Telephone voucher and loan programs help hard of hearing         

[JULY 13, 2006]  The purpose of the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation voucher program is to provide telecommunications access to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, speech-disabled and deaf-blind. This is accomplished by providing the Illinois Relay and issuing equipment that ranges from amplified telephones to Braille phones.

What are the qualifying requirements?

There are application requirements.

You must:

• Be a legal resident of the state of Illinois.

• Have working landline phone service in your home.

• Be certified by a physician, audiologist, speech pathologist or counselor from the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services.

* There are no age or income restrictions to participate in ITAC’s programs. 

Approved applicants may obtain one piece of equipment at no charge so that they may communicate by telephone more easily.

ITAC's vouchered equipment includes the following:

• Amplified telephones

• TTYs

In the voucher program, the user owns and is responsible for the upkeep of the equipment. Participants in good standing are eligible for a new voucher every four years. 

ITAC's loaned equipment includes the following:

• CapTel

• TTY with LVD

• Braille phone 

The loan program covers repair and exchange services under circumstances of normal wear and tear. Any damage to equipment deemed to be "user abuse" is charged back to the user.  

Illinois Relay

ITAC provides telecommunications relay service in Illinois, under a contract with Sprint. ITAC is “extremely pleased with the quality of service that Sprint provides.”

Illinois Relay is a free service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For specific information about Illinois Relay and its features, click here.

You can contact ITAC for more information at:

Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation
3001 Montvale Drive
Suite D
Springfield, IL  62704
[phone] voice or TTY
[phone] voice or TTY
[phone] fax

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

http://www.itactty.org

ITAC has been issuing equipment since 1988. ITAC programs are funded by a charge on all local phone lines in Illinois. ITAC is governed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, a board of directors and an advisory council that has a member representing each area of the state.

[ITAC; LDN]