Broadvoice b-hive Enables East Texas Disability Associates to Advocate for the Disabled in Texas

In Texas, one in four adults — or more than 5.4 million people over 18 — live with a disability, according to the CDC. With such a large population applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies many applicants unjustifiably.That’s where East Texas Disability Advocates LLC (ETDA) steps in. For more than a decade, ETDA has provided accessible, effective advocacy for disabled individuals in the region. ETDA helps citizens with often intimidating and overwhelming interactions with the SSA, providing the representation they need to receive entitled and past-due disability benefits. The organization’s mission is to provide effective advocacy in a compassionate manner that exceeds clients’ expectations.

ETDA’s case managers are often required to work remotely from shelters, mental health providers, or other sites. While physically dispersed, ETDA staff must collaborate and exchange information to do their jobs. Voicemails, emails, and faxes were routinely shared and stored across employees’ mobile devices, but there was no centralized repository for communications.ETDA needed a better way to manage its communications. In its search, the company prioritized the following capabilities:• Portability/Mobility – ETDA's staff work from multiple locations and needed a phone system that would enable them to be easily accessible wherever they work.• Continuity – ETDA also wanted the communications system to ensure staff wouldn’t miss client calls.• Ease-of-Use – ETDA’s busy team also required a system that was easy to use and backed by simple training and support.

Steve Crane, non-attorney and ETDA’s president and owner, knew his wife’s employer was happy with their phone system from Broadvoice, so he decided to start his search there.Broadvoice b-hive is designed for small and medium businesses (SMBs) like ETDA. It combines enterprise-class cloud PBX, unified communications (UC), collaboration, and virtual call center features into one platform connected to Broadvoice's secure, redundant network, and hosting infrastructure.In addition, b-hive Communicator offers users an easy-to-use all-in-one app for calling, video, text, collaboration, voicemail, and fax, putting essential communications in reach from any desktop, laptop, or mobile phone.ETDA found b-hive Communicator ideal for supporting ETDA’s multichannel communications and remote work requirements.