HLAA Convention Exhibit Hall - Part 8

By Lise Hamlin

- NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- Teltex

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NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Steven Golden, Betty Dodds and Ken Putkovich staffed NOAA's (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) National Weather Service exhibit at the HLAA convention. I met them all at other HLAA conventions, but for many attendees, it was their first introduction to the National Weather Service (NWS) and to the accessible NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. Yep, that's what it's called. The name is not euphonious, but the system works. I know: I have a Weather Radio in my office that lets me - and the whole office - know when a thunderstorm or tornado is coming along.

While Ken and Betty were busy helping others, Steven told me that the team comes to HLAA Conventions because they know how important it is to let people with hearing loss know how they, too, can benefit from accessible NOAA weather radios - and how they can get information from the NOAA website as well.

According to the National Weather Service website, (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr) the Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) service is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NWR includes more than 940 transmitters covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories.

To get the information that NWR is sending out, you need a special radio receiver or scanner. This is not your average radio: no music, news, talk radio or shock jocks. What it does provide is instant access to emergency information provided by the National Weather Service (NWS). Non-weather related emergencies are broadcast at the request of local and/or state officials: NWS does not initiate the message.

So why do we need to spend money on these radios that won't deliver anything but bad news? Well, sometimes no news is not good news. If there's a tornado possibility, I'd really like to know that I shouldn't be standing in front of the plate glass window in my office!

What you also need to know is that not every Weather Radio is accessible. There are specially designed models that allow you to attach alarm devices for visual or tactile alerts. The "Special Needs" page of the NWR website (http://www.weather.gov/nwr/special_need.htm) says: "Ready-to-use systems are marketed by Silent Call and Harris Communications. The cost of a basic NWR SAME receiver is $50 to $80. Systems packaged with external alarm devices start at $100. NWR SAME receivers with features useful to the deaf and hard of hearing, such as an output to activate external devices, an LCD display, and battery back-up power are manufactured and/or sold by several companies, including Radio Shack, Midland, Uniden, and First Alert. Connecting some of them to external alarm devices requires knowledge of electronics and some electronic technician skills for proper installation." The website also provides a list of accessible Weather Radios.

I haven't received any non-weather related information on my Weather Radio. And, you know, I really hope I never do. But the radio is there if I need it. As my dad used to say, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

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Teltex

According to their website, (you havta love the Internet!), "Teltex, Inc. began as a TTY repair facility in 1997 and quickly became a nationally recognized company for repairing TTY's, Telephone Equipment and Notification Systems for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The company has evolved over the years becoming one of the top distributors of equipment for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. As a national service center we remain one of the only distributors in the country that services every item we sell."

I have to admit, I wasn't aware of Teltex until I met Andrew Bond, president of Teltex and Jeff Williamson, Director of Sales & Marketing at the HLAA Convention this year. Yet, Teltex clearly knows about Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). They prominently displayed a banner on their exhibit booth - and on the HLAA website - saying, "Membership with Benefits." What Teltex is offering HLAA members is a 35% discount and a "lifetime warranty" on select items at no additional cost.

Teltex has a full catalog that includes a whole range of amplified corded and cordless phones, telephone accessories, loud phone ringers, smoke detectors and fire alarm transmitters, TTY's, assistive listening devices, clocks, speech aids, and computer devices.

At the convention, Andrew Bond showed me the Clearsounds A 50 cordless phone. It has a 50 dB gain as well as a stronger ringer in both the base and the handset, with vibration, tone control and a caller ID display. The Teltex catalog distributed at the convention includes promotions on the Contego personal assistive listening device, the Comfort Duet assistive device and the several discounted Sonic Boom Alarm clocks with bed shakers.

It's great to know there is more than one company you can turn to when you are looking for assistive alerting and listening devices.

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