featured resource
Free Phone Equipment from Disability Rights Maine Helps Woman Hear Again — And Sparks a New Friendship  
Jamie Gleason, Grateful Undead

Our featured resource this month is Disability Rights Maine and their Phone Equipment Program, which provides free or low-cost specialized telephones to individuals with hearing, visual, or cognitive impairments. But the best way to understand the impact of this program is through a story — one that starts with a phone and ends with something much bigger. 

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Jamie Gleason, a Community Connector working with the Grateful Undead in the Sacopee Valley, had been helping a strong, independent woman living alone who lost her hearing due to Lyme disease. With a shrinking ability to use the phone, everyday tasks had become a real struggle. Jamie helped connect her with a CaptionCall phone — a device with amplified sound and a read-out option that could bridge the gap.

This is where the story takes an unexpected turn—and overcoming a barrier leads to an unexpected win. With no service technicians available in the area, a local town clerk named Sarah volunteered to go to the woman's home and be walked through the installation process by phone. What was supposed to be a quick setup turned into two enjoyable hours together — and Sarah plans to keep visiting.

When Jamie called the woman on February 10th, she picked up and heard every word. "This will change my life," she said.

For Jamie, the experience sparked a realization. "I've been so focused on getting the Senior Companion Program in our area," she reflected, "I wasn't focused on neighbors helping neighbors. This has got me thinkin', as they say."

Sometimes age-friendly community building doesn't come from partnering with an outside program. It comes from a neighbor who shows up.

Interested in learning more about no-cost or low-cost telephone equipment offered by Disability Rights Maine?  Meet DRM and take a look at some of their equipment during our June conference or visit the DRM website.