In recognition of National DeafBlind Awareness Week (June 25 – July 1, 2026), iCanConnect is highlighting its ongoing mission to increase independence for individuals with significant combined hearing and vision loss. Also known as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, iCanConnect was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2012. The program provides free distance communication equipment – ranging from smartphones and tablets to laptops and refreshable braille displays – and free training so participants can send emails, text messages, make calls, and navigate an increasingly digital world.
For retirees like Armitcher “Mitch” Delaney, a Washington, D.C. resident who transitioned from relying on an unusable cell phone to mastering modern distance communication technology, the program has been life-changing. Through iCanConnect, Mitch received a Windows laptop, a JAWS screen reader, an external keyboard with large, high-contrast lettering, and an iPhone, as well as free training on how to use her new equipment. Not only does Mitch feel reconnected to her family and community but also empowered to embrace her new, independent life.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is witnessing the progression of participants from feeling isolated to becoming independent,” says iCanConnect trainer Harris Rosensweig. “I get to witness broken connections being healed in real-time. When a participant is matched with the right equipment and applies themselves, the leap forward is incredible.”
Across the United States and its territories, iCanConnect continues to reduce isolation and increase independence by helping participants connect with family, manage medical appointments, and engage meaningfully with their communities.
To learn more about iCanConnect, or check eligibility requirements for yourself or a loved one, visit www.iCanConnect.org or call 1-800-825-4595.
About iCanConnect
iCanConnect is a national program with local contacts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2012, iCanConnect provides qualified individuals who have both significant hearing and vision loss with free distance communication equipment and free training to increase independence and access to modern communication.
