Technology Assistive Program (TAP), Deaf and Hearing Loss

Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) Technology Assistance Program (TAP) provides adaptive telecommunication equipment to qualified applicants whose hearing loss or disabilities prevent them from using a standard telephone. Applicants must be a resident of Virginia and meet current financial guidelines.



Equipment is provided to qualified individuals on a Loan-to-Own (L2O) basis. This gives qualified recipients up to 30 days to decide whether to keep, exchange, or return the equipment. If following the 30-day period, the recipient feels the device enables him or her to successfully communicate over the phone, he or she retains ownership of the device.



Assistive devices available are: TTY's (text telephones), Amplified telephones, Voice Carry Over phones, Captioning telephones, outgoing speech amplifier phones, signalers for the phone and door, hearing carry over phones and other devices by special request.

Training on use of the equipment is available. TAP participants can apply for new equipment every four years.

NOTE: Virginia Veterans with a hearing or speech loss and have documentation of their Honorable Discharge (form DD-214) automatically qualify for TAP equipment at no cost.