Date: Fri 30-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

health-hearing-Mims

Full Text:

Hearing Amplifiers Installed

At Newtown Post Office

Postal Clerk Dee Duprey tried out one of the new public-use hearing amplifiers

which have been installed at the Newtown Post Office to assist persons who

have difficulty hearing. The amplifiers, which look like portable telephones,

have been installed on the walls at each side of the counter. Accompanying

posters explain their use. -Bee Photo, Valenta

Do you have trouble hearing the postal clerk? Is hearing loss making it

difficult to discuss whether your package should go priority mail or overnight

express?

There's help for you at the Newtown Post Office where devices to assist

persons who have hearing loss were installed recently for use at the counter.

Mounted on the walls adjacent to the counter are two devices that look

somewhat like portable telephones. They are not telephones, however. They are

public-use hearing amplifiers, devices which amplify the voice of the postal

clerk.

The post office is the latest public building in Newtown to get devices to

assist persons with hearing loss. The town government offices, the police

department, the schools, and the senior center now have a variety of devices

which can be used for one-on-one conversations or for use in meetings.

Impetus for obtaining the devices came from the local Persons with

Disabilities Committee which is working to encourage implementation of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of

1990.

"Of the 59 million disabled Americans, by far the largest group has diminished

hearing - 28 million," said Bruce Mims, a member of the local committee.

"Twenty-seven million of this group can understand speech with amplification

and about 6 million of this group uses hearing aids, leaving about 20 million

to struggle. About 500,000 people (use sign language)."

Lawrence W. Roffee, executive director of the US Architectural and

Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, recently said that "federal

agencies, under several laws, are now required to provide effective

communications to people receiving the services of that agency. Furthermore,

the Access Board is committed to update the federal accessibility stands so

that they equal or exceed the accessibility guidelines the general public must

meet under ADA."

Mr Mims said hearing help has long been needed in federal agencies but this

now is changing. In nearly half of the states - but not Connecticut - Social

Security offices offer hearing amplifiers to their clientele, he said.

"But to be useful the public has to know that these devices are there ...and

ask management for them when they are not in sight," he said.