If you don't already have some smoke alarms, then please purchase these life saving devices. If you do have them, now is the time of year to check that they are in working condition and to put fresh batteries in your smoke alarms.
I was recently asked for a product recommendation for a bedridden person to use to notify a Deaf person in another part of the house that they required assistance. There are many products available that work quite well in small houses or apartments. The problem here was that it was a large two-story house and during the night, the Deaf person would be sleeping on the second floor. Most signalers and transmitters have a range anywhere from 80 to 200 feet. There are many things that can interfere with a signal, the most obvious are electronic equipment, but sometimes there is also a problem with the signal passing through barriers such as walls, doors, and ceilings.
Ultratec Simplicity makes the products I recommended. There is no limit to the signal range because it works through the home’s electrical system. As long as the whole house is wired on the same 110 wiring then the signal will travel anywhere within the house. I recommended the Simplicity Wireless Doorbell Signaler/Transmitter used with a Simplicity Remote Receiver or Simplicity Wired Remote Receiver.
The doorbell button would be used as a pager and the transmitter would be plugged into an outlet in the same room that the doorbell button is being used. The doorbell button would send a signal to that transmitter which would then send a signal to the remote receiver. The remote receiver would be plugged into any room that the Deaf person is in. A lamp or Simplicity Add-On Strobe would need to be plugged into the remote receiver. If a light was not sufficient during the night and a bed vibrator was needed, then the Super Shaker Bed Vibrator could be plugged into the remote receiver instead of the lamp or strobe. Total cost is just $219.80.
Not long ago, Robert J. Steppler walked from his home to a little coffee shop nearby, ordered a green tea and chatted with the baristas.
While that may sound hardly worthy of note, for Steppler and others like him, it most certainly is.
Steppler, a deaf-blind individual, is one of the first people in the world to use a new device called the DeafBlind Communicator, which allows him to communicate freely despite his disabilities.
Read the full article at http://www.newschief.com/article/20090823/NEWS/908235038/1011?Title=Device-lets-deaf-blind-people-converse-with-anyone
A lot of businesses are not familiar with relay calls. They hang up because they think it's a telemarketer. You may want to consider changing the way you have your relay calls announced; instead of saying, "This is the [your state] Relay Service...," ask the CA to say "This is a customer of your business calling through the [your state] Relay," or "This is [your name] calling through [your state] Relay." Some people have found that this kind of greeting reduces hang-ups.
Many states have a "Please, Don't Hang Up" Campaign. It consists of presentations throughout the state by the relay service outreach staff and public service announcements for TV and radio, as well as printed material. They also have an online form that you can fill out to report a business that hangs up on you. The Relay will contact the business and educate them about relay calls.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) have become popular, not only do they save you money on your electric bill and last longer than incandescent light bulbs, but they are also better for the environment. Some governments are considering strong measures to phase out incandescent bulbs. These measures include taxation, or bans on production of incandescent light bulbs. Australia, Canada, and the US have already announced plans for nationwide bans on incandescent bulbs.
Most people don’t know about one problem. CFLs do not work well with signaling devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. You should not use CFLs for any flashing device. Not only will it rapidly age the bulb, but also it could cause delays in flashing as well as limit the flash pattern options. Because of the way CFLs operate, e.g., they “warm up” when turned on, the bulb may not turn on/illuminate when signaled or it may flash so quickly that someone might not notice. Most manufacturers of signaling devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing do not recommend using CFLs.
Deaf411, a deaf marketing and public relations company, has released the final report and results of a year-long survey on which cities are considered “deaf friendly.” The final report, which lists 20 U.S. cities, was released and is now available for public viewing.
This “Deaf Friendly Cities” report includes a narrative of a selected city from each of four U.S. regions, lists several community resources, and photos representing a variety of situations that are considered “deaf friendly” to deaf consumers or travelers.
"While research for this report should not be considered scientific," a Deaf411 representative explains, "this sampling of consumers with significant hearing loss who depend primarily on sign language provides solid criteria for evaluating cities for accessibility from a deaf friendly perspective."
Video & Free Online Report - http://www.deaf411online.com/46.html
Baby monitors are very important for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They need to be notified when their baby wakes up or is crying when they are not in the same room. There are many different monitors available for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Choosing the right one is important. You will want one that flashes a light, vibrates, or does both. Will a flashing light wake you up when you are sleeping or will you need a bed or pillow vibrator instead? It can become costly to have two separate systems for night and day.
We've found that the most cost effective system is the BC400 Baby Cry Signaler/Transmitter. It is plugged into an outlet in the baby's room. You will need a receiver to make it work. You can use the Sonic Blink BL 300 Strobe Receiver. The receiver is completely portable and can be plugged into an outlet in any room you are going to be in. The strobe light is very strong and will wake most people up at night. If a strobe light isn't sufficient to wake you up, then you could use the SA101 Basic Remote Receiver instead of the Sonic Blink. It is also completely portable. It does not have a strobe light so you would have to plug a lamp into it during the day and then plug the Super Shaker Bed Vibrator into it at night.
The 418MHz Signature Series uses radio frequency technology, allowing you freedom and flexibility with outstanding features and increased range of up to 2,000 feet. Quickly know when you have visitors, telephone calls or emergencies. The Watch Receiver, with its portable design allows the wearer to be fully aware of their home without missing out on life.
Do you know how many decibels an assistive listening device or amplified telephone should have for your degree of hearing loss? As a general guideline, up to 28dB is good for mild hearing loss; 30 - 40dB for moderate hearing loss; and 50dB+ for severe hearing loss. If you wear hearing aids, your audiologist can help.
Have you ever wondered if there are resources in your State that can help you with acquiring assistive devices? A good place to find that information is at www.disabilityinfo.gov. Choose your State on the left hand side. It will show you some subjects to choose from. Click on Technology and you will find all the resources in your State with links to their websites. Want more helpful links? Check out our favorite links at http://www.productsforthedeaf.com/links.
