PA Assisance

Poisson

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Hi,

I just discovered this forum and I thought I could get an attention from people living in Pennsylvania, especially college students studying outside PA/country.

I need new hearing aids. Mine are six years old and my doctor (first time I saw him in years) told me it was amazing they lasted long. Now one died... My dog ate it...ironically a repeat of the same event six years ago which led to getting new ones. Once I tell my doctor next week, my today's comment is going to bite me back ("At least I didn't let my dogs eat them this time").

Moving on. I am a student studying in Canada, but I am still a US citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania (I still have a PA license and address and all of that to prove my state residency). Well, I never lived anywhere in the USA but in Pennsylvania. I am still a dependent of my parents' income and I only work during summers (I'm not allowed to work in Canada yet). Therefore, my own income is extremely limited. I'm 23 now and set to graduate next spring. I already lost the state benefit by turning 18 and lost another one from PA Dept of Labor and Industry because I decided to go to a school outside the state/country (I think that was the reason). For most of my life, the state paid for everything. The doctor visits, the earmolds, and the hearing aids.

Now my main question. Where can I look at to get a state assistance to pay for my hearing aids in part or in whole? Those things cost $1500 a piece and I am permanently disabled in both ears since birth. They're more than basically my other ears. I did a Compass questionnaire and it referred me to a Dept of Public Welfare. I am just trying my best to keep my parents from footing the total bill when they already have tuition bills (me and my sister's) and my living expenses to worry about.

Feel free to ask me any questions for any more details. I already asked my cousin who is a doctor (of audiography), but I like to fish around for more information as much as possible. I'm in a squeeze now... I'll be leaving PA for Canada in two weeks, so I have to figure out where I could start from and hope.

Sorry this is my first post, but it came to my mind to google "deaf forum" and this was the first time that came up. So I thought I could jump into to see anyone who knows my situation.

Thanks!

PS - If you're thinking about asking the government of Quebec. I tried finding a way, but I have to have a RAMQ healhcare. Tried applying and got refused. So count that one out.
 
Hello! Welcome to AD!

I also live in PA, except during the academic school year. My senior year, I explored my options trying to find more funding. I went to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. I realize that the OVR is under the Department of Labor and Industry, which you mentioned did not work out for you. I'm not sure what avenues you explored.

As for jobs, if you just graduating, you still qualify to use the Workforce Recuitment Program (WRP) to get a job. I've done that for several summers.

In the end, the OVR were unable to fund any of my education or any money for the purchase of my current hearing aids because I was considered a dependent. My family assets came into play considering whether or not I could recieve funding.

I am out of school (therefore, no longer a dependent), the organization may be more useful to me. With you finishing school, perhaps the organization will now become more useful than in the past?

They seemed really eager to help people.

They had me take an IQ test and a career optimization test, so I did learn from the experience, even if I didn't get any funding.
 
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