Who’s Eligible for a Communication Device?
Variety’s My Voice® Program provides a communication device (currently a restricted iPad with one prescribed communication app) to children who are nonverbal (or have a communication disorder). All equipment is provided for free, but you must meet the following eligibility:
Location
Must live in one of the 71 counties that Variety currently serves, including: 59 counties in Pennsylvania (i.e. Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York), and 12 counties in West Virginia (i.e. Barbour, Brooke, Doddridge, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Taylor, and Wetzel).
Diagnosis
Have a documented communication disorder by your child’s licensed Speech Language Pathologist (preferably with ASHA Certification).
Age
Be 3 through 21 years of age. An application may be submitted up to 60 days prior to a child’s 3rd birthday, but equipment can not be presented until the child is 3 years old.
Application
Complete and submit the Program Application to the best of your knowledge.
Income
Applicant’s household income must not exceed Variety’s income guidelines. Income verification is required with the application (see pages 6-7 in the application).
| # Household Members | Household Salary |
|---|---|
| 2 | $98,600 |
| 3 | $124,300 |
| 4 | $150,000 |
| 5 | $175,700 |
| 6 | $201,400 |
| 7 | $227,100 |
| 8 | $252,800 |
-For each additional person, add $25,700.
Letter of Medical Justification (LMJ)
Request a letter from a licensed Speech Language Pathologist (preferably with ASHA Certification) indicating that the child has successfully trialed an iPad as a communication device and that it would be appropriate for the child (see page 13 in the application).
Follow-up
A phone consultation with Variety’s Program Manager may be required with the parent and/or the licensed SLP for more information.
Presentation of Device
Once approved, Variety will work with the child’s SLP to mail them the device for further customization, and then safely present it to the child/family at a predetermined location (e.g. therapy, school, etc).