Relay Texas offers free phones to deaf

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Smithtr

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SAN ANTONIO -
Relay Texas, an agency that provides telecommunication services to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-disabled says if you are a baby boomer, chances are your hearing was damaged by a number of factors that your parents never suffered through.

As a result, nearly 4 million people are at risk of living isolated lives with hearing impairment.

The environmental factors in play during the baby boomer generation include rock music, headphones, rock concerts, as well as typical damage sources like the noise of war combat and construction.

The Public Utility Commission via its Relay Texas agency wants to make sure this growing segment of the population is made aware of the resources and products that can alleviate the isolation that hearing impairments can cause citizens.

It’s begun a television campaign aimed at those who have no hearing or speech issues, but who fall in a demographic who are more likely to care for those who do.

"Really, they need to stay in touch with their families and friends, because if you can't stay in touch with those people, you are going to feel progressively isolated," says Eileen Alter, with Relay Texas.

The campaign is meant to grab the attention of women ages 35 to 64.

“Those people are the caregivers for a lot of elderly individuals, who might not be able to help themselves who might not be able to identify where to go or that these services exist,” Alter explains.

Among the devices that Texans with hearing or speech disabilities can receive for free is the Cap Tel phone, a regular phone with a screen that displays a the conversation you cannot hear.

Some run on simple phone lines, but others operate online as well.

Operators literally transcribe the conversation in real time so that someone who is hard of hearing can still participate in phone interaction and stay in touch with family and friends.

Part of the campaign is to make sure that caregivers arrange for these phones, especially since there are several free programs that provide funding for them with no requirements on income.

The Relay Captioning is free as well.

For others who don’t qualify as having a hearing or speech impairment, the phones can be bought for about $99.

Another aspect of the campaign is to make sure that those receiving a Relay Texas call from a friend or loved one don’t hang up under the assumption that they are being dialed by telemarketers.

For more information, visit Relay Welcome to Relay Texas
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Relay Texas offers free phones to deaf | News - Home
 
:wave:How one "deals" with being "hearing impaired" by "reacting assertively" does at least suggests -one isn't "helpless".

The above is part of Canadian Hearing Society/Toronto's classes: Dealing/coping with YOUR Hearing loss.

aside: I have an UltraTec 1140 VCO/Text TTY since January 1996. Used to this day notwithstanding I now have a Cochlear Implant which doesn't pickup people speaking-just the dial tone. I have been advised by Sunnybrook/Cochlear Implant section: one of two have this problem- not useful. Not a real problem- for me-just continue what I did before I became bilateral DEAF in 2006.

aside: I use 711- Relay service is now in Quebec City. I also have Bell Telemessage service which "saves all messages left" through Relay Service. Easy to handle- 877 235 5777, my telephone number and my secret access number. They give me the message-written.
 
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Texas is wonderful to live! Most grow population and job. Come and live with, you shall live!
 
I have done something very similar to Dr. Phil. But mine through ITAC (state agency) in Illinois, USA is the Ameriphone Dialogue III. I use it in a very similar way as well = VCO through the state relay service which is reached by first dialing 711.

drphil said:
:wave:How one "deals" with being "hearing impaired" by "reacting assertively" does at least suggests -one isn't "helpless".

The above is part of Canadian Hearing Society/Toronto's classes: Dealing/coping with YOUR Hearing loss.
aside: I have an UltraTec 1140 VCO/Text TTY since January 1996. Used to this day notwithstanding I have a Cochlear Implant which doesn't pickup people speaking-just the dial tone. I have been advised by Sunnybrook/Cochlear Implant section: one of two have the problem- not useful. Not a real problem- just continue what I did before I became bilateral DEAF in 2006.
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Out there , we do not have a land line. AND, are you supposed to have minutes on the phone for Relay Texas to work?
 
Quiet, PowerOn... We don't need more people here. We have issues with breaking down the Ori strongholds here in the state.
 
Among the devices that Texans with hearing or speech disabilities can receive for free is the Cap Tel phone, a regular phone with a screen that displays a the conversation you cannot hear.
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I thought that CapTel is for deaf people who can talk verbally. :confused:
 
CrazyPaul said:
I thought that CapTel is for deaf people who can talk verbally. :confused:
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You are right about CapTel but, if Texas is like Illinois, ONE agency handles products for people with a variety of needs; thus, the mention of "speech disabilities" in the agency name.
 
Jane B. said:
You are right about CapTel but, if Texas is like Illinois, ONE agency handles products for people with a variety of needs; thus, the mention of "speech disabilities" in the agency name.
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I got it. The key word is "or".

hearing or speech disabilities
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It means three things, speech disabilities, hearing disabilities or both hearing and speech disabilities. Therefore, CapTel is for people with hearing disabilities.

BTW, do they also provide free TTYs for people with both hearing and speech disabilities?
 
I would not want to live in Texas because there are snob conservatives (hearing society). I would rather have TTY relay service as I have been doing this for many years since I was in my early 20. Who care about Cap Tel? :roll:
 
Bebonang said:
I would not want to live in Texas because there are snob conservatives (hearing society). I would rather have TTY relay service as I have been doing this for many years since I was in my early 20. Who care about Cap Tel? :roll:
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My understanding is that they do offer the TTY option but are just now doing PR about having added CapTel phones etc.

Those of us the speak but don't understand incoming voice on a phone DO care about CapTel.

Personally I have used a TTY with VCO, the Illinois Relay service and my landline for many years. My CapTel interest is for use on my cell phone.
 
deafdrummer said:
Quiet, PowerOn... We don't need more people here. We have issues with breaking down the Ori strongholds here in the state.
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It doesn't stop from grow so big and more job demand than ever... We're No. 1. :wave:
 
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