Test Free Amplified Phones at the Township of Schaumburg for People with Hearing Loss Through ITAC Program

Schaumburg Township Disability Services is a selection center to test free amplified phones and other equipment through the Illinois Telecommunications Access Program (ITAC). Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC) offers free equipment to Illinois residents who are Deaf, Deaf Blind, Hard of Hearing or speech disabled. Staff in the Township's Disability Services Department provide free demonstrations and those interested can complete a test call to see which equipment is best for them. Testing is available on a walk-in basis 9 - 5 pm Monday through Friday; though appointments are encouraged.

ITAC offers five amplified phones, two cell phone amplifiers and captioned phones. ITAC also recently added the Apple iPad with Augmentative and Alternative Communication Apps (AAC) to help individuals with speech disabilities communicate.

To be eligible for the program, you must be a resident of Illinois, have active phone service (home, cellular, pre-paid) and have a physician certification stating on the application that you are unable to use standard phone services. To qualify for this the iPad with AAC apps, certification of the applicant's speech disability from a speech language pathologist (SLP) is required on the application. Applications are available at Schaumburg Township by calling 847-285-4541 or at schaumburgtownship.org. There are no age or income requirements. ITAC programs are funded by a charge on participating companies' landline and cell phone lines.

Clients are eligible for one free piece of equipment every three years and can keep the equipment they already have! Call 847-285-4541 for more information or for an appointment to test the free ITAC equipment. To request a demonstration at a senior living center, church, school or other venue, please contact Lauren Ewan, Assistant Director of Disability Services at 847-285-4541 or lewan@schaumburgtownship.org.