Georgians who are deaf or hard of hearing — from 1 percent hearing loss to profound deafness — now can obtain a new amplified cordless phone for free, thanks to the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired Inc.
The statewide nonprofit provides a variety of services to the deaf and hard of hearing. Through the Georgia Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program, GACHI distributes specialized telecommunications equipment and training to qualified applicants who have difficulty hearing via standard phones. 
The new phone amplifies incoming sounds up to 50 decibels. It also has features for people with low vision and arthritis, and boosts outgoing speech up to 15 decibels. 
Georgia residents who are certified as having hearing loss can obtain the phone by completing an application and providing a copy of a landline phone bill, a certificate-of-need form from a physician, proof of income and a copy of a driver’s license or state-issued identification card. For more information, call 1-888-297-9461 or go to www.gachi.org/gatedp.