Hearing Help is Where We Make a Difference
Hearing Loss Association of America Florida or HLAA National does not endorse any of these products, services or helpful links below, but we are pleased to share with our HLAA members.
The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc. (FAAST)
The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc. (FAAST) has been busy ensuring that Floridians who have disabilities have access to our assistive technology services.
Who is FAAST? FAAST was created from the federal Assistive Technology Act and is part of Florida Statute (413.407). We exist to help Floridians access assistive technology. Assistive technology is any device, software, or tool that helps an individual with a disability to live the life of their choosing. Our services have been used to help people live, work, and play independently, resulting in less dependence on government aid. The best part is that all our services are free to Floridians.
Who Do We Serve? Floridians who have disabilities, their family members, guardians, and authorized representatives. We also serve representatives from education, employment, health, allied health, rehabilitation, community living, and technology.
What Do We Do? FAAST provides assistive technology services as outlined in the federal Assistive Technology Act. Those services include assistive technology device demonstrations, training, short-term device loans, a financial loan program, and recycling durable medical equipment.
- Device Demonstrations, Training, and Short-Term Loans: Anyone in the state can call FAAST to ask about assistive technology and how it can help them, their family, or someone they work with. FAAST can compare and contract different assistive technology devices in our statewide loan library, where we house over 4,000 devices, to help that person learn what technology will work best for them. FAAST then can provide training on how to use the assistive technology device, and let the individual take that device home with them to see how it would work in their day-to-day routine through our short-term device loan program. When they are ready to purchase a device, we can help them find funding opportunities, including our financial loan program.
- Financial Loans: FAAST provides financial loans to help Floridians who have disabilities to purchase the assistive technology devices and services they need. We pride ourselves on being able to provide financial loans to individuals with fixed incomes and low credit scores. Floridians have used our services to purchase hearing aids, recreational equipment, adaptive vehicles, ramps, and even to modify their homes or vehicles.
- Recycling Durable Medical Equipment: In 2020, FAAST saved Floridians $227,235 by collecting durable medical equipment donations and redistributing them back into the community. Any Floridian can drop off durable medical equipment or assistive technology devices that they are no longer using to FAAST and we will sanitize, repair, or refurbish the devices so that they can be given to individuals who need them.
The team at FAAST is extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to advance our mission of improving the quality of life for Floridians who have disabilities through assistive technology. As the state’s assistive technology program, we are #Here2Help with any questions you may have about assistive technology.
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Hurricane & Disaster Resource Links
Hurricane Preparation & Disaster Resource Links -
When you have hearing loss, hurricane pre-planning is very important...
Visit all of our Hurricane Resources Posts HERE.
AARP's Helpful Guide
July 2021 - DISASTER RESOURCE GUIDE
Governor's Message:
As Governor, I work to ensure disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts are in place to safeguard all our residents and visitors. While Florida stands ready for any storm that may threaten our state, I encourage all individuals, families, and businesses to have an emergency preparedness plan in place
How to Properly Prepare for a Hurricane in Florida
Preparing for a hurricane when you have hearing loss requires pre-planning. 7-07-21 How to Properly Prepare for a Hurricane in Florida…
Hurricane Preparation Guide 2021 Season Guide
Are You Really Prepared for Hurricane Season? You may also be interested in seeing the 2021 Season Guide by clicking here. 2021 2020 Hurricane Preparedness Guide…
2020 Hurricane Preparedness Guide
ASL Services Inc., HQ Kissimmee Florida have produced a comprehensive 2020 Hurricane Guide in English, Spanish, ASL, and DeafBlind access.
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For more info you can click here to search our site for Hurricane
General Hearing Loss Resource Links
Dr. Neil & the Center For Hearing Loss Help
The mission of The Center for Hearing Loss Help is to help you live a successful and fulfilling life in spite of your hearing loss by providing you with information, counsel, support, books and selected quality products that help you successfully deal with the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of living with hearing loss (deafness), tinnitus (and other phantom sounds), balance issues and other ear-related problems.
https://hearinglosshelp.com/
Cochlear Implant Basics
A MISSION IS SIMPLY TO HELP THOSE WHO CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND SPEECH WITH A HEARING AID
https://cochlearimplantbasics.com/
COVID-19 Prevention Tips in ASL (video)
https://youtu.be/wkaMC2Fipgg
Diglo (formerly Harris Communications)
https://www.diglo.com/
Hearing Life e-News (for breaking news about hearing loss and HLAA)
https://www.hearingloss.org/news-media/e-news/ (National)
Resource for DHH Research
Calling all deaf/Deaf/hard of hearing/late deafened individuals who use either sign or spoken language
Research Study Announcement
IRB2024-485 Crisis Communications and Disability Communities: An Analysis of Accessible Communications with Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Individuals During Hurricane Evacuations
Texas Tech University
Department of English
We are looking for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to participate in a research study.
The research study focuses on exploring the experiences of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals during times of crisis, specifically their experiences with accessible communications during hurricane evacuations. The expected outcome of this study is to inform what improvements are needed to make communications more accessible to meet the needs of those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
To qualify for the study, fill out this screening questionnaire. Alternatively, you may also copy/paste the URL (https://forms.office.com/r/tZpTeUGGZL).
Participants selected for this study will be given an online survey. The survey will also be available via Zoom in an interview format for those who prefer to use American Sign Language (ASL). Interviews on Zoom will be recorded for transcription, and when transcriptions are complete, the recordings will be destroyed. All identifying information will be anonymized, and participants can opt out anytime
Email to find out more information about this research study: Dr. Rich Rice (rich.rice@ttu.edu) or Julie Grisham, PhD Candidate (julie.grisham@ttu.edu)
This study has been approved by the TTU Institutional Review Board.
Download PDF
Important Disclaimer Information:
Disclosure HLAA has included this resource as information only and does not endorse or provide support for any products or programs listed. Your participation is voluntary and at your own risk.
Relevant Government Websites
ADA Home Page (Department of Justice)— information and technical assistance on Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles I, II, and III.
CDC Data and Statistics About Hearing Loss in Children In the United States alone, the CDC have studies that show a range of estimates for the number of children with hearing loss.
DoD Hearing Center of Excellence — optimizes operational effectiveness, heightens medical readiness, and enhances quality of life through collaborative leadership and advocacy for hearing and balance health initiatives.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Issues Task Force
Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Florida Statutes to serve as an advisory and coordinating body which recommends policies that address the needs of Florida’s deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind community.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) — one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the federal government’s focal point for the support of biomedical research. NIH’s mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities — mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
Social Security and Disability Resource Center — provides a detailed overview of how the federal disability system works (social security disability and SSI) and also provides answers to many questions that applicants typically have, but often have trouble finding answers to.
United States Access Board — an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.
United States Department of Transportation (DOT) — has established a toll-free hotline to assist travelers with disabilities.
Find A Professional In Florida
Dr. Scott Greene
https://entflorida.com/doctor/scott-m-greene-md/
The Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center
https://www.tampabayhearing.com/
Davis Family Hearing
https://davisfamilyhearing.com/
Aspire Hearing & Balance
https://www.aspirehearing.com/
Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center
Assisted Listening Device Resources & Locators
Find the place to EXPERIENCE IT ALL
Find Hearing Loop enabled venues
Loop Locator
https://time2loopamerica.com/loop-locator/
Loop America
Aging
Age-Related Hearing Loss
Patient Information Handout by ASHA
Assisted Living Options
Caring.com is a leading online resource for those seeking information and support.
Hearing Loss: It’s a Family Affair
Brochure produced by the National Council on Aging (NCOA)
Support for Caregivers and Families of People With Hearing Loss
Patient Information Handout by ASHA
Preventing Falls
Patient Information Handout by ASHA
Age-related Hearing Loss
NIDCD provides general information about age-related hearing loss.
Hearing Loss and Older Adults
NIDCD Fact sheet — Provides general information about hearing loss.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Helps older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
Hearing Loss Association of Florida Welcomes Your Feedback/Recommendations
(Consumers/Professionals)
Would you like to make a recommendation to the above resources?
Please use this form if:
- You have feedback regarding any of our recommended Professionals, or have a new recommendation
- You are a Professional in the State of Florida and believe that the hearing community would benefit from a service that you provide