Telecommunications Access Program for Telephone
TAP for Telephone provides basic voice telephone calling (both sending and receiving) and telephone alerting devices for individuals with disabilities in the state of Missouri through the delivery of adaptive telephone equipment.
The program is not designed to provide access to other types of telecommunications, such as two-way radio, alpha-numeric paging, or alerting devices such as smoke alarms, wake-up alarms, doorbell signaler and baby criers. The program is also not designed to assist individuals resolve face-to-face communication, thus the program does not provide devices such as hearing aids and augmentative communication devices.
Quick Find
-
What are the Eligibility Requirements?
-
Who Can Certify me as Having a Disability?
-
How Do I Apply for Equipment and Select Equipment to Meet My Needs?
-
TAP-T Demo Sites
-
Who Owns the Equipment After it is Purchased?
-
How Often Can I Apply for Equipment?
-
What Type of Equipment is Available on the TAP for Telephone Program?
What are the Eligibility Requirements?
- You must be a Missouri resident
- You must have telephone service in your home
- You must have a certified disability that prevents you from accessing or effectively using basic telephone services with standard telephone equipment
- Your annual adjusted income cannot exceed $60,000 for an individual or an individual plus a second exemption, spouse or dependent. For each additional dependent claimed, $5,000 can be added to the $60,000 base level.
- There are additional requirements to obtain the CapTel captioning phone. To qualify for the CapTel, the consumer must be unable to use an amplified phone, have intelligible speech, and provide an audiogram (hearing test). The audiogram must indicate a severe to profound hearing loss with a speech discrimination rate of less than 50% in both ears.
Who Can Certify me as Having a Disability?
Professionals who can certify include licensed physicians, audiologists, speech pathologists, hearing instrument specialists, or agencies approved by Missouri Assistive Technology. Approved agencies include Centers for Independent Living, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and L.E.A.D. Institute for the Deaf and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.
How Do I Apply for Equipment and Select Equipment to Meet My Needs?
An authorized person or agency must designate equipment that matches your disability needs. Professionals who have completed training will be able to assist you in the selection of equipment. The TAP for Telephone Equipment Worksheet is used to verify an appropriate match between the individual with a disability and adaptive equipment and must be signed by an approved agent. All of the Independent Living Centers listed below have demonstration equipment and staff to help with the selection of equipment (locate the county you live in and contact the nearest listed center):
TAP-T Demo Sites
Access II Independent Living Center 611 W. Johnson, Gallatin, MO 64640
(660) 663-2423 (voice)
(660) 663-2662 (TTY)
jclark@accessii.org
Contact Person: Judy Clark
Counties Served: Caldwell, Carroll, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, Mercer, Ray
Bootheel Area Independent Living Services 719 Teaco Road, Kennett, MO 63857
(573) 888-0002 (voice)
bails_Tommie@hotmail.com
Contact Person: Tommie Brown
Counties Served: Dunklin, New Madrid, Permiscot, Stoddard
Delta Center for Independent Living 5933 Highway 94 South, Suite 107, St. Charles, MO 63304
(636) 926-8761 (voice)
carriechick@dcil.org
Contact Person: Carrie Chick
Counties Served: Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren
Disability Resource Association 420-B South Truman Boulevard, Crystal City, MO 63019
(636) 931-7696 (voice)
suzan@disabilityresourceassociation.org
Contact Person: Susan Weller, ext. 126 or Nancy Pope, ext. 113
Counties Served: Jefferson
Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence #8 Missouri
P.O. Box 675, Viburnum, MO 65566
(573) 244-5402, ext. 165 (voice/TTY) (800) 844-3316 Toll-free
Contact Person: Jim Sampson
Counties Served: Crawford, Dent, Iron, Reynolds, Washington
Heartland Independent Living Center 1010 Highway 28 West
P.O. Box 578, Owensville, MO 65066
(573) 437-5100 (V/TTY)
dskasick@fidmail.com
Contact Person: Debbie Skasick
Counties served: Franklin, Gasconade, Maries
Independent Center of Southeast Missouri 511 Cedar Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
(573) 686-2333 (voice/TTY)
debbiehardin@semo.net
Contact Person: Debbie Hardin
Counties Served: Butler, Carter, Ripley, Wayne
Independent Living Resource Center 3620 West Truman Blvd., Suite D, Jefferson City, MO 65109
(573) 556-0400 (voice/TTY) or 1-877-627-0400
staceyilrc@earthlink.com
Contact Person: Stacey Sousley
Counties Served: Moniteau, Morgan, Cole, Osage, Miller, Camden
Living Independently for Everyone 725 E. Karsch Blvd.
P.O. Box 967
Farmington, MO 63640
(573) 756-4314 (voice)
aaronl@lifecil.org, maryj@lifecilmo.org
Contact Person:Aaron Luna or Mary Jost
Counties Served: Madison, St. Francois, St. Genevieve
Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living 4220 S. 40th Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503
(816) 279-8558 (voice)
(816) 279-4943 (TTY)
dian@meril.org
Contact Person: Dian Smith
Counties Served: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, Holt, Nodaway, DeKalb, Gentry, Worth
Northeast Independent Living Services 142 Jaycee Drive, Hannibal, MO 63401
(573) 221-8282 (voice/TTY) 1-800-713-7900
shirley@neilscenter.org, penny@neilscenter.org
Contact Person: Shirley Trentor or Penny Snider
Counties Served: Clark, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls
On My Own, Inc. 3102 Industrial Parkway, Nevada, MO 64772
(417) 667-7007 (voice)
susanreedomo@hotmail.com
Contact Person: Susan Reed
Counties Served: Bates, Cedar, Hickory, St. Clair, Vernon
Ozark Independent Living 109 Aid Avenue, West Plains, MO 65775
(417) 257-0038 (voice)
(888) 440-7500 (TTY)
ozark@townsqr.com
Contact Person:Rosemary Hendon or Rhonda Cameron
Counties Served: Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas, Wright
ParaQuad, Inc. 5240 Oakland, St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 289-4241
mcookson@paraquad.org
Contact Person: Mike Cookson
Counties Served: St. Louis City, St. Louis County
Rural Advocates for Independent Living 1100 S. Jamison, Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 627-7245 (voice/TTY) 800-898-7234 (Toll-free)
RiaP@cableone.net
Contact Person: Ria Peterson
Macon Office: 313 N. Rollins, Macon, MO 63552
cbrown@hotmail.com or jean_spencer@hotmail.com
Contact Person: Cheryl Brown or Jean Spencer
Counties Served: Adair, Chariton, Knox, Linn, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan
SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence 121 S. Broadview Plaza, Suite 12, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
(573) 651-6464 (voice/TTY)
semotech@sadi.org
Contact Person: Kristal Bergbigler-Friese
Counties Served: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry, Mississippi, Scott
Services for Independent Living 1401 Hathman Place, Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-1646 (voice)
(573) 874-4121 (TTY)
marenella@silcolumbia.org or lswift@silcolumbia.org
Contact Person: Mike Arenella or Lauren Swift
Counties Served: Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cooper, Howard, Montgomery, Randolph
Southwest Center for Independent Living 2864 S. Nettleton, Springfield, MO 65804
(417) 886-1188 (voice/TTY)
jreese@swcil.org or juder@swcil.org
Contact Person: Jen Reese or Jamie Uder
Counties Served: Christian, Dallas, Green, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster
The Independent Living Center, Inc. 1001 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804
(417) 659-8086 (voice/TTY)
jneal@ilcenter.org
Contact Person: Judy Neal
Monett Office: 775 Chapel Drive, Suite B, Monett, MO 65708
Trife@ilcenter.org
Contact Person: Teresa Rife
Counties Served: Barry, Barton, Dade, Jasper, McDonald, Newton
Tri-County Center for Independent Living 1420 Highway 72 East, Rolla, MO 65401
(573) 368-5933 (voice/TTY)
fayet@fidmail.com
Contact Person: Faye Teague
Counties Served: Laclede, Phelps, Pulaski
The Coalition for Independent Living 6724 Troost, Suite 408 Kansas City, MO 64131
(816) 231-7166
mstiner@cfi-kc.org
Contact Person: Mary Ann Stiner
Counties Served: Jackson, Platte, Clay
The Whole Person, Inc. 114 W Gregory Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 561-0304 (voice/TTY)
mmahoney@thewholeperson.org
Contact Person: Mary Pat Mahoney
Counties Served: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte
Warrensburg Independent Living Services 123 East Gay Street, Suite S-2, Warrensburg, MO 64093
(660) 422-7883 (voice)
(660) 422-7894 (TTY)
krystal@w-ils.org
Contact Person: Krystal Searcy
Counties Served: Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline
Who Owns the Equipment After it is Purchased?
You own the equipment! There will be a sticker on the phone equipment that includes the name of the vendor who distributed the equipment and the phone contact. If you need your phone repaired during the four years after you receive the phone, you need to contact the vendor who distributed the equipment. Miscellaneous supplies such as TTY paper, headsets and regular batteries are your responsibility.How Often Can I Apply for Equipment?
You can reapply for equipment every four years. If your disability changes to the point that different equipment is necessary, you may reapply based on your new needs.What Type of Equipment is Available on the TAP for Telephone Program?
A full range of adaptive equipment is provided at no cost to meet the needs of individuals with all types of disabilities. Equipment include the following:Amplified Phones - This is a telephone for people with mild to severe hearing loss designed with a built-in amplifier. All of the phones come with tone and frequency adjustments, loud ringers of up to 95 dB and a maximum of 55 dB volume gain.
- Ameriphone XL-40 (amplifies up to 40 dB volume gain)
- Clearsounds 40 XLC Freedom Phone (amplifies up to 50 dB volume gain; Speakerphone, Caller ID)
- Serene HD-60 (amplifies up to 55 dB volume gain)
Amplified Cordless Phones - The cordless phones provide up to 50 dB volume gain.
- Clearsounds A50
- Clarity 4205
- GE Amplified Cordless with BackTalk (up to 40 dB volume gain)
Voice Carry Over (VCO) Phones - The Voice Carry Over (VCO) phone utilizes special technology that combines voice and text communications over the telephone. It allows individuals who have a severe to profound hearing loss who wish to use their own voice, to speak directly to the other person on the telephone, and read the other person's response on a text display. Voice Carry Over services is available through Missouri Relay.
- Ameriphone VCO Phone
- Ultratec Uniphone 1140
- CapTel Captioned Phone (must contact TAP office at 800-647-8557 (voice) or 800-647-8558 (TTY) for more information)
- To qualify for the CapTel, the consumer must have a severe-profound hearing loss with speech discrimination scores of less than 50% in both ears. The consumer must be unable to use an amplified phone. An audiogram/hearing test must be provided.
TTY's - A TTY is a specialized telephone (also known as a TDD or TT) that enables people to use the telephone to communicate by typing messages back and forth to one another instead of talking. A TTY looks much like a typewriter and has a standard keyboard.
- Ultratec Compact TTY
- Ultratec Uniphone 1140
- Ultratec Superprint 4425 w/ Printer
- Ameriphone Q 90with Printer
TTY Software - TTY software allows the computer to be used as a TTY.
- Nexcom Modem/Software
Large Visual Display TTY (for low-vision/hearing loss)- These include TTY's and a VCO phone with a special enlarged print display for persons who are deaf and have low vision. This equipment is only available to individuals who have a documented hearing/low vision loss not corrected by glasses.
- Ultratec Superprint PRO 80 LVD
- Ameriphone VCO Phone w/ LVD
- CapTel with USB port
Amplified Large Number/Braille/TalkBack - This is a standard phone for persons with low vision who need larger numbers on the dial pad for ease in dialing. The JV-35 is a phone that can be used by individuals who read and use braille, or needs auditory feedback with a digital voice that vocalizes each number that is pressed. The phone comes equipped with numbers on the dial pad printed in braille. This is also an amplified phone that provides up to 35 dB volume gain for the user. The JV-35 has a loud ringer of 85 dB.
- Ameriphone JV-35
- GE Amplified Cordless phone with BackTalk
Deaf/Blind
- Call TAP for Telephone for Assistance
Telephone Signaling Devices:
Auditory Loud Ringers - This is an alerting device that increases the volume of the sound of the phone ringing. The signalers allow the user to customize the ring to make it ring high, low or warbled.
- RingMax
- Clarity CL-1 (provides a strobe light and loud ringer)
Visual Alerting Device - Visual signalers are devices that work in conjunction with the ringing of the phone. It lets the user know the phone is ringing by turning sound (the telephone ring) into light.
- Simplicity Phone Signaler LTD
- Sonic Alert TR 75
Deaf/Blind Alerting Device (for deaf/blind only) - This is an alerting device that a person who is deaf and blind wears on their body. It alerts them to the ringing of the phone by way of a vibrating signal. Vibra-tactile signalers are only available to individuals who have a documented hearing/low vision loss not correctable by glasses.
- AM-6000 w/ Personal Signaler
Mobility Disabilities - There are several types of phones for people with mobility disabilities. The cordless phones have a hands-free speakerphone that allows a person to speak and listen without using a handset. The RC-200 telephone is for persons who have a mobility disability and may have limited use of their hands or body. It can be operated with a remote control or voice activating answering capabilities.
- Panasonic Cordless phone
- Plantronics cordless headset phone
- RC-200 w/ Accessories
Speech Disabilities - The handset or phone is for individuals with speech impairment who have difficulty producing volume in their speech.
- Speech Amplified Handset
- XL-25S Speech Amplified Phone
Hearing Carry Over (HCO) - The Uniphone 1140 and Q90 enables a person who can hear but cannot speak, to communicate on the phone by listening on the receiver and typing their responses instead of talking. For a person who has a speech disability, hearing carry over (HCO) services are available through Missouri Relay. Note: Adequate manual dexterity to type on a keyboard is essential to use these phones. The Q90 comes with external speakers for hands-free operation.
- Ultratec Uniphone 1140
- Ameriphone Q90 TTY w/ External Speakers
Anti-Stuttering Devices - This is an anti-stuttering telephone device with delayed auditory feedback (DAF) and frequency-shifted auditory feedback (FAF).
- Casa Futura Telephone Fluency System
Multiple and Other Disabilities - This is a phone for persons who have difficulty dialing or remembering numbers or for those who have cognitive disabilities. The large number dial buttons allow the user to insert photos or icons to represent the number being dialed.
The numbers must be pre-programmed into the phone so the number corresponds to the photo. The user merely has to push the picture or the number they want to call and the phone dials the number automatically.
- Ameriphone Photo Phone
To ensure that the best equipment is ordered to meet the individuals needs, applications must be completed in person. For more information about the program, call Missouri Assistive Technology at (800) 647-8557 (voice) or (800) 647-8558 (TTY).