What would you take if you had a choice to get a million-dollar item for free or a million dollars in cash for free?
Our love for free stuff is a human phenomenon. Studies have shown that we become irrational when it comes to free stuff. Our mind draws on it like a big sweet tasty cake. We go for the first, second, and thirds before realizing what is happening. As a result, our waistline increased, and we rationalized that our clothing had shrunk in the dryer.
Like a tempting cake, free stuff takes away our initial pain from spending. We think we are getting all the good stuff and saving our money. Yet, they say free comes at a cost. There’s a truth to that. It may not be immediate, but it can show up later in life without you realizing it.
The same goes for people with hearing loss who love free stuff. At the pandemic’s start, Zoom didn’t provide closed captioning for free. It was an additional cost for anyone who set up the meeting, and many didn’t want to pay. People in the hearing loss community protested for free captions and won. But I remember reading some arguments comparing closed captioning to ramps for wheelchairs. The argument was that if people in wheelchairs do not have to pay to move up a ramp, then why should we have to pay for access?
While I believe in making things accessible, I disagree with this argument. We don’t see the cost of the ramp because the price has been compensated when you enter the building. If the building is a store, you and others pay when you purchase something inside. If the building is your workplace, you reciprocate with the profit that you bring to the company. Things that are free are compensated by time, money or other resources. Very rarely are we getting something for free.
We live in a society where the premium comes with cost, comfort and convenience. If you want to attend a play and get a nice close-up view of the performance, you pay top dollars to sit at the front. If you want a 5-star hotel service, you better open up the wallet or get the basics to what you need. If you prefer discount clothing, you’ll have to drive 120 kilometres to an outlet mall or pay up at your local mall.
Free, in my mind, continues to marginalize communities. When something is given for free, you end up accepting whatever you can get, and sometimes they aren’t of value to you. Free stuff doesn’t give you control over what you want or prefer to have, nor does it give you complete access. What we need is more capital to bargain and power for what we want. You can use capital to demand the quality of services and products you want. You can use capital to decide how you choose to live. As inflation and prices rise, you shouldn’t be constrained to work with what you have. You should be growing your income too. Money gives you that power in exchange for value. Free does not.
Okay, enough of the rant. I get it. You came to learn about the free stuff that you can get your hands on. We live in a free society, and I will not stop you. Yes, there are plenty of free gadgets to get your hands on. Of course, most, if not all, of them are free. The government pays for these via your taxes. However, this is country dependent. Not every country behaves the same, and many countries continue to marginalize people with hearing loss. If you are fortunate to live in a country that supports disabilities, I can assist you and get you what you are looking for.
Low Household Income or Social Assistance Recipients
Free products mainly go to people who need them the most, those with little income, living in poverty or having no income. Hence, programs are available to help provide hearing equipment and devices at no cost.
Foundations
From America to developing countries, hearing aid manufacturers like Starkey’s or Miracle-Ear provide hearing aids at no cost for people who would not be able to afford them. But, mainly, funders or donors donate hearing aids to enable others to get them at no cost.
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Free deaf equipment and also for hard-of-hearing people
This article focuses mainly on government-funded programs that provide free products. We are not sharing the various charities or non-profits that support people with disabilities through their low-income programs. We are not focusing on student or youth-funded programs because not all of us are under 20 years old. Also, we won’t cover insurance programs because that isn’t exactly free. You or your employer is paying a fee for insurance. Here, we focus on sharing information on free products accessible to anyone regardless of income or economic status. But by the fact that you have hearing loss.
US
National and state programs will provide financial assistance or hearing aids for donations, but these are mostly income dependent. However, the following are available for anyone.
Free Strobe Alarms
If you visit your local Red Cross or fire department, you can access a free smoke detector with a strobe light and a bed shaker. These devices typically do not need hard wiring. Further to that, you may get a house visit to help set up your alarm for you.
Free Phones with Captions
In America, some people still use landlines. For some, this sentence may sound like it comes from the stone age. Yet, having your phone call captioned makes life a lot easier. A few brands work with the government to provide free telephone and caption services. Here are a few
Free Video Relay Services (VRS) Product
When you need virtual interpretation services to communicate with non-signers, it makes sense to get the right technology to make the interpretation services run smoothly. Several companies offer free equipment for the deaf who need remote interpreting services.
Free video conferencing devices
Sorenson provides Lumina, a videophone you can hook up to your tv. ntouch® VP2 is their video camera for making calls. ZVRS also provides a smart tech system for video conferencing.
Free smart lights
Many companies like Sorenson and ZVRS have a smart lighting system to visually alert you to VRS calls.
Free Facebook Portal
ZVRS and Purple Communications provide a video calling device in partnership with Facebook. These touchscreen devices or video camera tools attached to your TV allow you to get connected.
Hearing aids
If you are a former military employee, Veteran Services provides free hearing aids, and some states provide free hearing through Medicare.
UK
The British government provides grant programs to support people with hearing loss, but these are specific to your circumstances or how you acquired the hearing loss. However, you can get hearing aids for free.
Hearing aids & Assistive Devices
In the UK, the public health company called NHS, located in hospitals throughout the country, provides free hearing aids for those who qualify based on their hearing assessment. Subsequently, NHS will loan free hearing aids. However, you don’t get to choose which hearing aids you’d like or have access to top-of-the-line hearing aids. Instead, you’ll get the basics and be limited to a few hearing aid brands. So, free might not be the best device to help you hear better.
Can you get free fire alarms in the UK?
Yes, in the UK, like the US, they provide a safe service for people living in a home. The local fire department can visit and offer a sensory fire alarm to help set up an alarm.
Canada
In Canada, most of the equipment and devices are given for free based on income through various non-profits like March of Dimes or government programs like Nova Scotia for deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.
Can you get free hearing aids in Canada?
The quick answer is yes and no. Most provinces will cover the partial cost of hearing aids for adults, but children under 19 can get free hearing aids. However, in Quebec, you can get free hearing aids and assistive devices if you are working or a student.
Australia
Free Hearing aids & devices
Down Under, like the UK, provides free hearing aids for some but free assistive listening devices where needed. It is known that smoke alarms that come with a flashing light and vibrating pad are not for free but at a reduced cost from $629 to $50.
Conclusion
When you are reminded that some people around the world are living on less than $10 a day. Their income is not enough to even begin consuming any of the free equipment I shared in this article. I reflect and realize how privileged we are to be able to get free stuff to begin with. Yet, access should be for everyone on this planet, and by growing wealth for better equality.
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