Smoke Alarms for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Tasmanians. Installation by the Tasmanian Fire Service commences July 19th 2010

13/07/10

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your interest in the Smoke Alarm Subsidy.

Please find the following:

Information about the subsidy

Details on how to apply for the smoke alarms

Specialist Smoke Alarm application form – One application per household

Reply paid envelope

When you have read the information, please make sure you fill out all details on the application form. If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you and there will be a delay in receiving your smoke alarm. Please see Jeanette, Rachel or Vicki at Tasdeaf if you need help filling in the forms

After we receive your application, we will then send you a letter advising whether you have qualified to receive a subsidised visual smoke alarm.

If you need more information about this subsidy or information about smoke alarms that can help deaf people, please contact Tasdeaf.

Yours sincerely,
Colin Allen
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Tasmanian Deaf Society

Background information:

Since 2000, Tasdeaf has been lobbying the government for subsidised Smoke Alarms as specialist smoke alarms were deemed too expensive for a number of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Tasmania. Tasdeaf in partnership with Tasmania Fire Services and the Department of Health and Human Services formed a working group which presented a report to Minister Thorp in late 2009.

In December 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that funding would be available to subsidise the specialist smoke alarms for people who have a hearing loss.

Tasdeaf has been appointed to administer the program and will be working with the Disability Services and Tasmanian Fire Services to distribute the smoke alarms.

In this information Kit you will find the following

On page 3     a flow chart to explain how the process will work.

On page 4     payment information

On page 5     questions and answers to assist you if you need more information.

There is an application form for you to fill out. You must fill out as many details as possible to help the Committee determine your eligibility.

For 2010 the Department has funded 70 visual smoke alarms. The Committee will ensure that people who need it urgently will be given one as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Tasdeaf staff – Jeanette, Rachael and Vicki

Application Process for Subsidised Visual Smoke Alarm

Fact Sheets

Q. What is the Smoke Alarm Subsidy Initiative?
A. The Smoke Alarm Subsidy is a scheme supported by the Tasmanian State Government that assists people who are profoundly deaf to acquire a visual and vibrating smoke alarm at a reduced cost of $50.

Q. When do I pay the $50.00 co-payment?
A. When you fill out the application form, please make the payment at the same time.

Q. What if I cannot meet the cost of the $50.00 co-payment?
A. You can apply to have the co-payment waived but you will need to prove this by either:
1. Holding a valid Health Care card (send a photocopy at the same time you send the application form)
2. Providing a letter of support from a Case Manager from DHHS or Anglicare etc.
3. Supplying other documents to support your application to waive the co-payment.

Q. What is the normal cost of a visual smoke alarm?
A. Normally, a smoke alarm with a visual and vibrating alerter costs around $500 each.

Q. Why do I need a smoke alarm?
A. When you’re asleep you lose your sense of smell. A smoke alarm is your electronic nose. It will alert you if there is smoke from a fire. A small fire can grow to involve an entire room in two or three minutes. A smoke alarm provides early warning and time to escape. Having no smoke alarm can result in death.

Q. How many visual smoke alarms do I need?
A. Ideally a smoke alarm should be installed in the sleeping area of each person with a hearing loss in the home.

Q. Should I install smoke alarms for others in the home that do not have a hearing impairment and what is the cost?
A. Yes and the cost of a general type of photoelectric smoke alarm is around $20.00 each. Ideally smoke alarms should be installed in all sleeping areas that are being used and in the paths of travel to exits such as hallways & living rooms.

Q. Will an Interpreter be available when Project Wake Up visits my home?
A. Yes an interpreter will be available. Please let the Project Wake Up team know you require an Interpreter and Tasdeaf will ensure one is available at the time of your appointment.

Q. Can I have a mixture of visual alert & normal smoke alarms through my home?
A. Yes.

Q. Can I apply for more than 1 visual smoke alarm?
A. You may apply for more than one smoke alarm per household, where people who are Deaf sleep in separate bedrooms, e.g. flat mates or family are living in the same house.

Q. What do I need to do to receive a visual smoke alarm?
A. You need to make sure you are eligible for an alarm by making sure you fit one of the two criteria to be able to receive an alarm. Once you are sure, fill in the application form and send it to Tasdeaf for approval.

Q. I am not sure if I am ‘profoundly deaf’. What does that mean?
A. If you feel that you or your family is at risk, we encourage you to apply for a visual alert. Please ensure that you fill out the referee section and the committee will let you know of their decision.

Q.How long will it take to get a visual smoke alarm installed if I am approved for one?
A. Once approved by the committee, it will take around 4 weeks for the visual smoke alarm to be installed.

Q. Who will install the visual alarm?
A. The Tasmania Fire Service Project Wake Up team. They will contact you to arrange a time to assess your home to work out the best location for the alarm/s. They will also consider installing general type photoelectric smoke alarms, free, for hearing persons also living in your home.

Q. Do I have to pay for installing the alarm?
A. No Project Wake Up is a free program run by Tasmania Fire Service.

Q. What if the alarm does not work?
A: Contact Tasdeaf first. If the damage is cause by someone in the home, then you may have to pay for the cost of repair or replacement.