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The Telephone and the TTY by Irene Duke

You use a variety of phones in communication, and so do the deaf. Today's technological advances in communication devices have made the world more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing. Telephone services for the deaf used to be limiting. The TTY caller could only connect with other people with a TTY or use a relay service to provide assistance. There are now multifunc-tioning cell phones, along with a variety of other communication devices.

In 1964, Robert H. Weitbrecht, a deaf man, invented an electronic device called the acoustic coupler. The coupler enabled typewritten communication over the phone with the use of a teletypewriter.

There was a time when the TTY, a text telephone with a keyboard, a small screen, and an optional printer for the deaf, was uncommon and difficult to use. Today, TTYs are in use in places such as hospitals, police departments, fire departments, schools, and colleges. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that public services providers must allow for equal access to communication for the deaf and hard of hearing.

If you work in any of the listed areas that are mandated to have TTYs, don't be afraid to use it. TTYs are user-friendly, just like text messaging.

Abbreviations Often Used

Many abbreviations often used during a TTY conversation are the same as those that are used in text messages. A few of the basic abbreviations are shown in this chart.

Relay Telephone Service

If a person does not own a TTY or have text messaging capabilities and needs to contact a deaf TTY user or vice versa, a telecommunications relay service (TRS) must be used. You can reach a relay telephone service assistant by dialing 711. This is how it all works:

Word

Abbreviation

Are

R

Because

CUZ

Go ahead

GA

Hold

HD

Oh, I see

OIC

Operator

OPR

Please

PLS

Question mark

Q

See you later

CUL

Should

SHD

Stop keying

SK

Thanks

THX

Tomorrow

TMW

You

U

Yours

UR

  • Dial 711

  • A relay communication assistant, or CA, answers.

  • You tell the CA the TTY number you wish to call.

  • The CA, using a TTY, dials that number.

  • The CA will then become the voice of the deaf person by reading her typed text to you and speaking in the first person.

  • Speak to the CA as if you are speaking directly to the person called. The CA will type everything you are saying to the deaf person.

  • During a relay call, only one person can speak or type at a time.

  • Both parties must say or type “Go Ahead” or “GA” to indicate it is the other person's turn to speak or type.

    • As you can see, this method is slow and sometimes awkward.

    <B>Technological Advances</B></h2> <p>Today, technological advances have certainly assisted in filling the communication gaps that the deaf have faced over many years. These new devices offer mobile services, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mails, paging systems, two-way real-time conversations on videophones, and now voice-to-caption telephones. The deaf and hard of hearing finally can stay connected any where, any time. In all probability, you already know and use the natural mime sign for “telephone” or “call.” To sign “telephone,” place the “Y” hand up to your ear, imitating talking on a telephone.</p> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/sign-language/around-and-about/home-sweet-home.htm" title="Home Sweet Home">Home Sweet Home</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/sign-language/around-and-about/computers.htm" title="Computers">Computers</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/sign-language/around-and-about/the-telephone-and-the-tty.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> The Telephone and the TTY - Sign Language </a></li> <li><a href="http://deafness.about.com/cs/relayservices/a/internetrelay.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Internet Relay Services - Relay Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing ... </a></li> <li><a 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