TTD or TTY Etiquette

[NeoStarO1]

I stated to someone earlier today that I would post on this. Because I have this annoying habit at the end of conversations in AIM, MSN, and ICQ when i am finished with conversations is that I type "SKSK". I am asked what this means.

For all my communication needs, I heavily rely on TTD also known as TTY (text telephone for the deaf), I also rely on the use of text based pagers and of course email.

I decided to post this to hopefully educate other fellow TechIMO's to the concept of relay voice calls.

Bascially what happens is that when a deaf person calls you through a relay operator. The relay operator speaks to the person and announces thier presense and that they are assisting a deaf person in a telephone conversation. The person called (hearing person) speaks to the relay operator and while they are speaking the relay operator types everything (including background noices so don't fart! ) and then when they are done speaking they say "ga" at the end of that part of the conversation. then I would type my response and the relay operator will read my response to the hearing person. This is how I explain it.

This page will also explain the VCO (Voice Carry Over) abilites that speaking deaf or hard of hearing persons can use.
Here are some links to become more familiar with this. Since I am in Oregon I use the Oregon Relay Service. So here is the link that explains what I just explained above. Oregon Relay

Here is a link on etiquette. FAQs and General TTY Etiquette Tips

Here is a link to Relay numbers by state
Access Relay numbers 800's

This link is of the AT&T access numbers (please note that due to a recent changes with this that most states have converted to used 711 as the standard relay number for voice and hearing. just like 911 except when you call 711 you will get your states relay operator. its nice. better than having to remember 800 numbers.

AT&T Access Relay numbers

So if a deaf person calls you please don't be rude and hang up and mistakenly think we are solititators trying to sell something. We are calling because you are our friend or we want to do business with you. The more people are educated about TDD's and deaf person callings the easier it will be for everyone when that call does come.

If you have any questions fire away.

NeoStar

[NeoStarO1]

forgot to tell you what SK means, i usally use it twice out of habit, SK means to Stop Keying its another way of saying I am finished good by and I am hanging up.


NeoStar

<edit> wake up neo!!! sheesh, brain fart!

GA mean go ahead, means its your turn to talk or type.

NeoStar

[NeoStarO1]

^bumped for education^ and will bump again tommorrow. hehehe

[NeoStarO1]

^bumped to educate! ^

Thanks Neo, atleast I know I'll find it useful.

[MDS]

NeoStar, I have a friend that is deaf and uses TTD and it's really knida neat way for him to call to comunicate. I know there is a lot of people who don't even know about TTD

[osprey4]

Very interesting post. Never tried TTY but I've heard of it.

Jn

[NeoStarO1]

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am always suprised the lack of education about this issue amoung business locally.

Thanks for reading!

neoStar

[storm2k]

fascinating. i'm glad to have learned something new

[DeafScribe]

The part about people misunderstanding the purpose of a relay call can be very annoying. Just last week, I called my local Budget car rental office twice by relay, and they HUNG UP twice in a row, before the relay operator got a chance to explain what she was trying to do. They just assumed it was a charity or solicitcation of some kind.

I'm a regular customer at this place, but I still had to call voice and explain that I'm deaf, I can't hear them, so I use the relay service to place my calls. I told them I would call them again via relay and this time they took the call.

I lost my hearing long after I learned to speak, so I have the option of doing that, but I've got a lot of born-deaf friends who can't speak effectively and they don't have that choice. So in situations like that they're forced to ask for help - if anyone is around that can call for them - and it's frustrating to concede that loss of independence.

On the whole, tho, relay services are a very good thing. I remember the bad old days before it was widely available, and back then we didn't have IM or much in the way of PC communcation beyond dialup BBSs and local e-mail. The situation is much improved all around today.