another deaf or hard of hearing individual directly.  TTY  can be used for communications especially for the late deafened adult who has no lipreading skills or does not use American Sign Language.  It is a variable tool for those that have good reading skills.  This can also be used for those that cannot speechread or lipread and do not get good results from the use of the hearing aid or the cochlear implant. 
ESTIMATED price: $200-$500

Pocketalker - This system allows counselor to speak to your client. It is optimal for one on one conversations, in small groups, or when listening to a video tape that might be used in counseling. Any one that is speaking must make use of the microphone in speaking for the clients to be able to understand. It can be used for the individual that has never addressed their hearing loss or a clients with that make use of a hearing aid. It is also important to have available for that clients that uses a hearing aid and their battery dies and they do not have a replacement. 
ESTIMATED price: $120 -$180 

FM System/Infrared System - This can be used in group counseling and individuals meeting with clients to allow the hard of hearing individual to better understand the counselor or the psychologist during a presentation by amplifying sound through a microphone directly to the individual.  There are numerous types of devices that employ different methods to use for different situations.
ESTIMATED price: $600-$5000

Captioned Videos or DVDs - If videos are ever used for counseling of your clients with hearing loss they must be captioned. There is a great need for professional to advocate with companies that this is critical. 
ESTIMATED price: Just the cost of the video or DVD itself. 

**All of the above are estimates.  There are numerous options available for every need.  The best thing to do is order catalogs and decide which is best for your counseling situation. Remember every individual with hearing loss is different and it is important to ask them what they need for the best communications. Contact your local service provider for the deaf and hard of hearing for more information and talk to your staff  to ensure they are getting the appropriate assistance.**

Copyright and for more information contact :
The disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area, Inc.
409 Progress Street - Fredericksburg VA 22401
540-373-2559 (Voice)
540-373-5890 (VP/TTY)
1-800-648-6324 (Voice or Relay)