A cochlear implant is an electronic device surgically implanted in the skull of someone who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing to provide them with a sense of sound. The quality of sound provided is not the same as natural sound, but many recipients are able to hear, and understand speech and environmental sounds more accurately, with the help of cochlear implants. Advancements available in newer equipment can allow recipients to hear better in noisy environments, enjoy music, and even use their implant processors while swimming.
In most cases, yes, but every policy is different and the amount of coverage may vary. Please check with your plan administrator for complete details.
The mission of CIAF® is to raise awareness of how cochlear implants restore sound to the hearing impaired and to help restore sound to qualified people in need.
While we do not provide financial assistance for surgery or equipment, we can provide gently used cochlear implant equipment like processors, cables, cords, batteries, and accessories from our ever-growing inventory bank.
No. CIAF™ does not provide financial assistance for cochlear implant surgery or equipment.
While we understand some of you may prefer phone calls over emails, please understand that our operation is mighty, but SMALL. We do not have staff available to field calls. Additionally, some of our volunteers, including our founder, Michelle Tjelmeland, are cochlear implant recipients themselves, making phone communication difficult. To contact CIAF™, please click here to do so via email.
Yes! CIAF® is a registered 501(c)(3) and financial donations are tax deductible.
If you wish to donate gently used cochlear implant equipment like processors, cables, cords, batteries, and accessories, including discontinued models, please send your donation by regular mail to the address below. Processing will be handled generally within two weeks of receipt, and a letter of receipt will be sent to the donor as quickly as possible thereafter.
Please package your gently used equipment and batteries carefully so that it arrives to us undamaged. USPS is the most cost effective method of shipping, but we accept shipments from all carriers.?
Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation®
Attn: Donations
830 South Grand Ave West
Springfield IL 62704
Complete the CIAF® application in its entirety. Please note: ALL incomplete applications will be systematically rejected. Applicants who are deemed eligible for assistance and whose needs can be matched with equipment from our inventory bank will be notified. Demand for assistance often exceeds our ability to help but be sure we do our best to help as many people hear as possible within the bounds of our mission and eligibility requirements. If your application is accepted, admininstrative, processing, and shipping fees will apply. Click here to visit the Get Help page for more details.
No. Demand for assistance often exceeds our ability to help but we do our best to help as many people hear as possible within the bounds of our mission and eligibility requirements.
Federal law permits donors to claim tax deductions for many financial contributions and for donated equipment that are in "good, used condition or better." Because market values are based on items in good condition and may vary, CIAF does not maintain guidelines for the estimated value of donated items. To assess "fair market value" for your donations, consult your implant manufacturer or local tax advisor who should be familiar with tax laws.
CIAF will provide you with a receipt as validation for contributions on the day of the donation. It is up to you as the donor to determine the value of the donated goods (similar to donations made to Goodwill and Salvation Army). The receipt will serve as the confirmation of your donation, but does not include itemization or dollar amount. (At this time, CIAF does not retain copies of receipts, you as the donor will receive the original).
*The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not permint CIAF to establish or confirm the value of donated goods.
You may wish to call your cochlear implant manufacturer to further valuation information.
Advanced Bionics 1-866-844-4327
Cochlear Corporation 1-303-790-9010
Thank you for your support of our mission.
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