1 JANET: IF ANYBODY WANTS AN FM DEVICE WE HAVE THEM OVER THERE. I THINK THE ONLY PERSON WE'RE MISSING IS JERRY AND HE'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE. HE'S ALREADY HEARD ME GABBING ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WALK 4 HEARING AND TOMMY HAS MATERIALS. >>: I JUST WANTED TO TELL THEM THAT IT WAS THERE IF THEY WANTED TO TAKE IT WITH THEM. JANET: OKAY. WELL, THE WALK IS OCTOBER 27 AND CHECK IN TIME IS AT 9 O'CLOCK AND THE WALK STARTS AT 10 O'CLOCK. IT'S A 5 K PATH MARKED OUT BUT YOU WALK AS FAR AS YOU WANT TO WALK. DOES THE WHOLE THING WRAP UP IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. >>: MOST PEOPLE CAN DO IT IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. JANET: OH, SO PROBABLY BE ALL OVER BY 11 OR SO. >>: YEAH LAST YEAR WE WERE GONE COMPLETELY BY NOON. HAD EVERYTHING CLEARED OUT. JANET: AND WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A CHAPTER SHIRT FOR THE WALK AND I MADE A COUPLE OF SAMPLES. HERE'S ONE WHICH IS JUST A POLO SHIRT AND COULD PROBABLY GET IT IN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SIZES AND COMES IN SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE AND EXTRA LARGE AND SO ON. AND I ALSO DID A VEST. ORIGINALLY WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE DOING THE SHIRTS FREE WITH THE DONATION OF X DOLLARS OR MORE BUT I FOUND OUT WITH THE SHIRTS THE DONATION AMOUNT WOULD HAVE TO BE TOO HIGH. THE THING IS IF YOU WANT A SHIRT YOU JUST PAY THE COST OF THE SHIRT. ANYBODY WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE WALK 2 CAN GET ONE AND YOU JUST PAY THE COST OF THE SHIRT AND THAT'S IT. THE POLO SHIRTS ARE $10 A PIECE AND THE VESTS ARE 15. AND IF YOU WANT ONE, LET ME KNOW BY A WEEK FROM TODAY SO I HAVE TIME TO GET THE SHIRTS AND EMBROIDER THEM. I KNOW I CAN GET GRAY POLOS. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GET THE VEST. I HAVE THE BLACK AT WAL-MART AND THEY HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER. IF ANYBODY ASKS ME FOR ONE AND I CAN'T GET IT I'LL E-MAIL THEM BACK AND LET THEM KNOW. I'LL PUT THIS IN AN E-MAIL TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE TODAY. SO IF YOU WANT A SHIRT LET ME KNOW ABOUT A WEEK FROM TODAY AND I'LL HAVE THEM THERE AT THE DAY OF THE WALK AND DON'T GIVE ME ANY MONEY OR ANYTHING UNTIL YOU GET YOUR SHIRT. UNLESS YOU WANT IT BEFORE AND YOU WANT TO COME BY MY HOUSE AND PICK IT UP OR HAND THEM OUT SOME PLACE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SHIRTS? I JUST ALWAYS REMIND EVERYBODY WE HAVE A LOVE OFFERING CAN ON THE REFRESHMENT TABLE. WE DON'T CHARGE JUICE FOR THE CHAPTER. JUST DROP IN SOME MONEY IF YOU WANT TO. IF YOU HAVEN'T JOINED HLAA NATIONAL IT'S A GREAT THING TO DO AND YOU CAN DO IT ON THE WEBSITE. TO GET TO THE WEBSITE I STILL DO SHHH.ORG. THE NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO GET THERE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE REDIRECTED. AND WHEN YOU JOIN, YOU GET A SUBSCRIPTION TO HEARING LOSS MAGAZINE, WHICH IS A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION AND IN ADDITION HLAA NATIONAL DOES PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT US ALL, LIKE SPONSOR THE WALKS FOR HEARING, ALSO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT'S HELPFUL TO PEOPLE 3 WITH HEARING LOSS, LIKE TO TRY TO GET INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PAY FOR HEARING AIDS AND TO REQUIRE TV PROGRAMMERS TO CAPTION THE PROGRAMMING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. OKAY. NEXT MONTH'S MEETING IS GOING TO BE ON SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH HEARING LOSS. AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ESTHER KELLY IS GOING TO DO A 10-MINUTE MINI-TALK THAT SHE HAS ABOUT THAT VERY SUBJECT. WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE HOW WE FIND THE HOLIDAYS ARE REALLY HARD BECAUSE IT'S A NOISY ENVIRONMENT, DEALING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH HEARING LOSS SO ESTHER WILL DO HER 10 MINUTE MINITALK AND DISCUSS IT AS A GROUP AND GO AROUND THE ROOM EITHER SHARING TIPS ABOUT HOW TO COPE OR IF WE HAVE SOME PROBLEM THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH, IT COMES UP EVERY SINGLE TIME WE'RE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH OUR FAMILY, WE CAN PUT THAT PROBLEM UP TO THE GROUP AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND THE MONTH AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE'LL HAVE A PARTY INSTEAD OF A REGULAR PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW TO START THINKING ABOUT THE PARTY AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND NEXT MONTH WE'LL PROBABLY DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE BIT AND DECIDE. THE FORT WORTH CHAPTER USED TO DO LIKE A CHINESE AUCTION WITH GAG GIFTS OR GIFTS FOR UNDER $5 AND THAT WAS ALWAYS A LOT OF FUN. KAREN MOULDER WAS ALWAYS JUST RABID ABOUT STEALING PEOPLE'S GIFTS. IF YOU CAN THINK OF ANY TYPE OF SPECIAL PROGRAM OR ENTERTAINMENT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE, WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING 4 LIKE THAT TOO. SO PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT NEXT MONTH. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO DAN DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? WE CIRCULATED THE E-MAILS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS NEEDING TO GET THE PNEUMOVAX VACCINE. THIS IS DAN WHITE. MOST OF YOU KNOW HIM OR HAVE MET HIM, AND DAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS IN THE HARD OF HEARING AND STAP. DAN WHITE: SAY -- JANET: IT'S A VERY LONG TITLE I'M TRYING TO MEMORIZE. I ASKED DAN TO COME AND TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TELEPHONE TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS. GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU. AND LET ME GET YOU THIS. JANET: OH, ONE MORE THING. I BROUGHT HALLOWEEN CANDY FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE HOME SO TAKE SEVERAL OF THOSE LITTLE CARTONS SINCE OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE PLENTY. DAN WHITE: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? JANET: I CAN. I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE WEARING ONE. WOULD IT HELP IF I USE THIS PODIUM? DOES THAT GET THE SIGNAL OUT THERE A LITTLE BETTER FOR YOU? YES? NO? I GET ONE YES. I'LL TRY TO USE THIS THEN. WELL, I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? OKAY, GOOD. ONE OF THE REASONS FOR TALKING ABOUT PHONES IS THAT IF YOU NEED A SPECIAL PHONE AND IF YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS YOU PROBABLY DO, THE STATE WILL PROVIDE YOU ONE AT NO COST THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED 5 SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR STAP. I BORROWED AN IDEA FROM ESTHER KELLY AND MADE A LITTLE BROCHURE KIND OF A THING THAT GIVES SOME OF THE BASICS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, HOW YOU QUALIFY, WHICH JUST MEANS YOU LIVE IN TEXAS AND HAVE A COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTY INVOLVING A PHONE. AND IT TELLS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND SO ON, AND MY NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON HERE, SO THAT IF YOU NEED HELP WITH TWE CAN HELP YOU. YOU CAN ALSO JUST GO TO THE DARS WEBSITE OR GO TO THE EUC WEBSITE AND FIND ALL THE MENUS AND FIND THE FORM THAT YOU CAN DOWN LOAD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TODAY BECAUSE I BROUGHT SOME AND I SEE JANET HAS SOME OVER THERE. BUT THOSE EXPIRED IN AUGUST, AND THE NEW FORM IS HERE. THEY ALSO HAVE IT IN SPANISH THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. I DIDN'T BRING ANY THOSE. BUT IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS AND I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT IT BUT YOU FILL OUT THE FIRST PAGE OF THE APPLICATION. THE INSIDE PAGES ARE FOR THE EQUIPMENT SELECTION, AND THAT'S PROBABLY BETTER DONE WITH THE HELP OF SOMEBODY WHO'S KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT AND WE'RE GLAD TO DO THAT AT THE GOODRICH CENTER OR MAYBE YOUR AUDIOLOGIST OR SOMEBODY CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THAT. WE THINK WE'VE GOT THE LARGEST DISPLAY, BIGGEST VARIETY OF EQUIPMENT, I GUESS IN THIS AREA, NOT COUNTING WHAT ESTHER MIGHT HAVE OVER IN DALLAS. SHE ALWAYS MANAGES TO OUTDO US SOMEHOW WITH WHAT SHE CAN GET FROM THE VARIOUS COMPANIES. BUT THIS FOURTH PAGE, WHICH IS TO BE FILLED OUT BY SOME PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO CAN 6 CERTIFY THAT YOU HAVE A NEED FOR SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. AND SO IT COULD BE A DOCTOR, A NURSE, A VR COUNSELOR, SOME OTHER STATE TYPE PEOPLE. TEACHERS OF DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS, AUDIOLOGISTS AND HEARING AID PROFESSIONALS AND SO FORTH. ANY OF THOSE CAN DO THE CERTIFICATION, SEND A COPY OF YOUR ID TO SHOW THAT YOU LIVE IN TEXAS, HAS TO BE CURRENT AND SHOW THE CORRECT ADDRESS AND SO FORTH. AND THEN IN ABOUT FOUR WEEKS THE STATE WILL SEND YOU BACK A PACKET THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS, AND TWO IMPORTANT THINGS ARE IN HERE. ONE IS THE LIST OF STATE APPROVED VENDORS, APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON EVERY PHONE LINE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THINK OF A BUSINESS WITH MANY LINES AND THEY'RE PAYING THAT ON EVERY ONE, AND MAYBE IF YOU HAVE AT HOME A FAX LINE, HOME LINE, AND A DSL LINE, YOU PAY THAT FEE ON EACH ONE OF THOSE. THE OTHER THING, THE MAIN THING IN THERE, IS THE VOUCHER ITSELF, WHICH LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH MULTIPLE COPIES AND YOU BRING THE VOUCHER TO ONE OF THE STATE-APPROVED VENDORS. WE'D LIKE YOU TO BRING IT TO US. AS LONG AS WE'RE IN THE VENDING BUSINESS. AND REDEEM YOUR -- YOU GET YOUR EQUIPMENT. WE TRADE. YOU GIVE ME THE VOUCHER, I GIVE YOU THE EQUIPMENT. YOU GET A COPY TOO OF COURSE AND A RECEIPT. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY THE GIST OF HOW THIS PROGRAM WORKS, AND IF YOU NEED ANY OF THIS, WE'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU FURTHER WITH IT. NOW, ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S AVAILABLE. IT STARTED OFF THAT IT 7 WAS A DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR TTY, FOR DEAF PEOPLE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THE OLD-FASHIONED TELETYPE MACHINE, YOU KNOW, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND WESTERN UNION AND SO FORTH USED TO HAVE. THESE ARE BIG OLD CLUNKY MACHINES THAT MADE A LOT OF NOISE AND SHOOK THE HOUSE IF YOU HAVE IT IN THE HOUSE. MODERN TECHNOLOGY HAS SHRUNK THEM DOWN AND YOU GET SOMETHING SMALLER THAN THIS AND YOU CAN CARRY IT IN YOUR POCKET OR PURSE. YOU CAN GET BIGGER ONES THAN THIS BUT THIS REPRESENTS A KEY BOARD, A DISPLAY AND HAVE SOME WAY TO CONNECT IT TO A PHONE LINE IN THE CASE OF SOME OF THEM AN ACOUSTIC CONNECTION WHERE YOU PUT THE PHONE HAND SET IN RUBBER CUFFS ON THE BACK OF THE THING AND MANY OF THEM HAVE A PRINTER OR WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOU CAN CONNECT IT TO A PRINTER AND SAVE A RECORD OF THE CONVERSATION. SO TWO DEAF PEOPLE CAN TYPE BACK AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER THROUGH THE TTY OR THEY CAN CALL A RELAY SERVICE AND HAVE THEIR MESSAGE READ TO ANOTHER PERSON AND THEN THE OPERATOR TYPES BACK WHAT THAT HEARING PERSON SAYS. AND THEN THEY FIGURED OUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE THINGS. DUH. THEY'RE HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE. A LOT OF HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE COULDN'T HEAR WELL ENOUGH ON THE PHONE SO THEY WERE USING TTYS. PEOPLE THAT HAD SPEECH PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS STILL DO. I TOOK A DEVICE JUST LIKE THIS WITH A SET OF HEAD PHONES AND A RING SIGNALLER RECENTLY TO A LADY WHO HAS NO VOICE. AND SO SHE CAN CALL RELAY AND SHE CAN TYPE HER MESSAGE AND THEN WHEN THE 8 OTHER PERSON TALKS SHE CAN LISTEN THROUGH THE HEAD PHONES ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THIS THING AND HEAR WHAT THAT PERSON SAYS. SO, YOU KNOW, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL. AND IT IS VERY HELPFUL. WELL, OKAY. HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE. THERE ARE LOTS OF AMPLIFIED PHONES NOW AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET FOR US FOLKS BECAUSE I HAVE TO TURN UP THE VOLUME ON MY PHONE TOO. BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER PHONES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS. AND I'LL JUST DO A QUICK SHOW AND TELL HERE. IF YOU HAVE VISION PROBLEMS, THIS ONE IS SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED IF YOU HAVE A HEARING LOSS ALONG WITH IT BUT MAINLY YOU'VE GOT THESE HUGE BUTTONS WITH BRAILLE AS WELL AS BIG CONTRASTING NUMBERS ON HERE, AND IF YOU LISTEN TO THE HAND SET WHEN YOU PRESS THE BUTTON IT'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE NUMBER IS THAT YOU JUST PRESSED. IT'LL SAY 8, 1, 7 AND SO FORTH. SO FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION PROBLEMS, THIS IS ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION. NOW SUPPOSE YOU'RE A MOM OR DAD OR SISTER OR SOMEBODY, SUPPOSE THEY'RE HAVING DEMENTIA PROBLEMS AND THEY CAN'T REMEMBER NAMES OR NUMBERS ANYMORE AND THEY WANT TO CALL YOU. THIS PHONE HAS NINE SPEED-DIAL BUTTONS AT THE TOP AND YOU CAN PUT THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PEOPLE YOU CAN PUT IN. THERE'S MY DAUGHTER, I'LL CALL HER. THERE'S MY BEST FRIEND, WHATEVER. CALL THE FRONT DESK OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE IT ALL IN THERE. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER ANY OF THAT STUFF. THEY JUST PRESS THE PHOTOGRAPH AND GET CONNECTED. THIS PHONE ISN'T ON THE LIST BUT IF YOU REALLY NEED IT AND MAKE A CASE FOR IT, YOU CAN PROBABLY STILL GET IT. IT'S 9 CALLED A EMERGENCY CONNECT PHONE AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF REALLY LIFE THREATENING DIRE CONDITION TO QUALIFY FOR THIS BUT WHAT IT SAYS IS HAS A BRACELET OR -- IT'S NOT A MONITORED PHONE LIKE SOME OF THOSE LIFE LINE TYPE SERVICES. THIS PHONE, YOU PROGRAM IT AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY YOU PRESS THE BUTTON, THEN IT WILL DIAL THROUGH A LIST OF NUMBERS. IT'LL DIAL A FIRST NUMBER, AND IF A PERSON ANSWERS AND PUNCHES A KEY, WHATEVER THE RANGE SIGNAL IS, IT'LL DELIVER A MESSAGE LIKE I NEED HELP OR WHATEVER. IT CAN'T EVEN OPEN UP A SPEAKER PHONE LINE SO THAT YOU CAN TALK. SO IF NOBODY'S THERE IT'LL GO TO THE NEXT NUMBER AND SO FORTH UNTIL SOMEBODY ANSWERS AND MAKES A RESPONSE AND CAN SEND HELP OR COME OVER FROM NEXT DOOR OR WHATEVER. YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE RIGHT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE ONE OF THESE PHONES THAT I HAVE HERE BUT IT HAS A LITTLE EXTRA FEATURE ADDED TO IT FOR THE EMERGENCY CONDITION. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GREAT AMPLIFIED PHONES ON THE MARKET. THESE TWO ARE COMPETING PRODUCTS. THEY DO PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. ONE IS MADE BY CROWN, WHICH IS A FORT WORTH COMPANY. ONE IS MADE BY CLEAR SOUNDS, WHICH IS A CHICAGO AREA COMPANY. OF COURSE THEY'RE BOTH MADE IN THAIWAN OR SOMEWHERE BUT THE WORK IS DONE ON THESE AND THEY'RE QUITE GREAT. WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS. BASICALLY IT MAKES THE PHONE LOUDER AND CLEARER. IT HAS BOTH VOLUME AND TONE ADJUSTMENTS SO THE TONE ADJUSTMENT IS TO JUST BRING UP THOSE SOUNDS THAT ARE HARDER TO HEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR AUDIO GRAM LIKE MINE IT'S OKAY AND 10 GOES UP AND DROPS OFF AND THERE'S A PART OF SPEECH RANGE THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME BUT NOT ALL OF IT. AND MOST PEOPLE ARE THAT WAY. MAYBE THE LOW SOUNDS ARE FINE AND THEN IT DROPS OFF IN THE HIGH PITCHES AND YOU CAN'T DISTINGUISH SOME OF THE CONSONANT SOUNDS. HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN B AND P OR F AND S. AND SOME OTHER SOUNDS THAT ARE DIFFICULT. AND IF YOU DON'T HEAR THEM THEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DID THEY SAY FROM WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PROCESS THIS IN YOUR MIND. AND THEN THAT KIND OF SLOWS DOWN YOUR RESPONSE TO -- AND PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PERSON? THEY'RE KIND OF SLOW OR SOMETHING. WELL, YOU ARE MAYBE PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TO PROCESS AND FIGURE OUT. AND I DO IT TOO. OF COURSE EVERYBODY DOES IT SOMETIMES BUT THE MORE HEARING LOSS WE HAVE THE MORE WE HAVE TO DO THIS KIND OF PROCESSING AND IT'S VERY TIRING. BUT PEOPLE SAY I CAN HEAR BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WELL, THE TONE CONTROL IS TO MAKE IT MORE EASY TO UNDERSTAND. AND THESE PHONES HAVE THAT. THIS ONE, THE CROWN ONE, HAS FAIRLY LARGE AND BRIGHTLY LIGHTED BUTTONS. IT'S GOT A BIG CALLER ID SCREEN, GOT THE DIRECTORY LIFE ON THE CELL PHONE OR YOU CAN SCROLL THROUGH AND FIND THE NUMBER THROUGH THAT. BOTH OF THESE HAVE A SPEAKER PHONE. THE MAIN THING THAT THIS ONE HAS THAT THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T IS THE OUTGOING VOICE CAN ALSO BE AMPLIFIED. SO IF A PERSON'S SPEECH IS SOFT OR WEAK, THEN YOU CAN BOOST THAT WITH THIS PHONE. THEY MAKE OTHER SPECIAL 11 PHONES THAT DO THAT AND OTHER SPECIAL EQUIPMENT THAT YOU CAN GET, A PERSONAL AMPLIFIER FOR SOMEBODY WITH WEAK SPEECH. I'VE GOT TWO TEACHERS -- NOW, THE STATE IS PROVIDING THIS STUFF TO USE ON THE PHONE LINE BUT YOU CAN USE SOME OF THIS EQUIPMENT IN OTHER SETTINGS. IF YOU HAVE WEAK SPEECH AND YOU'RE A TEACHER AND YOU WANT TO BE HEARD IN THE CLASS ROOM, THIS PERSONAL AMPLIFIER CAN BOOST YOUR VOICE AND YOU CAN BE HEARD ABOVE THE DEN OR WHATEVER, KEEP THAT STUDENT'S ATTENTION. BUT ANYWAY, THIS ONE WILL AMPLIFY THE OUTGOING VOICE AS WELL. IT'S GOT A LIGHTED KEY PAD IN BLUE. SMALLER SCREEN UP HERE FOR CALLER ID AND SO FORTH. YOU CAN ADJUST THE ANGLE ON IT FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH. IT ALSO HAS SPEED BUTTONS ALONG THE SIGN AS WELL AS THE DIRECTORY THAT THIS ONE HAS. AND THERE ARE OTHER VERSIONS. THESE ARE JUST THE COUPLE I BROUGHT ALONG BECAUSE THEY'RE SOME OF THE BEST SELLING ONES. THEY HAVE A VERSION OF THIS WITHOUT THE CALLER ID. HAS JUST A BUNCH OF SPEED DIAL BUTTON UP THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST WANT A SIMPLE AMPLIFIED PHONE THAT'LL BE LOUD ENOUGH AND CLEAR ENOUGH. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT A CORDLESS PHONE AND CORDLESS PHONES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE WITH RESPECT TO HAVING VOLUME AND TONE CONTROL. AND IF YOU HAVE TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT, I CAN TELL ABOUT IT BUT THESE ARE GREAT PHONES. THIS ONE IS CROWN AND THIS ONE IS CLEAR SOUNDS. IT'S JUST -- YOU'D HAVE TO TRY IT OUT AND SEE IF YOU WANT A CORDLESS PHONES WHICH WORKS BEST FOR YOU. WHICH ONE SOUNDS CLEAREST AND LOUD ENOUGH. AND THEY 12 BOTH HAVE GREAT FEATURES. SEE, COLOR. THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS. THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE TONE CONTROL AS WELL AS VOLUME CONTROL. THEY'LL SHAKE, THEY'LL FLASH, THEY'LL RING LOUDLY IN BOTH THE HAND SET AND THE BASE. SO THEY GET YOUR ATTENTION. NOW, THIS IS ONE THAT KAREN LIKES A LOT. IT'S A CORDLESS PHONE WITH AN ANSWERING MACHINE BUILT IN AND THE THING SHE REALLY LIKES ABOUT IT IS IS THAT IT HAS A SLOW PLAY BACK FEATURE. SO IF SOMEBODY LEAVES YOU A MESSAGE AND THEY TALK REALLY FAST. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE PHONE NUMBERS, AND YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY SAY. WHEN IT'S PLAYING BACK, YOU CAN HOLD THIS BUTTON DOWN AND IT SLOWS IT WAY DOWN. AND MAYBE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PERSON SAID. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TONE CONTROL. ALL THESE PHONES FROM AUDEX. WHICH ALL THEIR PHONES THEY HAVE PUT A BOOSTER INTO AND IT MAKES IT LOUDER. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S PLENTY. YOU GET IT LOUD ENOUGH THEY CAN HEAR AND UNDERSTAND IT. FOR SOME PEOPLE THOUGH THEY NEED THAT TONE CONTROL FOR CLARITY AND THIS DOESN'T HAVE THAT. I DARE SAY UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN TO MY OFFICE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A PHONE LIKE THIS. THIS IS A PHONE CONDUCTION PHONE. IF YOU HAVE A CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS LIKE THE LITTLE ANVIL, STIR UP AND HAMMER PHONES GET ALL FUSED TOGETHER OR SOME OTHER PROBLEM HAVING MIDDLE EAR DIFFICULTY AND SO YOUR SOUND IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED DOWN TO THE NERVE. THIS HAS A VIBRATOR THING ON THE HANDSET UP HERE. AND YOU HOLD IT AGAINST SOME BONY PART OF 13 YOUR SKULL, AND IT TRANSMITS THE SOUND DIRECTLY THROUGH YOUR SKULL BY CONDUCTION. YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF THE BAHA HEARING AID. BONE-ANCHORED HEARING AID, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE EARLIEST ONES THEY JUST HAD A THING THAT WOULD HOLD A CONDUCTOR AGAINST YOUR SKULL. NOW THEY PUT IN A SCREW INTO YOUR SKULL AND THEN YOU HAVE IT'S KIND OF LIKE A COCHLEAR IMPLANT. YOU HAVE THIS EXTERNAL PART THAT MOUNTS TO IT, AND SO ANYWAY IT CONDUCTS THROUGH THE BONE BY JUST DIRECT TRANSMISSION. WELL, THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THAT PHONE. I KNOW ABOUT MAYBE TWO PEOPLE OR THREE THAT I HAVE HELPED GET THAT PHONE IN ALL THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN DEMONSTRATING THESE THINGS. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CELL PHONES NOW. MOST EVERYBODY DOES. AND THEY'RE A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS BECAUSE GENERALLY THEY ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH OR CLEAR ENOUGH. ALTHOUGH THEY'RE GETTING BETTER. I HAVE TO SAY THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AND I CAN TURN MINE UP PRETTY WELL AND IF I PUT IT ON SPEAKER PHONE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN HEAR IT, I CAN HEAR IT REALLY QUITE WELL. BUT THEY HAVE AMPLIFIERS FOR CELL PHONES. BY THE WAY, YOU CAN PLUG HEAD PHONES INTO MOST OF THESE THINGS SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. AND THAT'S GREAT. I HAD A MAN IN THE OFFICE YESTERDAY WHO WAS HAVING A LITTLE PROBLEM. HE PUT THE HEAD PHONES AND SAID WOW. I CAN REALLY HEAR NOW. AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT, IF YOU REALLY HAVE TROUBLE HEARING EVEN WITH A GOOD AMPLIFIED PHONE. TRY WITH A HEAD SET OF SOME KIND AND SEE IF THAT WORKS. NOW, THIS ONE IS AN AMPLIFIED HEAD SET. 14 YOU DON'T NEED AN AMPLIFIED PHONE PLUS AMPLIFIED HEAD SET. PLUS IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE AND YOU PUT THIS IN HERE, IT HAS A MICROPHONE HERE AND HERE AND ALSO DOWN HERE IF YOU WANT TO USE IT THAT WAY, AND THIS CONNECTS AND THERE YOU GO. YOU CAN ADJUST THE VOLUME. IT'S HANDS FREE. WHICH IT HAS AN ADVANTAGE OF GET THE PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR HEAD BECAUSE THERE'S SOME REAL CONCERN ABOUT RADIATION THAT THE HEAT EMISSIONS THAT COME FROM THE CELL PHONE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUGGESTING THAT THEY NEED TO BE HELD AWAY FROM YOUR SKULL AND NOT PUT ALL THAT IN THERE. SO IF THAT'S TRUE, AND I DON'T KNOW, A HEAD PHONE OR THE LIKE WILL AT LEAST GET THE PHONE DOWN SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO THIS ONE GOES IN THE EARS LIKE THIS. THERE ARE OTHER ONES. THIS ONE HAS A NECK LOOP, AND I HEARD RECENTLY THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THIS PARTICULAR ONE. IT'S NOT AS EFFECTIVE. MAYBE A LITTLE NOISY OR SOMETHING. AND I DON'T KNOW THE VERY LATEST ABOUT THAT. I HAVE TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE. BUT THERE ARE AMPLIFIED NECK LOOPS OR SILHOUETTE DEVICES. YOU KNOW WHAT THE SILHOUETTE IS, IT'S A Y CORD COMES UP ONE SIDE OR BOTH SIDES AND IF YOU HAVE A BEHIND THE EAR HEARING AID OR BEHIND THE EAR COCHLEAR PROCESSOR, IT'S RIGHT BESIDE THAT AND YOU HAVE T-COILS WITH THAT HEARING AID OR IMPLANT PROCESSOR, THEN IT WILL INTERACT WITH THAT AND YOU GET THE SIGNAL THROUGH THAT. SO SOMETHING TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU GET HEARING AIDS AND IMPLANTS, THEY GET THE T-COIL AND THEN YOU CAN USE THEM WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGY. IN AN OFFICE 15 SETTING, I MEAN, THESE PHONES ARE FOR A SINGLE PHONE LINE. THEY'RE NOT MADE TO WORK WITH OFFICE PHONE SYSTEMS. IN FACT, MOST OF THEM WILL NOT WORK ON A DIGITAL PHONE LINE. THEY NEED AN ANALOG PHONE LINE, SAME AS THE FAX MACHINE. BUT YOU CAN PUT IT ON AN IN-LINE AMPLIFIER. SO THIS WOULD CONNECT BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE HAND SET. SO YOU DISCONNECT THIS, YOU CONNECT THIS LITTLE THING, AND THEN YOU PUT THE HAND SET INTO IT. AND SOME OF THEM HAVE VOLUME AND TONE CONTROL BOTH JUST LIKE THOSE THINGS. THIS ONE SAYS AMERIPHONE IS NOW CALLED CLARITY. GOOD AMPLIFICATION AND A TONE CONTROL. AND IF YOU NEED MORE OF A BOOST YOU CAN HOLD THIS DOWN AND LISTEN AND RELEASE THE (INAUDIBLE). THIS ONE I LIKE EVEN BETTER. I THINK IT SOUNDS CLEARER. BUT -- AND A BIG ONE THERE -- YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THE BATTERIES OUT EVERY NIGHT OR THEY'LL BE DEAD THE NEXT MORNING. WE PROVIDED SOME FOR PEOPLE OUT HERE ON STAFF, AND SAID THIS THING DOESN'T WORK. WELL,, YOU KNOW, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AND I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID, WELL, THERE'S NO ON AND OFF SWITCH ON IT UNFORTUNATELY SO YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT BATTERY OUT WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING IT, OTHERWISE IT USES IT UP JUST LIKE THAT. BUT THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE THAT TROUBLE. BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS CLEARER. CROWN IN FORT WORTH IS COMING OUT WITH A NEW MUCH LOUDER IN-LINE PHONE AMPLIFIER. DOESN'T HAVE A TONE CONTROL LIKE THESE DO. JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW WELL SOME OF THIS STUFF WORKS. IF YOU COME TO US, WE TRY TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS SO YOU CAN 16 COMPARE ONE AGAINST THE OTHER AND SEE HOW IT FITS FOR YOU. AND I WILL JUST MENTION, WE HAVE JUST IN THE LAST I GUESS YEAR AND A HALF STARTED SELLING THIS EQUIPMENT AS A VENDOR. WE USED TO JUST DEMONSTRATE IT AND DISPLAY IT. WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE TO BE AN OUTREACH SITE FOR THE STAP PROGRAM. AND SO WE HAD ALL THIS STUFF AND PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND TRY IT OUT, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, AND THEY'D DECIDE WHAT THEY WANTED AND WE'D HELP THEM WITH THE APPLICATIONS AND SO ON, AND THEN WHEN THEY GOT THEIR VOUCHER, WE WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM, OKAY, YOU WANT THAT PHONE, HERE'S THE VENDOR THAT HAS IT. WE STARTED SELLING THE EQUIPMENT TO TRY TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO. BUT AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THERE'S PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, SO WE ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT BUSINESS PROBABLY AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, END OF THE YEAR. WE'LL JUST GO BACK TO DOING IT THE WAY WE WERE DOING IT BEFORE WITHOUT THE STATE CONTRACT. IF YOU COME IN AND WANT TO KNOW, WE'D BE GLAD TO HELP. FOR NOW WE'RE SELLING IT, BUT PRETTY SOON WE WON'T BE DOING IT ANYMORE. JUST FYI. THIS IS MY LIST OF THINGS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT HERE. PAGERS. THAT'S ANOTHER THING. THE IDEA OF THIS STAP PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES, EQUAL ACCESS WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, TO THE PHONE NETWORK. THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF IT. WELL, A LOT OF DEAF AND MANY HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE LIKE TO USE TWO-WAY PAGERS AND THIS IS AN OLD VERSION OF THE SIDE KICK AND THEY'RE UP TO A BRAND NEW ONE JUST COMING 17 OUT. BUT YOU CAN TYPE TEXT MESSAGES LIKE ON ANY CELL PHONE YOU CAN DO TEXT MESSAGING BACK AND FORTH. THIS MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER WITH A KEY BOARD AND A BIGGER DISPLAY AND YOU CAN CONNECT TO A RELAY SERVICE AND CAN CONNECT TO THE INTERNET AND GET E-MAIL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU CAN HAVE A TEXT-ONLY PLAN OR A TEXT AND VOICE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS. THE SERVICE, IF YOU HAVE THE TEXT ONLY PLAN, IS $29 A MONTH. PLUS ALL THE TAXES AND FEES AND EVERYTHING SO IT COMES OUT TO QUITE A BIT MORE. SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY T-MOBILE. HAD A MAN IN THE OFFICE AGAIN YESTERDAY WHO WAS INTERESTED IN THIS BUT HE LIVES OUT IN THE COUNTRY BETWEEN WEATHERFORD AND GRANBURY. CELL PHONE SERVICE OUT THERE, AT LEAST ON THE T-MOBILE NETWORK, IS KIND OF SPOTTY. SO AS MUCH AS HE LIKED THE IDEA, THAT DOESN'T WORK, OR HE DOESN'T THINK THAT WOULD WORK FOR HIM. AND HE WOUND UP CHOOSING A PHONE I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE CALLED CAPTEL PHONE. AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT BUT I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THE CHOICE TOO. BLACK BERRY, TREO. MOST DEAF PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE THE SIDE KICK MOST OF ALL. BEFORE I GO TO CAPTEL LET ME TALK ABOUT THE VCO, THE VOICE CARRY OVER PHONE. I STARTED OFF TALKING ABOUT TTY AND TTY RELAY AND THE LADY THAT COULDN'T SPEAK BUT COULD HEAR. THIS IS A PHONE FOR SOMEBODY WHO CAN -- THE LADY COULD NOT -- WHAT WAS IT. YEAH, SHE COULD NOT SPEAK BUT SHE COULD HEAR. SUPPOSE YOU CAN SPEAK BUT CAN'T HEAR WELL ENOUGH. SO THEY CAME OUT WITH THIS SERVICE AND DEVICE CALLED 18 VOICE CARRY OVER WHERE YOU DIAL A RELAY, YOU TALK TO THE PARTY THAT YOU'RE CALLING, THEY CAN HEAR YOU TALK. AND THE RELAY AGENT TYPES BACK WHAT THEY SAY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT AND SO YOU READ IT ON THE LITTLE SCREEN HERE. WELL, THAT'S GOOD. KIND OF SLOW BECAUSE YOU'RE DEPENDING ON SOMEBODY TO TYPE AND THE MESSAGE TO COME UP HERE. SO THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE NOW THAT'S A LOT FASTER. IT'S CALLED CAPTIONED TELEPHONE OR CAPTEL. I STILL SEE A FEW PEOPLE WHO USE THIS AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY POOR VISION AND VERY POOR HEARING, THEY CAN ATTACH ONE OF THESE BABIES TO THIS, AND IT PRINTS IT OUT IN A BIG SCROLL ACROSS, IN NICE BIG LETTERS. AND SO IF YOU GET CLOSE, HOWEVER CLOSE YOU NEED, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT GOING ACROSS, AND WE'VE GOT A FEW CLIENTS LIKE THAT, WHO HAVE SEVERE HEARING AND VISION PROBLEMS, AND THIS WORKS VERY WELL FOR THEM. NOW, THE CAPTIONED PHONE. ULTRA TECH, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SOME OF THE TTYS, MAKE THIS. AND YOU COULD DESCRIBE IT AS A COMPUTER MADE TO LOOK LIKE A PHONE. IT ALLOWS THE PERSON WHO USES THIS PHONE, YOU DIAL OUT, IT AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS TO A CAPTIONING SERVICE. AND THEN IT AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTS TO THE PARTY THAT YOU'RE CALLING. UNLIKE REGULAR RELAY, THERE'S NOBODY ON THE LINE WHO SAYS, THIS IS RELAYTEX TEX AGENT #5103. WHAT NUMBER DO YOU WISH ME TO CALL? AND THEN ON RELAY, WHEN THEY GET THE OTHER PARTY THEY SAY THIS IS RELAYTEX TEX, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A RELAY CALL BEFORE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, CLICK. AND AGAIN THAT 19 TYPING THING IS KIND OF SLOW GOING. THIS USES A RELAY PERSON, BUT THAT PERSON IS USING VOICE RECOGNITION. THE EFFECT OF IT IS AS WELL TO WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE WITH REAL TIME TRANSLATION. YOU GET ON THE SCREEN VERY QUICKLY WORD FOR WORD TYPE-OUT OF WHAT THAT OTHER PERSON IS SAYING TO YOU. THERE'S A SLIGHT DELAY JUST LIKE HERE. MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THE WAY IT WORKS IS THERE'S THE RELAY AGENT OR COMMUNICATION ASSISTANT IS LISTENING TO THE OTHER PARTY. THEY DON'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAY IF YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S CALLING OUT ON THIS PHONE. THEY DON'T LISTEN TO YOU. THEY LISTEN TO THE OTHER PARTY AND THEY REPEAT WHAT THEY SAY TO A MICROPHONE JUST LIKE I'M DOING HERE AND THAT GOES TO A COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER HAS THE VERY BEST IN VOICE TO TEXT, VOICE RECOGNITION, VOICE TO TEXT SERVICE. WHEN THESE ULTRA TECH PEOPLE SAW -- THEY TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN THEY GOT HOLD OF DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING WHICH IS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM YOU CAN GET IN A LOT OF COMPUTERS SO THAT YOU CAN INSTEAD OF TYPING YOU CAN HAVE THE COMPUTER YOU JUST TALK TO -- IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN KIND OF DISABILITY, TROUBLE TYPING AND THINGS, THAT COULD BE USED TO, IN FACT, TYPE ON A COMPUTER. WELL, THEY TOOK THAT IDEA THAT IBM HAD DEVELOPED AND THEY DEVELOPED IT FURTHER AND MADE IT MORE EFFECTIVE FOR THEM AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HIRE TO USE THIS PROGRAM. SO IT WORKS VERY FAST AND EFFECTIVELY. IT'S QUITE ACCURATE. OF COURSE THERE'S SOME GARBLES JUST LIKE YOU GET WITH THE CART. THERE'S SOME 20 MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR THERE ARE WORDS NOT IN THE DICTIONARY, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY TRY TO CORRECT IT ON THE FLY, WHENEVER THEY CAN. YOU SEE THAT IN PARENTHESIS. IT'S REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE I THINK. THERE'S SOME OTHER FORMS OF THIS NOW. OH, SOMEBODY CALLING YOU, THEY FIRST HAVE TO CALL A TOLL-FREE NUMBER. AND THEN IT'LL PROMPT THEM BY A RECORDING TO DIAL THE NUMBER THAT THEY WANT TO CALL. AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET CAPTIONS ON THE CALL BACK. THEY ALSO HAVE NOW A VERSION OF THIS THAT HAS A USB PORT SO YOU CAN CONNECT IT TO YOUR COMPUTER AND YOU CAN DISPLAY THE TEXT IN A LARGER SIZE. YOU CAN SAVE IT TO YOUR HARD DRIVE OR WHATEVER. YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT. THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING CALLED TWO-LINE VCO, AND IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS I'VE GOT PRINTED MATERIAL AND YOU CAN GO ON THE ULTRA TECH WEBSITE, LOOK UNDER CAPTEL, KEEP SEARCHING AROUND IN THEIR MENUS AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THIS AND GET A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT IT THERE. WITH THE TWO-LINE, THIS WORKS WELL IN AN OFFICE SETTING PARTICULARLY, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE -- YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION, I THINK, I'M NOT UP ON IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PHONE LINES, AND THEY BOTH HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE CAPTEL SERVICE. IF SOMEBODY CALLS -- SAY SOMEBODY CALLS YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN CONFERENCE CALL LINK IN THE CAPTEL SERVICE WITHOUT THEM EVEN KNOWING ABOUT IT. YOU'VE GOT THAT ON THE SECOND LINE. YOU CAN TALK TO THEM AND THEY CAN TALK TO YOU AND YOU CAN GET THE CAPTIONING ON YOUR 21 COMPUTER. AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT IS EXISTING, EXCEPT THERE'S A LITTLE LAG IN YOUR RESPONSE. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SAY I'M USING A SPECIAL PHONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT THAT'S A LOT MORE NATURAL. IT DOESN'T INVOLVE HAVING TO DIAL SPECIAL NUMBERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NOW THE LATEST WHICH HASN'T EVEN COME OUT YET. IT'S AVAILABLE. IT'S TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S CALLED IP CAPTIONING OR WEB CAPTIONING, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PHONE AT ALL. YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTION WITH A MICROPHONE AND THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU GET FROM ULTRA TECH, AND THEN YOU CAN USE YOUR COMPUTER AND DO THE PHONE CALLING OVER THE INTERNET AND HAVE TEXT AND VOICE TRANSMISSION BOTH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FCC, WHILE THEY HAVE APPROVED THE TECHNOLOGY, HAVE NOT APPROVED A WAY FOR ULTRA TECH RELAY PEOPLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR PROVIDING THE SERVICE. SO THEY'RE HOLDING OFF MAKING THAT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET PAID FOR IT. IF THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THEY WANT TO BE PAID. AND THEY'RE HOPING TO GET THE FCC'S APPROVAL TO OFFER THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL COST, BUT THE HARDWARE IS LIKE 15 BUCKS TO GET A MICROPHONE AND WHATEVER. BUT ANY INTERNET ACCESS DEVICE THAT YOU CAN TALK ON, YOU CAN CONNECT. SO THAT'S GOING TO OFFER A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES. I BROUGHT ALONG A COUPLE HAND OUTS AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, I CAN E-MAIL IT TO YOU. GIVE ME YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND I CAN E-MAIL YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT 22 THAT. I HAVEN'T MENTIONED -- I'M LOOKING AT MY LITTLE CHEAT SHEET HERE. I HAVEN'T MENTIONED BLUE TOOTH. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN GET THE SOUND INTO YOUR EAR FROM SOME OF THESE PHONE DEVICES AND, OF COURSE, IT CAN BE AMPLIFIED SO BLUE TOOTH IS A NEWER TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS. AGAIN, I'M NOT -- I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT BUT IT'S OUT THERE AND YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE INTERNET. OR GO TO YOUR PHONE DISTRIBUTOR OR YOUR AUDIOLOGIST. THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION IS THE VIDEO PHONE. AND IF YOU ARE A PERSON USES SIGN LANGUAGE OF COURSE THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SIGN TO ANOTHER SIGN LANGUAGE USING PERSON, IF THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT. OR YOU CAN SIGN TO A VIDEO INTERPRETER. THEY HAVE A VIDEO RELAY SERVICE. AND THEN THEY READ -- THEY INTERPRET YOUR MESSAGE TO THE HEARING PERSON. SO OUR INTERPRETER HERE CAN BE ONE OF THOSE FOLKS AND WORK FOR SORENSON AND GET PAID TO RELAY PHONE CALLS. SORENSON OR OTHER COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THAT. AND MOST OF THOSE COMPANIES PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT AT NO COST TO YOU. BUT THEY PREFER THAT YOU USE THEIR SERVICE INSTEAD OF THEIR COMPETITOR'S SERVICE BUT THEY CAN'T REQUIRE IT ANYMORE. BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU HAVE JUST BASICALLY A WEB CAM ON YOUR COMPUTER AND MAKE THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS YOU CAN DO THE VIDEO PHONE CALLS LIKE THAT. WELL, INTERESTING ISN'T IT? ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LISTENING DEVICE FOR HIS WIFE WHEN HE INSTEAD INVENTED THE TELEPHONE. AND IT BECAME A GREAT BARRIER TO 23 PEOPLE THAT HE WAS TRYING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HIS WIFE COULDN'T USE THE PHONE. AND MOST DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE COULDN'T USE THE PHONE, UNTIL ABOUT 1967 WHEN A DEAF PHYSICIST NAMED VI BRECT AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE THE OLD FASHIONED TELEPHONE MACHINES AND ADAPT THEM TO WORK OVER STANDARD PHONE LINES THROUGH WHAT WE NOW CALLED A MODEM. SO WHEN I CAME TO WORK AT THE GOODRICH CENTER 23 YEARS AGO WE STILL HAD PEOPLE THAT HAD THESE BIG TELETYPE MACHINES. I THINK TOMMIE HAD ONE WITH THAT MODEM. IT WAS A BOX ABOUT AS BIG AS SOME OF THESE NEW TTYS THAT YOU HAD TO ATTACH TO TRANSMIT. WHAT KIND OF TTY WAS YOUR FIRST ONE? >>: I HAD A CROWN. IT WAS A REAL OLD ONE. IT'S NOT LIKE ANY OF THOSE YOU HAVE. IT WAS ROLE BIG AND HAD THE RUBBER CUPS. THERE WAS NO RELAY SERVICE SO I HAD TO USE GOODRICH. THAT'S HOW WE GOT ACQUAINTED BECAUSE I WAS USING THE VOLUNTEER RELAY DOWN THERE AT GOODRICH. IT WAS REALLY BIG. DAN WHITE: YEAH. THAT WAS MY FIRST JOB AT THE GOODRICH CENTER WAS TO BE THE SUPERVISOR OF THAT HOWDY RELAY SERVICE. IT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED. SO WE HAD ONE RELAY OPERATOR ON AT A TIME, ONE SET-UP, AND WE TRIED TO LIMIT YOU TO, YOU KNOW, NO MORE THAN A 20 MINUTE CALL OR TWO OR THREE CALLS WITHIN 20 MINUTES SO OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY ON BAD WEATHER DAYS WHEN EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO CALL IN TO FIND OUT IF THE PLACE WAS OPEN OR I CAN'T GET THERE BECAUSE OF THE ICE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT WAS WILD. AND WE'D GET THE KIDS 24 ON THERE THAT WOULD WANT TO TALK FOREVER AND EVER. NOW WE'VE GOT RELAYTEX TEX AND OTHER RELAY SERVICES, AND IT'S OTHER DIFFICULTIES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PHONE OR EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES? WELL, I'LL BE GLAD TO HANG AROUND AND TRY TO ANSWER ANYTHING YOU HAVE OR E-MAIL YOU ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (APPLAUSE) LET'S GET YOUR PICTURE BY THE TABLE. AND I GUESS WE'LL JUST KIND OF SOCIALIZE AND WRAP UP. WE DID ALL OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THINGS BEFORE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN. OKAY. DAN WHITE: OH, THE SIGNALLERS. YOU CAN GET THINGS THAT FLASH, MAKE LOUD NOISE, DO BOTH. THERE ARE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS TOO AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM AT OTHER PLACES. JANET: I HAVE A QUESTION, AT ONE OF THE CONVENTIONS I SAW THIS THING DEMONSTRATED THAT IT WAS A SEAT COVER. AT THE CONVENTION I JUST USED MY CELL PHONE WITHOUT A NECK LOOP OR ANYTHING AND IT WORKED BUT WE GOT ONE AT HOME AND IT APPEARS THAT THE PHONE HAS TO BE HOOKED UP TO THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? DAN WHITE: YEAH. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF WAY TO CONNECT THE PHONE TO THAT LOOP. JANET: MAYBE I'M JUST REMEMBERING WRONG HOW IT WORKED. I THOUGHT IF ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT ON THE CUSHION. DAN WHITE: MAYBE THEY HAVE A MICROPHONE AND SOMEBODY WAS 25 TALKING TO YOU THRU THAT INSTEAD OF THE PHONE. JANET: MAYBE SO. >>: I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. >>: YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE T-COIL BUT THE THING IS THE CUSHION GOES THERE IN THE SEAT OF YOUR CHAIR AND SOMEHOW IT DOES HOOK TO YOUR PHONE AND YOU USE THE T-COIL. I'M NO TECHY. IF WE HAD RICHARD HERE TODAY HE COULD EXPLAIN IT TO YOU BECAUSE RICHARD USES IT ALL THE TIME. RICHARD NEALY USES IT ALL THE TIME. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I DON'T USE IT. BUT RICHARD USES IT ALL THE TIME. AND HE HAS ONE IN HIS OFFICE AT WORK, AND IT HOOKSUM THROUGH A T-COIL IN SOME WAY TO YOUR PHONE. BUT YOU NEED TO E-MAIL RICHARD AND ASK HIM ABOUT IT. HE CAN TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT. >>: I DID. I EMAILED RICHARD. THE THING THAT WAS CONFUSING TO ME WAS MY PERCEPTION FROM THE CONVENTION WAS I SIT ON THIS SEAT CUSHION. MAX WAS DEMONSTRATING IT, AND HE CALLED ME ON MY CELL PHONE AND THE SOUND WENT RIGHT INTO MY TELECOILS WITHOUT USING A NECK LOOP OR ANYTHING. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT HAPPENED. >>: I'VE GOT MAX'S E-MAIL ADDRESS. YOU WANT ME TO SEND THAT TO YOU. >>: THAT WOULD BE GOOD. JANET: WHEN I CHECKED WITH RICHARD RICHARD SAID NO THE PHONE HAS TO BE TIED INTO THE INDUCTION LOOP SOMEHOW. >>: WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS MYSELF BUT I'VE GOT 26 MAX'S E-MAIL AND I'LL SEND IT TO YOU. JANET: I THINK I MAY JUST BE REMEMBERING SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED DIFFERENTLY THAN IT REALLY DID. >>: I JUST SOLVED MY PROBLEM BY NOT DOING PHONES. >>: THE CHURCH WAS STARTING TO BE AVAILABLE ON A NUMBER OF SATURDAYS, AND ON SOME DAYS WE WERE ACTUALLY GROWING THAT ROOM THAT WE USED. IN AUGUST IT WAS KIND OF CROWDED. AND PLUS THEY ACTUALLY CHARGE A FEE FOR FACILITIES USE. FOR THE FIRST YEAR, ONE OF THE PASTORS ACTUALLY SPONSORED US AND PAID THAT FEE HIMSELF. BUT COMING UP IN JANUARY WE WOULD HAVE HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN. SO TCC, THEIR DISABILITY SUPPORT OFFICE WAS EXCITED ABOUT SPONSORING US HERE SO WE COULD USE THIS ROOM FREE OF CHARGE. AND IT'S A NICE BIG ROOM. I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO GROW A LOT BEFORE WE OUTGROW THIS ONE. AS YOU ALL CAN SEE THIS MONTH, THE MOVE SEEMS TO HAVE IMPACTED OUR ATTENDANCE A LITTLE BIT. I THINK THE IDEA OF FINDING THE ROOM ON TCC CAMPUS WAS A LITTLE INTIMIDATING TO PEOPLE. BUT LAST MONTH WHEN WE HAD THE LABOR DAY PICNIC THERE WAS JUST FOUR OF US. NOW THIS MONTH THERE'S NINE OF US. HOPING NEXT MONTH THERE WILL BE 18. BUT CHRISTMAS TIME WE'LL BE BACK UP TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE. BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO MADE THE EFFORT TO COME OUT AND FIND WHERE THE MEETING WAS AND BE SURE TO TAKE LOTS OF HALLOWEEN CANDY AND DONUTS WITH YOU. DAN WHITE: OUR FORT WORTH MEETING WILL BE NEXT SATURDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK AT THE GOODRICH CENTER AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO 27 COME. IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT HEARING LOSS. AND THEN IN NOVEMBER WE'LL DO THE SAME KIND OF THING YOU'RE DOING WITH THE HOLIDAYS. >>: I THINK I'M GOING TO START A MYTH THAT PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY INTELLIGENT, KIND AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE. THEIR SPOUSES WON'T BELIEVE IT WILL THEY. I DON'T FEEL LIKE LEAVING. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25