Texas Hands & Voices understands the financial burdens that technology for our d/hh kids can place on families. While our chapter is not able to help families with the costs directly, we do have a list of resources which may help. Please look through the links below to see if one of these agencies, businesses, organizations or tools can help you with funding.
Texas Resources
HB 490 text and FAQ regarding private insurance coverage of hearing aids and CIs
Children's Hearing Aid Texas - call or email for more information
CHIP- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers low-cost health coverage for children from birth through age 18. CHIP is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to buy private health coverage.
STAR- STAR is a Medicaid-managed care plan. This plan helps family members of any age. Texas Children’s Health Plan offers STAR in more than 20 counties in the Jefferson and Harris Service Areas.
Dallas Hearing Foundation-The foundation’s mission is to provide medical and surgical treatment, hearing technologies, speech and hearing rehabilitation, and educational support to those who are in financial need.
En Voz Alta @ El Paso Children's Hospital- Offers assistance in paying for hearing aids. Application deadlines apply. Ask your audiologist there for information.
Aid the Silent - Hearing aids, FM system, ASL lessons, Speech Therapy
Children’s Voice of North Texas - Various needs for families in N. Texas.
The Marquardt Foundation- Offers hearing aids and hearing aid fittings.
Be An Angel- Offers hearing aids, communication devices, and respite care.
General Resources
Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) helps people who have a disability that interferes with their access to telephone networks purchase basic specialized assistive equipment or services.
At HealthyHearing search for Financial aid or click on "Free Consumer Guides HAPPY" and they will send you a pdf with many resources.
HLAA's page on Financial Assistance: Programs & Foundations
NCHAM Financing resources
Oticon has a hearing aid/FM loaner program (3 month loan period) for families with kids birth to three. Ask your audiologist for details.
Be an Angel supplies hearing aids to families that cannot afford them, or are not Medicaid qualified
Parent & Infant Financial Aid for children under the age of 4 pursuing listening and spoken language
Preschool Financial Aid for children from age 4 to 1st grade for support services, therapy, tuition
Arts & Sciences Award for students in grades 1-12 for after-school, weekend, summer programs
School-Age Financial Aid for students in grades 1-12 at parochial, independent, or traditional private school.
Higher Education Resources – Scholarships, Grants and Waivers
* Note: qualifications, deadlines and availability of the following vary. These have been shared with us by various sources and it is up to you to determine if they apply to your situation or not.
Certificate of Deafness Tuition Waiver at state-supported post secondary schools in Texas – must submit a completed form, be 17 or older and establish proof of functional deafness.
TAPED: Texas Assoc. of Parents and Educators of Deaf / HH scholarships to deserving deaf / hard-of-hearing high school seniors and to individuals interested in pursuing degrees in the field of deaf education and interpreting.
Texas A&M: General Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Sertoma: Students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss, graduating from high school, or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law awards $5,000 for up to 3 full-time graduate students attending an accredited law school for public policy or public administration
Mike Rowe Works: Work Ethic scholarships for youth attending trade schools
Community Resources
Other possible sources depend on the area in which a person resides. Contact your local groups:
Rotary International
Quota International
Sertoma Club
Kiwanis Club
Lion's Club