firstly, no, these two radios don't have options for speech synthesisers.
I believe the 2200 has an allowance for direct frequency entry, and memory 
location entry via the mic keypad...the 2820 may have that as well
I assume the reason 2820H's were chosen was for the DStar option...even if 
it wasn't purchased as an option with the radio, it can be added on later if 
needed.  Emergency stuff is really embracing DStar technology now.
While these radios don't have speech output, it doesn't make them totally 
unusable by a blind op.
Presumably your EOC has a standardized frequency list for all facility 
radios and for members radios.
These two will have  that standardized list programmed in and that will make 
them usable if you have at least a cheat sheet of the channel numbers 
assigned to various frequencies.
Most EOC's, ARES and other various agencies will program their radios with a 
standardized list of frequencies that will include any and all major 
repeater and simplex frequencies one would ever need.
So, make up a braille sheet or keep a list on a portable note taker with 
that list.
Beyond that, both the 2200 and 2820 are physically no more difficult to use 
as a blind op...volume is still volume, and squelch, and one can memorize 
button layouts like you would have to do with any other rig.
Anoying for sure, but not a deal breaker in my book.
I doubt they're going to send the radios back if they wish to have DStar 
capability.
I would be pissed in your position though.  Someone somewhere made 
recommendations as to the biggest, best, most modern radios to buy, and they 
went for it.
Also, Icom is big on the patriotic Icom america thing, so many agencies 
automatically turn to "Icom america" for their equipment.
Their marketting is second to none in the US.
Anyway, insure that you make your views known and perhaps they'll do 
something about it, but if nothing is done, fear not, you can manage with 
what is there.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2012 5:15 PM
Subject: In a state of disbelief here


> Hi, all
>
> Recently, in my region of west-central lower Michigan, the power that be
> obtained an equipment grant to purchase all new equipment for our county
> EOC's.  Sounds great, right???
>
> Well, for one thing, none of us as EC's were consulted on the rig and 
> other
> equipment choices, so we ended up with rigs with which none of us were
> familiar.
>
> But, here's the real kicker:
>
> Two of the rigs are the Icom IC2820 VHF/UHF dual-band radio, and the Icom
> IC2200 2-meter radio.  Upon checking in the AES catalog, and calling AES 
> for
> confirmation, it seems that these radios do not have a voice synthesizer
> chip option.  If this is true, of course, the rigs will be of limited use 
> to
> me as EC in the Emergency Operations Center, unless I have sighted
> assistance with me at all times.
>
> Can someone verify for me that these rigs actually do not have a voice 
> chip
> option??
>
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ