	May 1998

The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications Program Expands Eligibility for TTY Program

From: Susan Levi,
Sensory Aids Specialist
slevi@clark.net
The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program was established with the passage of SB103 in 1996. The goal of this program is to provide low income, disabled Marylanders the telecommunications equipment needed to access both the Maryland Relay as well as the public telephone network. The law specified that those persons receiving SSI, AFDC/TCA, and TEHMA would be eligible to receive adaptive telephone equipment at no cost through this program. The General Assembly also allowed for the expansion of the program through language which gave the MAT program administrators, in conjunction with the Governor's Office for Individuals with Disabilities, the ability to include "hardship" cases. In light of this, and to better serve the target population of low income, disabled Marylanders, the program eligibility requirements are being expanded to include, not only those persons on SSI, AFDC/TCA and TEHMA, but persons on SSDI. It is estimated that by including this group of previously unserved disabled Marylanders the MAT program will double it's utilization.

For more information, contact Brenda Kelly-Frey at the Maryland Relay Service
1-800-735-2258 (Voice, TTY, ASCII)

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