MAYOR BILL WHITE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OFFICIALS OF CONNECTIVITY SOURCE ANNOUNCE CELL PHONE ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS
May 10, 2007 - Mayor Bill White, joined MOPWD Executive Director Michelle Colvard and Connectivity Source Director of Marketing and Development Richard Saler to announce a plan to help improve cell communications options for people who are hard of hearing.
"It is important to let Houstonians know that there are products and services that bring to the hearing impaired community the same conveniences most of us take for granted every day," said Mayor White. "By letting Houstonians know about these products and services we can improve their quality of life."
Connectivity Source, which operates in Texas and Louisiana, has committed to assist people with hearing disabilities with the right technical features compatible with the hearing technology they may be currently using. The company will provide free of charge phones with high quality microphones and components that assist people with hearing impairments and reduce noise and interference for people who require hearing aids. Clients pay only for the service.
Hearing Loss specialist Teri Wathen, who was appointed by Mayor White to the Houston Commission for People with Disabilities, has been actively involved in training Connectivity Source personnel to help perform the customer assessments. This process helps to ensure that those with a hearing impairment are not stuck with a device that they cannot use because of poor technical quality.
"As we are all aware, wireless phones are becoming more and more important in our everyday lives - for business, keeping in touch with friends, family and safety," said Scott Aronstein, President of Connectivity Source.
