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  • Connect with others through events, workshops, campaigns and our NEW online forum, Your Community
  • Discover information and insights in our resource hub and receive the latest updates via email and Families magazine
  • Access one-to-one support and tailored services which help reduce barriers for deaf children
  • Borrow technology and devices which support deaf children’s communication and independence
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How you can get technology

Technology Test Drive

As a member of the National Deaf Children's Society you are welcome to use our Technology Test Drive service. 

This service allows you to try a wide range of assistive technology products for 30 days to help find the right product for you. 

Or product range includes streamers, headphones, alarm clocks, alerting systems and much more. 

How to use the Technology Test Drive Service

  • Sign up to become a member.
  • Choose which product or products you would like to borrow by browsing our product pages.
  • Click 'Request to borrow' on your chosen product.

The Technology Test Drive is a very popular service. To make sure as many families as possible have access to it, we ask everyone to take good care and responsibility for the technology while they have it on loan. Please take a moment to read our terms and conditions before you apply. 

Borrow to Buy

We have partnered with Phonak to launch our new Borrow to Buy pilot scheme. This programme offers deaf children, their families and the professionals working with them immediate access to Phonak products.

Through this service you can borrow Phonak radio aids, streamers and soundfield systems for up to 60 days. At the end of the 60 day loan period, you can choose to buy the product if you have benefited from using it, or simply return it to us if not. 

How to use the Borrow to Buy service

Prices

Read our Borrow to Buy price list to see typical prices for each product. Please note that the prices exclude VAT. Some of these products are exempt from VAT if they are purchased for use with a deaf child or young person. For more information about VAT relief, please contact our helpline.

Terms and conditions

Our Borrow to Buy scheme is a very popular service. To make sure as many families have access to it, we ask everyone to take good care and responsibility for the technology while they have it on loan. Please take a moment to read our terms and conditions before you apply. 

COVID-19 (coronavirus) cleaning guidance

To make sure that radio aids are used in the safest possible way during the COVID-19 pandemic, please read the manufacturers cleaning guidance before applying to our loan service. The National Deaf Children's Society will send a packet of cleaning wipes with every radio aid loan to help you get started and will provide information on where to get more if needed.

Through your local authority

Your local authority will normally provide equipment that you or your child may need at school. For example, radio aids and soundfield systems are usually provided by the local authority in England, Scotland and Wales, though by the education authority in Northern Ireland. In addition to this, equipment could also include computers, special software, speech and language therapy equipment and other communication aids.

For more information about your rights, please visit the your rights section. 

Through Social Services

There are a wide variety of products and technologies available which could help you or your child in all aspects of everyday life. Be sure you ask your local social care service if they will provide these.

Typically you could expect them to provide products such as a vibrating alarm clocks, doorbells, personal alerting system, smoke alarm system, a TV listener or loop system or a personal listener. You can borrow these products from our Technology Test Drive loan service to see what is right for you.

For more information about your rights, please visit the your rights section.

Trusts and grants

Many trusts, grants and charities can provide financial support for deaf technology products. Please visit our Financial support page for more detail.