An Example of What Deaf Jobseekers Face

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About.com Deafness / Hard of Hearing at URL: http://deafness.about.com/b/a/147214.htm


An Example of What Deaf Jobseekers Face
Deafness/Hard of Hearing Blog

Your Guide, Jamie Berke
Your Guide to Deafness / Hard of Hearing.
February 16, 2005

An Example of What Deaf Jobseekers Face
Below is an actual relayed ten-minute call between a deaf jobseeker and a prospective employer on Monday, 2/14/05. Note the insensitivity of the prospective employer's representative. And this is just one example. Multiply this employer by many employers uncomfortable with relay services, and it is no wonder it is difficult at times for deaf people to find employment. The names have been changed, but the company involved is a fairly large company with multiple offices.

The deaf jobseeker sent an e-mail to the recruiter below as requested by the recruiter, but more than 48 hours after the e-mail was sent, no response was received from the recruiter.

Update 2/17
After waiting more than 48 hours, DeafPerson sent a complaint e-mail to the company headquarters. The next day, DeafPerson got an e-mail from recruiter, saying recruiter had received an e-mail from company headquarters and recruiter apologized, claimed he was very busy, and said he had felt "intimidated" by the relay call.

The Relay Call:

IP RELAY RO xxxxF NBR CALLING PLS QQ GA
DeafPerson: xxx xxx xxxx pls ga
My IP Relay: DIALING 800 xxx xxxx PLS HD
My IP Relay: RING 1 2 3 (M) (SOUNDS POLITE)
My IP Relay: hi recruiter speaking GA
DeafPerson: Hello, this is deafperson returning your call about the part time position ga
My IP Relay: (WHILE U TYPED (HUNG UP ANOTHER CALL QQ) GA
DeafPerson: call back, pls ga
My IP Relay: (THK U REDIALING PLS HD) My IP Relay: RING 1 (M) (SOUNDS POLITE)
My IP Relay: it s recruiter at
My IP Relay: ... speaking GA
DeafPerson: Hello, this is deafperson returning recruiter's call about the part time position ga
My IP Relay: (WHILE U TYPED (EXPLAINING RELAY)
My IP Relay: do u have a telephone QQ GA
DeafPerson: Yes, we're on a telephone ga
My IP Relay: i can t communicate like this give
My IP Relay: me a call when u get a chance GA
DeafPerson: I'm sorry, sir, but i am deaf. this is the best way I can communicate with you ga
My IP Relay: um
My IP Relay: this is to complicated i unfortunately
My IP Relay: have a lot of questions to ask u
My IP Relay: and this is not easy how about u
My IP Relay: provide me an email address so
My IP Relay: i can t send them to u my email is
My IP Relay: r e c r u i t e r
My IP Relay: (at) i n s e n s i t i v e (dot)
My IP Relay: com GA
DeafPerson: I can email you ga
My IP Relay: if u email me i can send u the
My IP Relay: list of questions i have for u
My IP Relay: GA
DeafPerson: i will be emailing you ga
My IP Relay: i look forward to receiving the
My IP Relay: email end of conversation GA
DeafPerson: sounds good. bye ga
My IP Relay: bye sk (HUNG UP ANOTHER CALL QQ) GA
DeafPerson: too complicated, my (expletive deleted)... thanks for the help. bye sk
My IP Relay: THK U IP RELAY RO xxxxF BYE SKSK
DeafPerson: end call
 
Now there has to be a better way to EDUCATE others about the relay services!

I've had shit like this happen to me one time too many. I found it was much easier to ask for a email addy when applying for job and instructing prospective employers and other people (i.e. lawyers, car salesmen, etc) in person to only communicate by email instead of over relay.

and what pisses me off is when I call someone from relay the person I am calling will say "please tell him <insert your own comment>" as if he/she was speaking to the RO and not to you. It's enough to drive a sane person batty!
 
heh, similar situation I had before, a woman on the phone at Lowes hung up on me 3 times in a row just because she thought I was a solicter on the phone. I kept trying til she answers, I had to reply real quick before she hangs up on me for the 4th time. she said finally said sorry and didn't realize it, geez. I told her to transfer to human resouces for the job hunting, so there. I was using the internet relay services (AT&T relay)

I'm sure some of u had the similar situation as I had. :)
 
Well I was trying to own a business... so that I can hire many
disability people
but some deaf people always put me down...
Saying I can't do this or that.

It seems that the deaf people won't help
each other succeed...
rather depend on hearing people who are
being nasty and rude to us all the time.
 
And this is how deaf people treat each other.... even on AOL and IM. Sad.

DeafFingers [10:01 PM]: You need to find a new hobby like host didlo parties.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: I do?
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: Yes.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: who are you?
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: You are such a nosy, rude bitch.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: thank you
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: You don't need to know.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: okay
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: Goodnight.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: bye
 
Do you want to know what the best way to fight these hang ups is?

Do you really?

No, do you?

Contact the relay service! They will help you out!

In fact, recently I found out that Washington Relay has a "Don't Hang Up on Relay" website.

http://www.washingtonrelay.com/hangup.htm

You can go to that website, fill out the information about the business that really pissed you off, and then the relay service will help you out! After all, it's their job to help you communicate!

If you can't find your state relay's website Hangup page, just make a call on your relay service (7-1-1 or internet relay or video relay) and ask the operator or intepreter that you want to make a complaint about companys hanging up. They'll get a supervisor and you can give them the info about the company you wanted to call.

Even better, speak to your state relay manager! These people are the top dogs for what's going on for relay in your state! For example, Sprint Relay is the largest relay service in the U.S., so go to www.sprintrelay.com, click on any of the "learn more" links, and then select "Browse Contacts" and find your state. Those managers are really helpful!
 
Thanks for posting the Washington Relay tip site, dennis....

There's sumthing new to learn everyday ;)
 
I never liked relay services. My mom had to use them for a while since her old tty finally died on her...she said they are the most rudest people. She feels ok with VP than relay.

When I visit my mom and discuss about the issue we talked over relay, she got total different story from what I told her somehow the relay operator twisted the story, my mom knew me too well so she doesn't like VA relay but she is pleased with TX relay. so Go figure...

I rather use email for job positions when I am applying for one. Better than relay.
 
Some Relay Operators are mean too.
I wish there is some other way we can communicate with hearing people on the phone.
 
Miss*Pinocchio said:
And this is how deaf people treat each other.... even on AOL and IM. Sad.

DeafFingers [10:01 PM]: You need to find a new hobby like host didlo parties.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: I do?
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: Yes.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: who are you?
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: You are such a nosy, rude bitch.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: thank you
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: You don't need to know.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: okay
DeafFingers [10:02 PM]: Goodnight.
CandyLandMissBlu [10:02 PM]: bye
Click to expand...
:rofl:
 
The best relay conversations are the ones when the relay operator DOES NOT begin the call with, "Have YOU ever received a relay call before?..." Then spend a minute explaining the process, during which time they are hung up on. Duh! It sounds like a cold-call sale.

They need to be our voice and THAT'S IT. (One exception is the CA's male or female voice for the opposite sex - some sort of explaination is required.)

VRS is much smoother without having the pause or wait for the GA.

As for the recruiter being intimidated, they need to grow up.

Good luck on yor next call!
Steve
 
yeah I don't like them saying...

(laughing)... (sound upset)... or (wait til finish relaying)
or say to the person, go ahead...

people don't like the word, "go ahead" because that sound rude.

and duh, why relay opr have to ask them, "will you accept the call"

The people think they are paying the relay call, like they are
paying for long distance call. That is why they hang up.

I want the relay opr to just say, "Hello, I am relaying for the person who is deaf." That is all.
 
Miss*Pinocchio said:
yeah I don't like them saying...

(laughing)... (sound upset)... or (wait til finish relaying)
or say to the person, go ahead...
Click to expand...

Actually, that's the stuff that's more important than the call itself.

When someone says, "go ahead", I like to reply, "Don't call me a "goat-head"! :)
 
Steve said:
Actually, that's the stuff that's more important than the call itself.

When someone says, "go ahead", I like to reply, "Don't call me a "goat-head"! :)
Click to expand...

Just say haha. But the relay Operator don't know how I am feeling or laughing... so why I want to know what the caller on the other side of the phone feel? :roll:
 
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