iCanConnect Gives the Gift of Inclusion

Specialized Communications Equipment Transforms the Lives of People with Vision and Hearing Loss

WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There is nothing more heartwarming during the holiday season than being connected to those we love. For thousands of Americans who suffer from combined hearing and vision loss, the simple act of human connection is often just out of reach. Not so anymore, thanks to a new federal initiative – the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) – which grants technology, to those who qualify, for free.

“iCanConnect furthers Helen Keller National Center’s mission to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in his or her community of choice”

There is a vast array of equipment available that can be tailored to individual needs: be it a grandmother who can no longer read the letters on her computer and is struggling to hear the sound of her grandchild’s voice on the phone; or, a college student who was born deaf and is now losing his sight but still dreams of pursuing a degree; or, a grade school child, born deaf-blind, who wants to be able to communicate with her siblings—this program makes connecting to the world a lot easier.

The program has an outreach component called iCanConnect. The Website www.iCanConnect.org contains information about eligibility, state contacts, news and equipment options and links to connect with specialists who can help with the process.

“Modern telecommunications have changed the world, connecting people in ways that were previously impossible. For a person who is deaf-blind these advances provide valuable connections,” said Steven Rothstein, President of Perkins in Watertown, MA. “There is no better gift, especially this time of year.”

The iCanConnect campaign was developed by Perkins and Helen Keller National Center to raise awareness about the NDBEDP. Mandated by the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established this new program to ensure every person with combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern communications tools and the training necessary to use them.

“iCanConnect furthers Helen Keller National Center’s mission to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in his or her community of choice,” said Executive Director Joe McNulty. “The program also helps transcend disabilities and connect families.”

Additional information is available by phone at 1-800-825-4595, or through the FCC at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program.