Broward County, Florida – Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI), the non-profit distributor of specialized telecommunications equipment for people with hearing loss and speech disabilities, and Broward County audiologists announced a new partnership aimed at educating Florida residents about hearing loss solutions and resources available throughout the state.

As part of FTRI’s #KeepFloridaConected campaign, Broward County residents can test a new home phone that amplifies incoming sounds up to 50 decibels at area audiologist’s office. Designed specifically for people with hearing loss, residents who qualify for the FTRI program can secure the phone at no cost.

FTRI is making this testing station available at the following local audiologist offices: Allied Hearing Center, Coconut Creek; Your Doctor Medical Center, Lauderdale Lakes; and Deerfield Hearing Center, Deerfield Beach.

For more information on FTRI’s Broward County services, residents should visit the Center for Independent Living of Broward County at 4800 North State Road 7, Bldg. F, Suite 102 in Ft. Lauderdale, call 954-722-6400 or contact Camille Wallace at [email protected].

“More than 3 million people in Florida experience some degree of hearing loss, but many are unaware of the resources available to them,” said James Forstall, FTRI’s executive director. “We want people to understand that hearing aids aren’t the only solution. We are thrilled to join forces with Broward County audiologists to raise awareness about hearing loss solutions and to ultimately help Floridians with hearing loss stay engaged and connected.”

The XLC2, designed by Clarity, a division of Plantronics, amplifies incoming sounds up to 50 decibels. It also features a Talking Caller ID, a loud and clear speakerphone, Talking Dial Pad and easy to read buttons. The phone is available at no cost to permanent Florida residents who are certified as having a hearing loss. After testing the phone, residents can easily obtain the XLC2 by completing an application at the audiologist’s office.

#KeepFloridaConnected is a social media and outreach campaign designed to increase awareness and support for Floridians in need by bridging communication divides and urging people to take a proactive stance on hearing loss.

Visit FTRI’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Telecommunications-Relay-Inc and Twitter at https://twitter.com/FTRI_Inc to join the campaign and post your ideas on how to #KeepFloridaConnected.

About FTRI
Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that administers the Specialized Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program for citizens of Florida who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind and Speech Impaired. FTRI is also responsible for the education and promotion of the Florida Relay Service. For more information, visit www.ftri.org.