Call us : 720-457-3679
Email us : office.cddhhdb@state.co.us
Call us : 720-457-3679
Email us : office.cddhhdb@state.co.us
The Communications Technology Access Program (CTAP) oversees three different programs: Communications Technology Program (CTP), the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) also known as ICanConnect (ICC), and Telecommunication Relay Services (TRS). The three programs provide access to communication, devices, education, and resources at no charge to qualified deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and speech-disabled individuals.
The Communications Technology Program (CTP) provides communications education and resources, as well as devices, such as amplified and captioned phones, smartphones and tablets, as well as notification systems, personal amplifiers, and specialized equipment, and training to qualified deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals, and individuals with speech disabilities.
Apply online for deaf and hard of hearing communications technology.
Download a printed application for deaf and hard of hearing communications technologyLifeline - Universal Service Administrative Company
To be eligible to receive devices, your household income must be below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, as shown in the following table:
| Number of persons in a family/household | Maximum income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $62,600 |
| 2 | $84,600 |
| 3 | $106,600 |
| 4 | $128,600 |
| 5 | $150,600 |
| 6 | $172,600 |
| 7 | $194,600 |
| 8 | $216,000 |
For each additional person, add $22,000.
Last updated January 2025
(National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program)
We administer the iCanConnect program in Colorado. iCanConnect is sometimes called the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). In 2012, iCanConnect enabled our Communication Technology Program to expand its telecommunications service by providing qualified deafblind individuals with modern telecommunication tools. These tools allow two-way communication between deafblind individuals and their community members. Technology includes smartphones, laptops, braille devices, and much more. About ICC in ASL
To be eligible for iCanConnect, you must meet the program's disability and income eligibility guidelines. Additionally, a professional must attest that the applicant's combined hearing and vision loss meets the program's definition. Examples of professionals include:
Defined by one of the following:
Defined by one of the following:
In addition to significant vision and hearing loss, your household must be within 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to qualify for iCanConnect. See below for the guidelines chart.
There are two ways to prove income eligibility:
| Number of persons in a family/household | Maximum income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $62,600 |
| 2 | $84,600 |
| 3 | $106,600 |
| 4 | $128,600 |
| 5 | $150,600 |
| 6 | $172,600 |
| 7 | $194,600 |
| 8 | $216,000 |
For each additional person, add $22,000.
If you meet the eligibility requirements, download the application.
The iCanConnect equipment page provides an overview of the types of distance communication equipment the program can provide to stay connected to friends, family, and the world. The list is updated on a quarterly basis. iCanConnect Equipment
iCanConnect professionals will work with participants to identify each person's specific needs.
Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) was formerly housed under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and transitioned to CDHS as part of HB25-1154. TRS oversees Relay Colorado.
Making telecommunication connections possible for all
Relay Colorado is a public service that enables individuals with hearing or speech differences who use a teletypewriter (TTY) or other assistive device to communicate with standard telephone users.
The conversation is relayed between the two parties by a specially trained Communications Assistant. Relay Colorado is available 24 hours a day 365 days per year.
Dialing 711 automatically connects to a Communications Assistant which is easy and fast.
Colorado Captioned Telephone (CapTel) Service lets you listen and read captions of everything said during your phone calls—just like real-time captions on TV.
It's especially helpful for individuals with hearing differences who don't benefit from amplified phones.
Speech to Speech service that allows people who have a speech disability to place and receive telephone calls with an assistance from a Communications Assistant.
Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service enables you to actively participate in conference calls, video meetings and webinars. With RCC, you can read live captions via a web browser on your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device.
You have the option of either speaking or typing to communicate with the other attendees. This service is designed for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech-disabled.
There is no cost to use the service for individuals who live or work in Colorado.
Hours:
– Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
– Saturday: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Useful resources for those who wish doing businesses with consumers who have hearing or speech differences.
Relay Colorado is a no-cost service that allows a hearing individual to use a standard telephone (wired or wireless) to place a relay call and easily converse with a individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech-disabled.
Specially trained Communications Assistants (CA) facilitate the calls. Calls can be made anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number, length, or type of calls.
All calls are strictly confidential, no records of any conversations are maintained. Anyone wishing to use Relay Colorado simply dials the relay number (711) to connect with a CA, who then will dial the requested number and relay the conversation between the two callers.
Relay services are for everyone who has hearing or speech differences, and for those who are hearing to communicate effectively with each other on the telephone.
When you dial the dedicated Relay Colorado's voice toll free number, 800-659-3656, you will hear the Voice Response Unit (VRU message) to ensure that you are reaching out to the correct phone number.
If you make frequent calls to Relay Colorado, you can expedite the process in reaching a CA (and bypass the automated recording) by setting up a customer profile.
To set up your customer profile, dial 800-676-3777 to reach our accessibility care team. Simply ask them to set your phone number to default as a "voice user" and you'll be all set.
Did you know that by ONLY including the phrase "Just Dial 711" to your website can be confusing to customers?
It's important to provide additional information to ensure those needing the service are prepared with everything they need to make a successful call. Our communications assistants will require your business phone number to complete a relay call.
Below are a few suggested phrases to include on your website. The key here is to INCLUDE your business's phone number within the message. Choose one of the 3 examples to add to your website!
Example #1: "Relay Service for the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or those with a speech disability - please call 711, then provide the CA our company's number (xxx-xxx-xxxx) to contact us for questions or concerns."
Example #2: "For deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or those with a speech disability please dial 711 then provide our company's phone number, xxx-xxx-xxxx to complete the relay call."
Example #3: "For TTY users (i.e. deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have a speech disability) please dial 711 then provide our company's phone number, xxx-xxx-xxxx to complete the relay call."
Don't be that company that hangs up on a relay call. If you hear "Relay Colorado CA 1234, may I have the number you are calling please?" do not hang up, it's someone calling you through the relay service!
Thousands of individuals who have hearing or speech loss call businesses and organizations like yours every day. They call through Relay Services. Often people hang up on Relay calls because they think a telemarketer is calling.
When a call comes through saying, "This is Relay Colorado," it is a call from someone with a hearing loss or a speech disability.
These hang-ups are frustrating for customers with hearing or speech loss. But just as significant, they mean a loss of business and bad customer relations for the business or organization being called.
So, the next time you get a Relay call, remember: if you hang up, you may be hanging up on the most important call that you receive all day!
If you have experienced a hang-up when placing a relay call, you can complete the hang-up incident form online below. A Relay Colorado team will follow up by sending a brochure, a letter, or by calling the resident or business that is the source of the complaint to explain the relay service.
Help Relay Colorado increase awareness and get the message out about the "Don't Hang Up" campaign. Please fill out the form with accurate information and click on Send. All information is confidential.
We're here to help. Reach out to our team for support, information, or to get connected with resources.