"AOC" means the administrative office of the courts, established in chapter 2.56 RCW.

"Amplified telephone" means an electrical device that increases the volume or tone of sounds being received during a telephone call.

"Applicant" means a client who applies for specialized telecommunications equipment.

"Audiologist" means a person who has a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from the American Speech, Hearing, and Language Association and is licensed to practice in the state of Washington.

"Certified court intermediary interpreter" means an interpreter who is deaf who meets the qualifications required in this chapter and is included on the list administered by the office of the deaf and hard of hearing. The intermediary interpreter is deaf or hard of hearing and possesses native or near native fluency is American Sign Language. An intermediary interpreter may be needed when the communication mode of the deaf consumer is so unique that interpreters who are hearing cannot adequately access it. An intermediary interpreter acts as an intermediary between a hearing sign language interpreter and the deaf consumer.

"Certified court sign language interpreter" means a sign language interpreter who meets the qualifications required in this chapter and is included on the list administered by ODHH.

"Client" means a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, or deaf-blind and may receive services from ODHH.

"Deaf" means a condition where a person's hearing ability is absent or mostly absent.

"Deaf-blind" means a person with both hearing loss and visual impairments.

"DSHS or department" means the department of social and health services.

"Federal poverty guidelines" means the poverty level established by the "Poverty Income Guideline" updated annually in the Federal Register.

"Hard of hearing" means a condition where a person has a functional hearing loss with some residual hearing, whether permanent or fluctuation, which adversely affects communication.

"Hearing loss" means any form of hearing impairment, from mild to profound.

"Intermediary interpreter" means an interpreter who is deaf or hard of hearing and possesses native or near native fluency in American sign language. An intermediary interpreter may be needed when the communication mode of the deaf consumer is so unique that interpreters who are hearing cannot adequately access it.

"Mobility impairment" for the purpose of this chapter means restricted upper body movement, which limits the ability to hold or dial a standard telephone to communicate. Individuals must also have a hearing loss or speech impairment.

"ODHH" means the office of the deaf and hard of hearing in the department of social and health services.

"Qualified service provider" means an agency or a business that provides social services to individuals with hearing loss or speech impairments. A qualified service provider may also be a "qualified trainer."

"Qualified trainer" means a person under contract with TAS who is knowledgeable in the use of telecommunications equipment.

"Relay service" is defined under "telecommunications relay service (TRS)."

"School-age" means between four and seventeen years of age.

"Sign language interpreter" means a person who facilitates communication between individuals who communicate in spoken language and individuals who communicate in sign language. Sign language interpreters become certified by passing knowledge and performance tests established by the registry of interpreters for the deaf (RID) or the national association of the deaf (NAD). Certification is maintained by RID and includes the requirements that interpreters must be members of RID, comply with ongoing educational requirements, and maintain ethical standards.

"Sliding fee scale" means a range used to determine an applicant's participation in the cost of equipment.

"Speech impairment" means inability to speak or a speech disability.

"TAS" means the telecommunications access service program administered by the office of the deaf and hard of hearing. The program provides equipment and services to help people with hearing loss and speech impairments have equal access to telecommunications.

"Telecommunications equipment" means any specialized device determined by TAS in ODHH to help a person with a hearing loss or speech impairment to communicate effectively. Examples include: Amplified telephone, TTY, signaling devices, software, digital equipment, and accessories. (See WAC 388-818-0070.)

"Telecommunications relay service (TRS)" means wire or radio service that enables a person with hearing loss or speech impairment to communicate with a person who uses a voice telephone. This service has communication assistants who transfer telephone conversations from one format to another (such as spoken words to text) to facilitate communication between two or more people.

"TTY" means teletypewriter or text telephone.

"TTY with Braille" means a teletypewriter with Braille keyboard and display.

"Washington courts" means any court recognized in chapter 2.08 or 3.02 RCW.