Telecommunications Device Distribution Program (TDDP)
Are you hard-of-hearing, deaf or have a physical or cognitive disability? If so, you may qualify for a free, specialized phone from the State.
Pennsylvania’s Telecommunications Device Distribution Program (TDDP) provides specialized phone equipment free-of-charge to eligible Pennsylvanians with disabilities who would otherwise be impeded from independent access to telephone services. Created through PA ACT 34-1995, the TDDP is implemented by Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), a program of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, in conjunction with the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC). To be eligible you must:
- Be a Pennsylvania resident with a disability or disabilities that prevent you from making and/or receiving phone calls independently;
- Be six years of age or older;
- Have current telephone service;
- Have an individual gross income of 200% of Federal Poverty level or less (low income); and
- Have the ability to learn how to use the requested device(s).
If you meet ALL of these requirements, you may be eligible for free equipment.
Equipment that is available through the TDDP program includes: TTY’s, CapTel Captioned Phone, Amplified Phones (cordless and table-top), Deaf/Blind Communicator, Voice Carry Over and Hearing Carry Over phones, Hands-Free Speaker Phone, Hearing Carry Over TTY, Telephone Fluency System, Talking Telephone, Voice Activated Dialer, Photo Phone, Big Button Phone and the DynaWrite with PhoneIT. Along with a phone product, you can select from various ring signaler (loud ring, flashing light or vibrating) devices to alert you to when the phone is ringing.
You may go to the TDDP website at http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/assistive/tddp/ to download application forms, look at devices available and see an explanation of the program in American Sign Language (ASL).
If you are unsure of which device would best fit your needs, you may borrow these and many more devices free of charge through the PIAT Lending Library.
For questions regarding this service or these programs, contact Christina Chamberlain at 412-371-7700 ext. 140, TTY 412-371-6230 or email cchamberlain@trcil.org. For more information, you can also contact the TDDP Program Coordinator at PIAT at 1-800-204-7428.